As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to take off in the Philippines, BYD is a name that’s rapidly becoming instantly recognizable. Moreso with its latest offering in the country — the Seagull.
The BYD Seagull is making a splash as an affordable, compact electric hatchback perfect for city life, especially in bustling Metro Manila. Positioned in the sub-B segment, this little dynamo packs in a ton of features, solid performance, and cutting-edge technology — all for PhP 898,000
Urban-friendly design, sufficient range, and a fun drive
The BYD Seagull is built with city folks in mind with its compact dimensions (3,780 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,580 mm high) and agile response that makes it a breeze to maneuver through tight streets.
Despite its small footprint, it offers a roomy interior thanks to a generous 2,500 mm wheelbase. Plus, with BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and innovative Blade Battery tech — a 30-kWh lithium iron phosphate unit — the Seagull claims a respectable 300 km range on a single charge. That’s perfect for your daily commute and those weekend errands, cutting down the hassle of constant recharging.
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When you need to power up, the Seagull supports DC fast charging (CCS2), allowing it to go from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes. If you opt for the included 7-kW wall box charger, you can fully charge it overnight in about five hours—ideal for home charging.
More specs — the BYD Seagull offers 75Ps and 135Nm of torque. Speed tops at 130km/h with a claimed acceleration of 0-50km/h in just 4.9 seconds. It also supports V2L or Vehicle-to-Load meaning you can use its battery to power other devices as well.
BYD shows off its love for tech
At its price, the BYD Seagull comes packed with features that you’d typically find in pricier cars. On the outside, it flaunts LED projector headlights with an auto on/off function and stylish 16-inch alloy wheels. Step inside, and you’ll discover a tech-savvy cabin equipped with:
- Smart keyless entry and push-button start/stop
- NFC card entry
- A 7-inch digital gauge cluster
- A 10.1-inch rotating infotainment display featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto
- Automatic climate control with both physical and touchscreen controls
- 10W wireless phone charging
- USB Type-A and Type-C ports
- 4G connectivity for OTA updates
Inside, there’s no shortage of personality either. Seagull comfortably seats five, with two-tone leather seats and a 4-speaker audio system that elevates your driving experience.
You also get a 4-speaker system, one-piece folding for the rear seats, Day/Night rearview mirror, and LED map lighting.
Safety is a big deal with the BYD Seagull. Its body structure is made of 61% high-strength steel and is loaded with standard safety features, including 4 SRS airbags, Electronic stability control and traction control, ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), rear sensors, backup camera, and even cruise control — uncommon in its segment.
An enticing first car in general
With how the BYD Seagull is priced, designed, and built, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it as a choice as a first EV or even as a first car. Small hatchbacks are widely popular in the country and are very visible on the road. The Seagull’s entry comes as a disruptor and stands out as an alternative to ICE vehicles even if there is a price gap between competitors. The Honda Brio, for example, can go up to about 863K which isn’t a far cry from the Seagull’s price tag.
On the EV side, the Philippines does have a handful of small-sized EVs available like the Jetour Ice Cream or the Dongfeng Nano Box — all priced around similarly save for the Ice Cream which is slightly cheaper than the rest.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the Seagull against its other EV competitors.
| BYD Seagull | Wuling Bingo | Jetour Ice Cream | Dongfeng Nano Box | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | Sub-1M | 863k-996k | 699k | 888k |
| Range | 300 km | 203-333 km | 150 km | 351 km |
| Battery Capacity | 30 kWh | 17.3 kWh / 31.9 kWh | TBC | 28.9 kWh |
| Max Power (PS) | 75 PS | 110 PS | 27 PS | 45 PS |
But, again, the Seagull makes a strong case — from more tech and entertainment features, a fuller safety suite, to its very distinguishable design — especially in its Sprout Green flagship color.
Worthy of being your first?
While we haven’t had a lot of seat time with the BYD Seagull, our first impressions of it does allow us to say that it’s a capable little hatchback that works hard to give you a good balance of power, performance, comfort, and value. Offered in fun colors like Sprout Green, the BYD Seagull oozes with personality and is easily distinguishable on the road.
But it’s the Seagull’s price tag that will make you think. Pitting it against both its ICE and EV counterparts, the Seagull shows off a fair fight, and its a matter of whether or not you’re ready for electrification.
