BYD Seal 6 DM - i

FIRST DRIVE BYD may be renowned as a manufacturer of EVs, but it hand to plug - in hybrid as well

- Alex Ingram

THIS is the BYD Seal 6 DM-i, a car that manages to buck current trends in the new-car market in not just one, but two key ways.

The first is perhaps a surprising one from the biggest EV brand in the world, because the Seal 6 DM-i shows that BYD hasn't fully turned its back on the internal-combustion engine. The company dabbles in plugin hybrids, too.

In fact, 'dabbles' might be underselling it somewhat. BYD's one PHEV offering so far in the UK market, the Seal U DM-i SUV, has sold more than 10,000 units in 10 months, making it the most popular model in the brand's lineup here.

The second, and more welcome, break from the norm is that the 6 DM-i isn't joining the number of SUVs that continues to grow by the week on the UK market, thanks to its saloon and estate forms – BYD has taken a leaf from BMW's book and refers to its estate offering as the 'Touring'. Our focus is firmly on this version here, because it's the one which is predicted to make up the bulk of UK sales.

But look beyond the somewhat anodyne exterior styling of the 6 DM-i and it's what BYD boldly calls its 'Super Hybrid' powertrain that is much more interesting. Although, scanning the specifications of the petrol engine, some buyers might be a little underwhelmed at first. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit produces a modest 98bhp and 122Nm of torque. Yes, it boasts a thermal efficiency of 43 per cent – up there with the best production Engines around - but those aren't exactly mind-blowing figures for even a modern supermini. That’s a blessing, though, because it means that it’s the electric motors that are doing the heavy lifting.