The Qin Plus DM-i plug-in hybrid from BYD is shaking up the Chinese automotive market. PHEVs in its segment and beyond are highly competitively priced with a starting price of 79,800 yuan, approximately $11,000.
In a statement posted on the company’s social media channels, BYD stated that the price of gasoline would cause gasoline car assemblers to tremble. As far as the compact car segment is concerned, the Glory Edition will establish a new benchmark.
Chinese media has noted that the Qin Plus DM-i is at least 15 percent cheaper than competitive models such as the VW Lavida, China’s top-selling car, the Toyota Corolla, and the Prius hybrid.
China’s Qin Plus DM-i is the company’s primary electric vehicle, but the Glory Edition is the latest cut-price variant that is $2,700 cheaper than the previous entry-level model. BYD is also very adept at building plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs, despite not being a pure battery-electric vehicle like many of their other cars.
The Qin Plus DM-i’s powertrain is largely the same in all variants, including the Glory Edition. An engine with a displacement of 1.5 liters is equipped with 110 horsepower and 99.5 lb-ft (135 Nm) of torque. A 197 horsepower / 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) and 180 horsepower / 233 lb-ft (316 Nm) electric motor provides additional power.
A BYD Blade battery provides the powertrain’s backup, available in capacity sizes of 8.32 kWh and 18.32 kWh. The Glory Edition has a range of just 55 kilometers (34 miles), so we assume it’s the smaller of the two.
It is reasonable to assume that the interior of the PHEV will be extremely basic, given its low starting price. This is not the case, however. A large central infotainment screen as well as a digital instrument cluster are standard features on all versions of the Qin Plus DM-i. Besides leather seats, metal speaker grilles air vents, and leather dashboards, the vehicle is also available with leather seats.