There are road trips you remember for the scenery. Others stick in your mind because of the cars. And then there are drives like BYD Philippines’ recent stint through South Luzon, where the roads become the story itself.
The idea sounded simple enough: a multi-day drive showcasing BYD’s DM-i lineup, rotating between several vehicles along the way. Over two days, we would switch between the BYD Seal 5 DM-i, Sealion 5 DM-i, Sealion 6 DM-i, Tang DM-i, and eMax 9 DM-i, while also swapping roles inside the car – driver, front passenger, rear passenger. Three occupants per vehicle, hundreds of kilometers ahead, and plenty of time to see what these electrified powertrains could do.
What none of us quite expected was that the biggest test wouldn’t be the cars. It would be the roads.
Day 1: Alabang to Naga – The Stress Test
The first leg stretched from Alabang to Naga, cutting through Quezon and eventually into the Bicol region. On paper, it’s a scenic drive across southern Luzon.
In reality, parts of it felt like a suspension torture chamber. Some stretches were so rough they forced you to wonder whether the officials overseeing these roads actually use them. Do they drive through here regularly? Or do they somehow fly over them by helicopter?
Because the sections we encountered – especially between Quezon and the roads leading into Bicol – were brutal. And these weren’t dirt roads. They were concrete. Broken, uneven, patchy concrete that could rival some of the worst provincial routes in the country. Ironically, some unpaved dirt roads I’ve driven on felt smoother.
Calling it rough would be generous. It felt diabolical. You weren’t just testing the vehicles; you were testing the patience (and lower backs) of everyone inside them.
By the time we reached Naga that evening, the exhaustion was very real. After dinner, some members of the group simply disappeared straight into their rooms. No late-night socializing (for many), no lingering conversations about the drive. Just rest. It was that kind of day.
But if there’s any upside to driving on terrible roads, it’s that they reveal a car’s true character almost immediately. And with five different DM-i models in rotation, there was plenty to learn.
BYD Seal 5 DM-i: The Sedan Lover’s Choice
I’ve always had a soft spot for sedans. Low-slung cars just feel more natural to drive, and the Seal 5 DM-i fits that mold nicely. Despite the long day on unforgiving pavement, it proved to be an enjoyable companion behind the wheel.
The steering feels composed, the driving position is comfortable, and the powertrain has more than enough muscle for highway runs. Overtakes are easy, and the hybrid system delivers power in a smooth, predictable manner.
Ride comfort is generally good, although you can feel that the suspension could use slightly more damping – something that becomes more apparent when the road turns truly ugly. But that’s the trade-off with sedans. They’re not meant to glide over the kind of battered pavement we encountered that day.
Still, I couldn’t help but think that the Seal 5 would shine even brighter on better roads. If anything, I would have loved to take it back to some of the smoother stretches we passed earlier – before the concrete carnage began.
BYD Sealion 5 DM-i: Tough, but Not the Most Refined
Moving up into the Sealion 5 DM-i brought a different perspective. The crossover body helps absorb more of the road’s brutality compared with the sedan. Ground clearance and suspension travel clearly work in its favor when the pavement gets rough.
But refinement isn’t exactly its strongest suit. You still feel the bumps and impacts filtering into the cabin. It’s not uncomfortable per se, but it’s far from plush.
Power also feels modest compared with the other DM-i models we sampled. It’s perfectly adequate for normal driving, but when switching between vehicles during the drive, the difference becomes noticeable.
On the bright side, interior space is generous. At 5’6″, I had more than enough room in both rows, and the cabin doesn’t feel cramped even with three occupants and luggage.
BYD Sealion 6 DM-i: Comfortable, but a Little Floaty
The Sealion 6 DM-i sits in an interesting middle ground. It’s clearly more powerful than the Sealion 5 and offers a more refined driving experience overall. The cabin feels well insulated, and there’s plenty of room for passengers.
But its suspension tuning leans heavily toward softness. On rough roads, that translates to impressive absorption – you don’t feel the harshness of the pavement as directly as in some of the other vehicles.
The downside? It can feel a little too reactive. Over bumps and uneven surfaces, the body tends to move around quite a bit, almost like you’re riding in a small boat. The car doesn’t crash over imperfections, but the way it reacts can make passengers slightly uneasy after long stretches.
Still, it’s easy to drive quickly when the road opens up, and the steering never feels unwieldy. Given how many hours we spent inside it, the spacious and supportive seats were certainly appreciated.
BYD Tang DM-i: The Driver’s Pick
If I had to drive the entire route again, there’s one vehicle I’d choose without hesitation: the Tang DM-i. Among the lineup, it strikes the best balance between power, stability, and comfort. The DM-i powertrain here feels strong and effortless, making highway cruising and overtaking easy even with a full load of passengers.
More importantly, the suspension handles rough pavement with confidence. Even on the nastiest sections we encountered, the Tang maintained composure and protected occupants – especially those sitting up front – from the worst of the impacts.
Interior space is generous as well, though the rear seats could use better thigh support. For long journeys, that detail becomes noticeable. Up front, however, there’s little to complain about aside from one small aesthetic gripe: the instrument cluster isn’t exactly the most attractive piece of design.
But when the road turns ugly, form becomes secondary to function – and the Tang delivers where it matters.
Day 2: Naga to Sorsogon – Finally, a Proper Drive
The second day felt like a reward after the ordeal of Day 1. The route from Naga to Sorsogon via Legazpi offered much better roads overall. Not perfect, but significantly more manageable. This time, the drive actually allowed us to appreciate the scenery.
There were scenic provincial stretches, hours of twisty roads, and of course, the unmistakable sight of Mayon Volcano rising in the (near) distance. It was easily the most enjoyable portion of the entire drive.
For much of this leg, we were riding in the BYD eMax 9 DM-i. And frankly, it felt heavenly.
BYD eMax 9 DM-i: The Passenger’s Paradise
If the Tang is the one I’d pick as a driver, the eMax 9 DM-i is the one I’d choose as a passenger. The second-row captain’s seats are simply outstanding. Ventilation, massage functions, a reclining setup, massive legroom, and excellent air-conditioning all combine to create a genuinely relaxing environment. On a long drive, those features matter.
The DiSus-C suspension system also deserves special mention. It absorbs road imperfections with impressive composure, smoothing out uneven surfaces without feeling overly soft. You can even switch to Sport mode when tackling twisty sections, which tightens things up enough to prevent excessive body movement.
Somewhere along the scenic route toward Sorsogon, I realized I had fallen asleep soundly in the back seat. That probably says everything you need to know about how comfortable it is. To its credit, the eMax 9 is also pleasant enough to drive, though its true strength clearly lies in passenger comfort.
The DM-i Advantage
Beyond the cars themselves, the drive also highlighted the strength of BYD’s DM-i hybrid system. Our route covered nearly 700 kilometers over two days (we flew back to Manila, thankfully). Not once did we have to stop to refuel.
Of course, efficiency can vary depending on the driver. There was even a friendly competition among participants to see who could achieve the best fuel consumption. Our team didn’t win. Admittedly, our group’s collective lead foot tends to ruin those contests.
But despite varying driving styles, one thing remained consistent across the group: nobody needed to fill up along the way. That says a lot about the system’s real-world efficiency.
Another pleasant surprise was how quickly you could feel at home in any BYD vehicle. Because we constantly switched cars and driver roles, adaptability mattered.
Fortunately, the learning curve was almost nonexistent. Controls were intuitive, the infotainment systems were familiar across the lineup, and smartphone connectivity worked smoothly. Wireless integration kept our playlists and navigation running throughout the long hours on the road. When you’re spending an entire day inside a car, those small conveniences become surprisingly important.
The Bigger Takeaway
In many ways, the drive succeeded in demonstrating what BYD wanted to prove: that its DM-i vehicles combine power, efficiency, and practicality in real-world conditions.
But the trip also revealed something else – a stark reminder of how difficult everyday travel can be in parts of the Philippines.
The road sections we encountered weren’t just inconvenient; they felt borderline inhumane. And what’s even more concerning is that locals told us these roads have been in poor condition for years. It has become normal for people who regularly travel these routes.
The Department of Public Works and Highways has already vowed to fix some of these problem areas. Hopefully, those improvements arrive sooner rather than later.
Because while modern vehicles like BYD’s DM-i lineup can certainly handle rough roads, the people who rely on these routes every day deserve better. A lot better.
