SUVs and crossovers may be all the rage today, but brands like BYD Cars Philippines are showing that there will always be room for affordable (electrified) sedans. 

Take, for example, the BYD Seal 5 DM-i. It’s the size of a midsize four-door but is selling for B-segment sedan money. More importantly, it comes with the brand’s DM-i PHEV powertrain and allows drivers to run on EV power over certain distances without using a drop of fuel.

Clearly, BYD was able to tap into the PHEV sedan market with the Seal 5 DM-i. But if you thought that was the only PHEV sedan the brand has, it looks like the brand may launch yet another four-door plug-in hybrid. This comes after the Department of Energy (DOE) recently added the BYD Qin Plus DM-i to its list of recognized PHEVs.

For those who are not familiar, the BYD Qin Plus is essentially the more luxurious twin of the Seal 5 DM-i. Whereas the Seal 5 DM-i serves as the affordable PHEV sedan, the BYD Qin Plus DM-i offers more equipment and features, plus a more dynamic design.

Based on the DOE’s listing, the PH-spec BYD Qin Plus DM-i will be available in two variants: Luxury & Supreme. Both get a 1.5L engine that mostly serves as a generator to recharge an onboard lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack and to assist a front electric motor. 

Interestingly, the DOE has listed the Qin Plus DM-i’s battery as 13.6 kWh. However, the official specifications list mentioned the battery capacity at 8.3 kWh. In addition, BYD claims that on battery power alone, the sedan’s 8.3 kWh battery gives it an EV range of up to 55 km, based on the NEDC cycle. Meanwhile, the electric motor’s maximum output is 100 kW (136 PS), while the engine makes 81 kW (110 PS).

Size-wise, the Qin Plus DM-i measures 4780mm long, 1837mm wide, and 1515mm tall. In terms of looks, the Qin Plus DM-i appears to be a mix of the Sealion 5 and the Seal 5’s designs. The front fascia borrows heavily from the former, with sleek LED headlights and a massive grille. Meanwhile, the rear features the familiar taillight and trunk designs from the latter.

When it comes to amenities and features, the BYD Qin Plus DM-i has plenty to offer. These include full leather upholstery, a 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment with wireless connectivity, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a power sunroof, front & rear center armrests, a wireless charging pad, front & rear USB charging ports, a tire pressure monitoring system, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a PM2.5 filter, and a full suite of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS).

Can we expect the BYD Qin Plus DM-i to debut later this year as the brand’s flagship plug-in hybrid sedan? And how will it differ price-wise from the Sealion 5 DM-i?