Author: Dashi
Since the launch of the DM-i super hybrid technology, sales of BYD vehicles have once again experienced a steady increase, with some regions even experiencing a phenomenon of “hard to find cars”. At the Guangzhou Auto Show not long ago, the BYD Song Pro DM-i hybrid version was officially launched and is available for pre-order, with five models priced between RMB 135,800 and 162,800.
A Quick Look at the BYD Song Pro DM-i
- The Song Pro DM-i, like the Song Plus DM-i, is a compact SUV, but with a slightly lower positioning.
- It measures 4650/1860/1700 mm in length, width and height, with a wheelbase of 2712 mm, slightly smaller than the Song Plus DM-i.
- It adopts a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine+EHS hybrid system, providing two pure electric driving ranges of 51 km and 110 km, with a fuel consumption of only 4.4 L/100 km in hybrid mode.
Dragon Face 3.0 Styling
The 2021 gasoline version of the BYD Song Pro has replaced the old styling with this brand new Dragon Face 3.0 styling. The DM-i model shares the same basic appearance, with the proportion of the front grille area to the car body increasing from 60% to 75%.
Compared to the 2021 gasoline version, the DM-i model’s inner grille horizontal stripe is now a double-layer structure. The top “dragon whiskers” part is completely the same, while the bottom matte silver front apron adds a sense of sportiness and creates a richer visual experience.
The front and rear lamps continue to use full-LED light sources, with the top and “dragon whiskers” naturally blending together. The headlights are divided into three compartments by the “dragon claw” shaped LED daytime running lights, and all models except the entry-level one support adaptive high and low beam switching.
The body of this compact SUV is 4650/1860/1700 mm in size and has a wheelbase of 2712 mm, which is considered relatively large. The side profile follows the classic SUV proportion, with silver and black options for the decorative panel on the D-pillar.
The round shape of the dual-color exterior rearview mirrors integrates NFC induction module, LED turn signal, and 360° panoramic camera (except for the entry-level model), and also supports electric adjustment, folding, heating, and lock automatic folding.
The top-of-the-line model is equipped with 19-inch multi-spoke dual-color wheels, which looks quite trendy overall. The Jiatong driving SUV 880 series tire with a specification of 235/50 R19 has good grip performance on both dry and wet surfaces. Other models are equipped with 225/60 R18 tires, with smaller wheels and narrower tread.
The rear of the car is identical to the gasoline version, with the same “dragon’s claw” taillights that have high recognition. Besides the green new energy license plate, only the small logo and the charging port on the right fender can prove the identity of this car.
Luxurious and Comfortable Cabin
The interior of the car is also unified with the latest luxurious and comfortable cabin style, using a large area of soft materials and leather wrap, with overall excellent materials and workmanship. The Y-shaped center console also adopts a large-area baking paint panel, which looks both comfortable and atmospheric, and has a DM-i model exclusive color scheme of Khaki and Gray.
The full LCD instrument cluster has been upgraded to 8.8 inches (8 inches for gasoline version), with rich display content, delicate effect, and two interface styles to choose from, classic and minimalist.
The central control screen varies according to the different configurations, with the lowest configuration being 10.1 inches, and the top configuration being 15.6 inches, while the rest are 12.8 inches. Except for the lowest configuration that uses the DiLink 3.0 system, the rest use the latest DiLink 4.0 system, with specific functions and operating logic consistent with the BYD Dolphin and Han we previously evaluated.
The BYD Heart region around the gear lever integrates a few physical buttons that are used most frequently, including one-key start, electronic handbrake, hazard lights, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, automatic parking, pure electric/oil-electric mode, snow mode, driving mode, air conditioning, and multimedia control.
The front charging interface is centrally located in a dual-channel under the gear lever, with a 12V power supply, two USB ports, and a Micro SD card slot for a built-in driving recorder. However, the openings on both sides are not that large.
The Kirin brown handle on the door is a finishing touch, and the lower part of the door panel extends to the bottom to wrap around the car body for effective protection against dirty trousers when getting in and out of the car.
The one-piece seats feature a contrasting color design, with a very soft and comfortable filling material. The high-end models also support heating and ventilation at the same time.
The rear seats are also very soft, with adjustable backrest angles that can achieve a nearly half-laying position.
The space is not much different from the current model, with a fully flat structure for the central console, and a suitable angle for the seat cushion length, which provides excellent comfort for the rear passengers.
The trunk is very flat, and the overall load space is large. The capacity has not been announced yet, but it can be referred to the fuel version, which is 520-1340L. The rear seats support a 4:6 folding ratio. When the seat cushion is folded down, the backrest will also sink, so the backrest can be fully flattened, which is very practical.
DM-i Super Hybrid
The high-efficiency 1.5 L naturally aspirated engine used in the Song Pro DM-i adopts the Atkinson cycle, with a maximum power of 81 kW (110 Ps)/6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 135 N·m/4500 rpm. It can operate in the high-efficiency range as much as possible when driving the motor to generate electricity.
Using lithium iron phosphate blade battery, the fuel consumption of the 51 km range version is 4.4 L/100 km, and the fuel consumption of the 110 km range version is 4.5 L/100 km.
Summary
As a minor facelift model, the 2022 Song Pro DM-i not only continues the practicality and large space of the current model but also further enhances the luxury feeling. It also has the currently top-level DM-i Super Hybrid system, which is indeed difficult to find a rival in the price range of around 150,000 yuan.
On the first day of November when the new car was available for reservation, the 2022 Song Pro DM-i received 18,116 orders, continuing the hot momentum of the DM-i family. I believe that after delivery forms a certain scale, we will soon be able to see its figure in the monthly sales top 10 list.
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.