BYD is rolling out an updated Hiace 06 DM-i, and the headline numbers are simple: up to 300 km of electric range and more than 1,800 km of total range. The mid-size SUV goes on sale today, 26 May, with a bigger battery-backed driving distance, more driver-assist tech, and a healthier dose of cabin indulgence.
The company says prices and full technical details will follow later, but the first cars are already arriving at dealers nationwide. That usually means BYD wants momentum before competitors get a chance to respond, and it also suggests the brand is confident the hardware upgrade will do most of the selling.
BYD Hiace 06 DM-i range and powertrain
The updated model uses BYD’s fifth-generation hybrid system built around a 1.5-liter petrol engine rated at 101 hp and an electric motor producing 218 hp. The headline figures are the important part: up to 300 km on pure electric power and a combined range of more than 1,800 km. For a plug-in hybrid SUV, that is the kind of spec that can make a daily commute look trivial and a long trip feel annoyingly easy.
- 1.5-liter petrol engine: 101 hp
- Electric motor: 218 hp
- Pure electric range: 300 km
- Total range: more than 1,800 km
DiPilot 300 and the cabin upgrades
BYD is also pushing the smart-tech angle harder. The new Hiace 06 DM-i gets a LiDAR-equipped driver-assist system with DiPilot 300, which places it in the growing group of Chinese SUVs trying to make advanced automation feel mainstream rather than premium-only. Inside, the company lists massage seats, a pull-out footrest for the front passenger, and an air-fragrance system – small luxuries, but the sort that sell cars in a crowded market where everyone claims to have ”smart” and ”comfortable” covered.
That combination matters because plug-in hybrids are no longer just about efficiency. BYD has been using range and software together as a blunt weapon against both domestic rivals and global brands, and the Hiace 06 DM-i follows the same playbook: more electric miles, more assistance features, and more reasons for buyers to stay inside the BYD ecosystem.
What BYD is signaling with this launch
The missing price is doing some work here, of course. BYD is holding back the one number that can turn a generous spec sheet into a bargain or a shrug, but the early dealer rollout suggests the company wants to control the story before the market starts comparing it against other long-range PHEVs. Expect the real fight to be less about horsepower and more about whether 300 km of electric range becomes the new baseline buyers start demanding.