BYD has rolled out the third-generation Yuan Plus, and the headline is not subtle: more power, a new rear-wheel-drive platform, faster charging and a much richer cabin, all while prices stay in the 120,000-150,000 yuan range. The compact electric crossover also gets a lidar-equipped top trim, which is a sharp reminder that China’s EV price war has moved well beyond ”cheap and basic” into ”cheap and annoyingly well-equipped.”
Power, platform and battery specs
The biggest hardware change is underneath the skin: the Yuan Plus has moved to BYD’s rear-wheel-drive e-platform 3.0 Evo. Buyers can choose between 200 kW, or 278 hp, and 240 kW, or 326 hp, with iTAC 2.0 handling torque distribution.
BYD pairs that with second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate batteries in 57.5 kWh and 68.5 kWh versions. Claimed range is 540 km or 630 km, and the fast-charge claim is the sort of number rivals hate to see on a slide deck: 10% to 97% in 9 minutes. That puts the car in the same conversation as other fast-charging Chinese EVs, but at a price that is far lower than what similar tech used to cost a couple of product cycles ago.
- Power: 200 kW (278 hp) or 240 kW (326 hp)
- Batteries: 57.5 kWh or 68.5 kWh
- Range: 540 km or 630 km
- Fast charging: 10% to 97% in 9 minutes
Bigger body, bigger cabin
The crossover has also grown to 4,665 mm in length, with a 2,770 mm wheelbase, and that translates into a more usable cabin rather than just more sheet metal. Cargo space is listed at 750 litres, plus a 180-litre front trunk, which is a tidy answer to the old electric-car complaint that the frunk is either tiny or pure marketing.
Inside, BYD has replaced the previous setup with a large-screen media system, a head-up display, a new steering wheel and a new gear selector. There is also 50 W wireless charging, heated and ventilated front seats, a passenger ”royal” seat with a leg rest, a fridge and a 16-speaker audio system. In the current Chinese EV market, comfort features are no longer reserved for luxury badges; they are now part of the weaponry.
Lidar, 30 sensors and city driving
The top trim adds BYD’s ”God’s Eye” B driver-assistance system, paired with a lidar unit and 30 sensors. It supports city and highway assist as well as automatic parking, which is exactly where the Chinese market keeps pushing the envelope while many overseas rivals are still treating advanced driver assistance like an expensive optional extra.
That makes the Yuan Plus a neat snapshot of BYD’s current playbook: keep the price within reach, then stack on the hardware until competitors start sweating. The new Yuan Plus shows how far BYD can push value before the rest of the market catches up.