Sergey Gilevich drove the single-motor BYD Da Han in a 15-minute video of 7 November 2026 and was won over by its cabin silence and soft ride. In his words the car "very much wants to look like a Mercedes S-Class" and costs about a third of one. He quotes about $35,000 for the single-motor version, which matches the CNY 235,900 (~$35,360) RWD Premium price at the ECB rate of 6 November 2026 (USD 1 = CNY 6.6713), but he finds the steering vague and says the car "weakens" past 100 km/h.
Key facts
- Price in China: CNY 235,900-275,900 (~$35,360-41,356), on sale since 13 October 2026
- Power: 370 kW (503 PS / 496 hp) rear-drive, or 570 kW (775 PS / 764 hp) with AWD
- Speed: 0-100 km/h in 4.9 s (RWD) or 3.3 s (AWD), top speed 240 or 270 km/h
- Range (CLTC): 1,008 km RWD or 880 km AWD from a 102.326 kWh LFP pack
- Charging: BYD claims 10-70% in 5 minutes and 10-97% in 9 minutes
- Size: 5,256 mm long, 3,130 mm wheelbase, 130 L front trunk; sold in China only
What Gilevich Found
Noise insulation is his headline: he calls it "a bomb for the money" and puts it on the level of a BMW 7 Series. Per the on-screen readouts, his meter reads 60.2 dB at about 77 km/h in the Da Han, against 59.5 dB at 74 km/h in a 2024 BMW 7 Series and 60.7 dB at 82 km/h in a NIO ET9, but the 7 Series and ET9 readings are from an earlier test, so it is his impression rather than a lab test. The ride is very soft and swallows small and medium bumps, though sharp joints hit harder than in an S-Class or a 7 Series. He advises keeping the 20-inch wheels on 45-profile tyres of the single-motor car, because the 21-inch dual-motor setup trades comfort for grip.
Handling is where he holds back. The steering is so light "you can turn it with a finger" and gives little feel. Rear-wheel steering of up to 7 degrees helps a little and makes tight turns easy, but he says it is not enough: above 100 km/h the car feels weaker, and for sharper handling he sends buyers to the Denza Z9 GT or Z9 sedan. Body roll is "average", and he misses stronger regeneration and seat side support. He does like the head-up display with its map.
The cabin is where he struggles to find savings. BYD says the leather runs to the floor, while he suspects top-grade Nappa-type synthetic leather (his words), but he calls the material excellent for the money. He rates the 31-speaker audio, armrest fridge, 50 W wireless charger and rear tables. What he did find: a backrest-only massage that trails the ZEEKR 8X and 9X, a mid-range, not luxury, scent, imitation Alcantara, disliked chrome on the steering wheel and screens he rates "7 out of 10". The tested trim has no electric steering-column adjustment, so at 187 cm he cannot lower the wheel far enough, and it lacks the rear window shades of the top version. The rear row has "a lot of space", with ventilation and massage, and the open system accepts any app, Russian included.
He closes by relaying a talk with Chinese manufacturers about businessmen who run firms at zero profit for years as a game. He says he does not know whether BYD's managers are like that, and that if such play lasts 20-30 years it will be "very bitter" for the whole world auto industry. The video's own title is "BYD DaHan - a mockery of the global auto industry and its 100-year history".
Performance & Specs
The single-motor car has 370 kW and BYD quotes 500 Nm and 4.9 s to 100 km/h, while the dual-motor version adds a 200 kW front motor for 570 kW, 910 Nm and 3.3 s. Gilevich drove only the single-motor car and expects the dual-motor one on test drives in about two weeks. For the full launch spec sheet see our BYD Da Han EV launch article.
| Powertrain | Single-motor RWD BEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 370 kW (503 PS / 496 hp) |
| Torque | 500 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.9 s |
| Battery | 102.326 kWh LFP |
| Range | 1,008 km CLTC |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Battery-electric (BEV), single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 370 kW (503 PS / 496 hp) RWD / 570 kW (775 PS / 764 hp) AWD |
| ACCELERATION | 4.9 s (RWD) / 3.3 s (AWD) |
| TOP SPEED | 240 km/h (RWD) / 270 km/h (AWD) |
| DRIVETRAIN | RWD or AWD |
| BATTERY | 102.326 kWh LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 1,008 km (RWD) / 880 km (AWD) CLTC |
Gilevich vs BYD
| CLAIM | IN THE VIDEO | OFFICIAL / REPORTED |
|---|---|---|
| Single-motor car | 500 hp, 4.9 s, $35,000 | 370 kW (503 PS / 496 hp), 4.9 s, CNY 235,900 (~$35,360) |
| Dual-motor car | 770 hp, 3.3 s, $41,000 | 570 kW (775 PS / 764 hp), 3.3 s, CNY 275,900 (~$41,356) |
| Range | 1,000 km CLTC; the on-screen readout showed 955 km at 94% | 1,008 km CLTC (RWD) |
| Fast charge | 10-90% in 9 minutes | BYD: 10-97% in 9 minutes |
| Size | 5.2 m long, wheelbase "3,100 and a bit" mm | 5,256 mm long, 3,130 mm wheelbase |
| Rear steering | 7 degrees | Up to 7 degrees each way |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,256 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,999 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,130 mm |
| Front trunk | 130 L |
Gilevich, 187 cm tall, has three fingers of knee room in the driver's seat and calls the rear row spacious. The front trunk is "not small", lined, with an electric close button, and is listed at 130 L. The doors close softly but are not powered.
| LENGTH | 5,256 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,999 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,510 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 3,130 mm |
| FRUNK | 130 L |
Charging & Battery
BYD claims its flash charging adds 10-70% in 5 minutes and 10-97% in 9 minutes, and Gilevich quotes the 9 minutes (as 10-90%). He did not charge the car in the video, but the on-screen readout showed 955 km of indicated range at 94% charge.
| BATTERY | 102.326 kWh LFP, second-generation Blade Battery |
|---|---|
| DC 10-70% TIME | 5 min (BYD claim) |
| DC 10-97% TIME | 9 min (BYD claim) |
Design & Interior
The Da Han is a long, low sedan with a full-width light strip and 20-inch multi-spoke wheels on the tested car, and Gilevich says the looks are why he rushed to film it.
Technology & Features
He says the system "flies". It has an app store, a head-up display with a map and a camera display in place of the rear-view mirror.
Safety & ADAS
All three trims carry roof LiDAR and BYD's God's Eye B assist, which BYD says includes urban navigation assist and valet parking. Gilevich did not test it, and no independent crash rating has been published yet.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (God's Eye B, LiDAR version) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Roof LiDAR, urban and highway navigation assist, automated valet parking, rear-wheel steering |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RWD LiDAR Premium | 496 hp | 500 Nm | 4.9s | 240 km/h | RWD | 102.3 kWh | 1,008 km | CNY 235,900 (~$35,360) | Entry trim; its price matches the ~$35,000 single-motor car Gilevich drove |
| RWD LiDAR Flagship | 496 hp | 500 Nm | 4.9s | 240 km/h | RWD | 102.3 kWh | 1,008 km | CNY 249,900 (~$37,459) | Same drivetrain, higher equipment grade |
| AWD LiDAR Flagship | 764 hp | 910 Nm | 3.3s | 270 km/h | AWD | 102.3 kWh | 880 km | CNY 275,900 (~$41,356) | Dual motor 570 kW |
Pricing & Availability
The Da Han went on sale in China on 13 October 2026 with launch prices CNY 14,000-24,000 below the August pre-sale list. BYD has not confirmed an export launch.
How It Compares
Gilevich's own yardstick is the Mercedes S-Class: he says the Da Han costs three times less and accelerates faster, but loses to the S-Class in high-speed stability. The Denza Z9 GT is the car he names for firmer handling, and it costs about $5,000 more at the entry trim.
- Cabin noise on par with a 7 Series (60.2 dB on screen at about 77 km/h)
- Soft ride on 45-profile tyres and a roomy rear row
- 1,008 km CLTC and BYD's 9-minute 10-97% claim for CNY 235,900 (~$35,360)
- Premium-feeling cabin with 31 speakers, fridge and rear tables
- Light, vague steering and a car that feels weaker above 100 km/h
- Weak regeneration and no seat side support
- No electric wheel adjustment or rear shades on the tested trim
- No export date outside China
Take the Da Han if you want a quiet, soft, spacious executive sedan and rarely push it, and the single-motor version on 20-inch wheels suits that best. Look at the Denza Z9 GT if steering feel and high-speed composure matter more. Gilevich has not yet driven the dual-motor car.
