Byd does not build many cars like the BYD Song Plus: a 5-door crossover SUV with Petrol engine, built from 2020 to 2023 in the decade the industry is turning electric.
The background
The BYD Song Plus (Chinese: 比亚迪宋PLUS) is a compact SUV manufactured by BYD Auto since 2020. It is part of the BYD Song series of SUVs that are named after the Song dynasty. Initially available solely as an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, in 2021 BYD introduced the plug-in hybrid Song Plus DM-i and the battery electric Song Plus EV. The petrol model was phased out in 2022. Originally part of the Dynasty Series line-up, the Song Plus has been sold in China through the Ocean Network dealership chain since 2022 to diversify the offerings of the newly established Ocean Series. The Dynasty Series counterpart of the Song Plus, the Song L DM-i, was introduced in 2024. In 2023, BYD introduced the Song Plus EV as the BYD Seal U in Europe.
The plug-in hybrid Seal U DM-i was introduced later in 2024. In mid-2024, the plug-in hybrid model was introduced in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand as the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i. As of 2024, the Song Plus is the best-selling BYD SUV in China. Global cumulative production of the model (excluding the ICE-powered variant) surpassed 1 million units by July 2024. The Song Plus was removed from the BYD Auto China website in January 2026. The newer and larger Sealion 06, available in DM-i and EV variants, became its de facto successor. While in export markets, the Song Plus / Seal U / Sealion 6 remain BYD's staple model.
The engineering
Under the skin sits Petrol engine; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 1560 kg. The gearbox is a 7-speed Dual-clutch transmission / DCT (petrol) / Continuously variable transmission / E-CVT (DM-i). The wheelbase is 2765 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Where it sits
Where it sits in Byd's history is not in doubt: the BYD Sealion 06 (China) followed it; it was built at Xi'an, Shaanxi. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Tesla Model Y, the Porsche Taycan, the Kia EV6. Its Byd stablemates include the BYD 8TT and the BYD Atto 2.