Author: Xie Hezuo
There is a saying in the car circle: Sedans are just for commuting, sports cars are just for passion, SUVs are just for bros, and MPVs are the ultimate choice for families. There are many examples around me. My brother, Xia A, is also a car enthusiast like me, with infinite enthusiasm for driving and loves to modify cars. He arranges everything from suspension, brakes, exhausts, even to motorcycles. After having children, he sold all his cars and replaced them with an Odyssey. As a fellow dad, I fully understand his choice.
Rise of New Energy MPVs, Plug-in Hybrids Become Popular
When it comes to family travel, sedan seats are generally limited to 5, while SUVs have good passability but lower space utilization than MPVs. To truly meet the needs of families with many people, MPVs are the optimal choice. Traditional fuel MPVs have high energy consumption and inferior acceleration ability and handling compared to sedans. Therefore, electrifying MPVs have become the popular choice that can meet all demands.
This is not just talk, but supported by data. From market research data, the MPV market is gradually moving towards electrification. In 2021, pure electric MPV sales reached 28,612 units, an increase of 184.7% YoY. Among them, plug-in hybrid MPV sales were 6,279 units, an increase of 33.7% YoY. The total sales of new energy MPVs reached 35,027 units, a YoY increase of 137.5%. In the context of the overall decline in MPV market sales, new energy MPVs are showing a counter-growth trend.
The advantages of electric and even hybrid MPVs are perfectly matched to MPVs. The quietness easily created by the electric drive is something that conventional internal combustion engines need to make great efforts to achieve. Without the presence of the gearbox, the characteristics of the motor’s power release bring excellent responsiveness and driving smoothness. No matter what driving skills are employed, it’s difficult to make the rear passengers feel uncomfortable.
But after the electrification of MPV, pure electric MPV still lags behind hybrid MPV in terms of energy supplementation, making hybrid MPV the most reliable choice at present. However, the problem with hybrid MPVs is that they are generally expensive, like the Honda Odyssey owned by Xiao A, which now costs around 300,000 yuan. He occasionally complains to me that he bought the car too early. After all, now you can buy high-end new energy MPVs of domestic brands like BYD Tang D9 for around 300,000 yuan, which offer better power and luxury. However, he said that the most ideal scenario is a hybrid MPV under 200,000 yuan, so he doesn’t have to give up his beloved toy completely and can still keep it.
That’s when I suddenly realized that there aren’t many reliable hybrid MPVs available in the under-200,000-yuan price range. The only option is BYD Song MAX DM-i. The texture is much better than the fuel version, and I found that the Song MAX DM-i is really impressive.
The Rise of New Energy MPVs, Super Hybrid Becomes the Favorite
In terms of appearance, there is not much difference between the Song MAX DM-i and the gasoline version, mostly changes in details. It is worth mentioning that the Song MAX DM-i also introduced a unique high-roof version, which not only greatly improves the headroom of the whole car, but also enhances the comfort of the second row with a layout of six seats.
Whether it’s the high-roof version or the regular version, when not fully loaded, the third row of seats can be folded down to create a large cargo space, which is very convenient for commercial receptions, daily hauling and transportation, as well as family outings.
# The Advantages of the Song MAX DM-i Hybrid System
One of the biggest advantages of the Song MAX DM-i is its BYD 1.5L engine and electric motor hybrid system, offering a pure electric range of 51km to 105km, making it an ideal choice for green license plate vehicles. This not only lowers the purchase cost by more than 10,000 yuan due to the exemption from the purchase tax, but also offers the advantage of no restriction on driving and license plate numbers. In addition, the first maintenance is free of charge, which is very cost-effective. Even in Guangzhou, where the license plate is about 100,000 yuan, the savings are at least 20,000 yuan. Why not spend all the budget on the car itself?
Moreover, the car cost is greatly reduced due to the hybrid system. The biggest advantage of a hybrid MPV is the ability to avoid the high energy consumption of traditional MPVs. Although fuel consumption has recently decreased, even with a 95# fuel price of 9 yuan per liter, the Song MAX DM-i hybrid system mainly relies on electricity, which is more fuel efficient than gasoline cars, with an electric fuel consumption of just 4.4L per hundred kilometers. For a large car that can carry a family, this is fully acceptable. Moreover, it doesn’t matter which type of fuel is used, only 92# fuel is needed for the car to function properly, costing only a little over three cents per kilometer. The pure electric mode can be used for commuting in the city if the charging environment is friendly, and the high-end models also support fast charging, which means a cup of tea time is enough to fully charge the car, making it very convenient to use.
Although the Song MAX DM-i has a low operating cost, it is no less convenient than most pure electric vehicles. The Song MAX DM-i is equipped with a VTOL mobile power station, which is a standard feature across the range, providing a 220V AC power output of up to 3.3kW. Nowadays, many urban people have busy lives, and occasionally want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city on weekends. Camping has become the most popular way to relax. With the discharge function, it is easy to cook, sing K, and watch outdoor movies during picnics and camping, transforming into a mobile “RV” that is more caring for family travel.
In conclusion, the Song MAX DM-i is a great choice for “dad cars” due to its emphasis on both safety and intelligence.In terms of intelligent configuration, the Song MAX DM-i has also made great improvements in human-computer interaction experience. The 15.6-inch adaptive intelligent car machine rotating Pad supports both horizontal and vertical interaction experiences, and is equipped with the latest DiLink 4.0 intelligent networking system. Not only has the UI design been upgraded, but the voice assistant recognition rate is higher and can continuously recognize voice commands. Coupled with a massive APP ecology, some APPs such as Douyin and iQiyi can also be used in split-screen mode, fully satisfying the entertainment needs of family members. It is really a must-have gadget for taking care of children on trips.
In addition, the new car is equipped with the DiPilot intelligent driving assistance system, which integrates a full-speed range ACC adaptive cruise control system, predictive emergency braking system, holographic transparent image, and TSR traffic sign recognition, among other rich safety configurations. Those who drive for long distances, especially during busy times such as holidays, know that an excellent set of intelligent driving assistance functions can greatly relieve driving fatigue and protect driving focus.
Finally, the impact of the epidemic on the economy is multifaceted, and at this time, the money available for use needs to be fully utilized. Especially after having children, expenses increase exponentially. In addition, the current domestic “high and persistent oil prices” environment makes models like the Song MAX DM-i that are more concerned about vehicle fuel economy more in line with the needs of ordinary family users for travel. Choosing a Song MAX DM-i enables users to experience a car comparable to a 300,000 yuan joint venture MPV for less than 180,000 yuan. Compared with traditional fuel MPVs, it has evolved in all aspects such as quietness, fuel economy, and intelligent level, making family members feel happy while using it, thus why not go for it?
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.