New plug-in hybrid touches down in SA

PLUG-IN hybrids (PHEVs) are seen as an ideal bridge between internal combustion and electric motoring, particularly for countries such as South Africa, where long-distance driving is the norm and range anxiety is a real concern.

- Jason Woosey

That changes with the BYD Sealion 5, which is launching in South Africa this week. Pricing starts at R499900 for the Comfort version, rising to R569 900 for the Dynamic variant, in both cases significantly undercutting the larger Sealion 6, which costs from R639900.

Although they do have smaller and cheaper batteries than traditional electric vehicles, the cost of incorporating electric and petrol engines means they aren’t necessarily cheap to produce, and until now, all PHEVs have cost more than R600000 in South Africa.

The Sealion 5 also undercuts the newly introduced Geely ES EM-A, which costs R599999, and the Chery Tiggo 7 CSH PHEV, which retails at R619900.