BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, a compact plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan that arrives with a larger body, lower fuel consumption and a starting price of 76,900 yuan (about $10,800), according to NetEase Auto. The model is offered in three trims, with pure-electric range options of 140 km and 220 km under China's CLTC test cycle, priced between 76,900 and 97,900 yuan (about $10,800 to $13,800). These are Chinese guide prices before taxes and incentives.
The new Qin Plus adopts a redesigned exterior that drops the previous generation's large front grille in favour of a more streamlined "wind-breaking" nose, flanked by new blade-shaped headlights and a flowing rear light bar. BYD has also enlarged the car's footprint: it now measures 4,840 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,498 mm tall, with a 2,800 mm wheelbase, up from the outgoing model. A 17-inch sport wheel is standard.
Interior and driver assistance upgrades
Inside, the cabin features a 12.8-inch central touchscreen, an 8.8-inch semi-flush digital instrument cluster and a new two-spoke leather steering wheel. BYD has swapped the previous piano-black trim for softer materials and wood-grain accents. The front seats gain heating and ventilation, the rear cushion is extended by 21 mm, and boot space grows to 570 litres, with 33 storage compartments throughout the cabin.
The third-generation Qin Plus can be equipped with BYD's optional "God's Eye B" lidar-based driver assistance package, which supports urban navigation assistance, highway cruising and automated parking. BYD is also offering a one-year safety guarantee for its urban pilot system, a first for the company, according to the report. The car runs the latest DiLink 150 infotainment system with a redesigned user interface.
Efficiency and range
BYD claims the new Qin Plus achieves a fuel consumption of just 2.58 litres per 100 km in depleted-battery (hybrid) mode, an improvement over its predecessor. The pure-electric range of 220 km on the top trim is the longest among its PHEV peers in the segment, BYD says, while combined range with a full tank and battery exceeds 2,290 km. The CLTC figures are typically 15-20% more optimistic than the WLTP standard, so a WLTP-equivalent electric range would be roughly 120-190 km (est.) depending on trim.
The car also comes with BYD's high-safety blade battery, a high-speed tyre-blowout stability control system, driver fatigue monitoring and enhanced noise insulation. The launch follows a string of aggressive price moves by BYD in China's competitive PHEV market, where the Qin family has been a top seller. NetEase Auto reported the launch on October 27.
