The BYD Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV was spotted range-testing on our roads ahead of its launch this year. This is the second sighting of the Seal U here this year, with the previous one taking place in May. The Seal U will be BYD’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) here and will expand the carmaker’s line-up beyond EVs. The Seal U is a Mahindra XEV 9e-sized 5-seater vehicle. It is also called the Sealion 6 in certain markets.
BYD Seal U PHEV: Powertrain details
The Seal U gets BYD’s ‘DM-i Super’ plug-in hybrid system; DM-i is short for dual mode intelligent. Part of the DM-i Super system are a 1.5-litre direct injection, turbo-petrol engine, an electric motor, a starter-generator and a battery pack. In international markets, the Seal U is offered in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive layout options. Depending on the version, combined output can go up to 323hp and 550Nm.
With the Seal U PHEV, BYD claims an electric-only range of up to 126km using an 18.3kWh battery pack, which can be charged from 30 to 80 percent in 35 minutes with an 18kW DC charger. The hybrid system’s combined range is up to 1,080km.
However, during BYD’s DM-i plug-in hybrid tech showcase held in June 2026, Autocar India was told that BYD’s engineers are working on making improvements to the powertrain, which are likely to be rolled out to global models soon. These may result in different maximum outputs and range figures for the India-bound Seal U.
Since the DM-i system prioritises an electric-first approach, the vehicle is primarily driven by the electric motors in most driving conditions. The petrol engine largely acts as a generator to keep the battery charged. It is only during high power loads that the petrol engine kicks in and directly powers the wheels. The hybrid system automatically shuffles between pure EV and hybrid modes.
BYD Seal U PHEV: Expected price and rival
We expect BYD to price the Seal U PHEV at around Rs 45 lakh-50 lakh, ex-showroom. The Seal U could see competition from JSW Motors’s upcoming Jetour T2-based PHEV, which is expected to debut around Diwali this year.
Source: ElecTree.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
