BYD officially launched the Song Ultra DM-i in China on May 28, 2026, giving its mid-size Song Ultra SUV a plug-in hybrid option alongside the existing all-electric version already covered on freshmotors. The DM-i pairs a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine with an electric motor for up to 1,845 km of combined range, aimed at buyers who want a spacious family SUV without range anxiety or a premium price tag. Five trims span CNY 129,900 to 159,900 (about $19,200 to $23,600), split between a 205 km and a 310 km CLTC electric-only range depending on battery size. The car shares its sloped-roof, coupe-like silhouette with the smaller Song L DM-i, though BYD still classifies it as a mid-size SUV rather than a coupe or liftback.
Performance & Specs
The Song Ultra DM-i pairs a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine (70 kW / 94 hp) with an electric motor rated at 175 kW (235 hp) and roughly 270 Nm of torque, running through BYD's DM-i hybrid transmission rather than a conventional gearbox. It's front-wheel drive only — BYD hasn't offered an all-wheel-drive version of this generation. The reviewer clocked 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and a 180 km/h top speed, reasonable numbers for a family-oriented plug-in hybrid rather than a performance play. Fuel consumption once the battery is depleted comes in at 3.3 L/100 km, a figure confirmed independently by both BYD's official rating and the reviewer's own on-camera reading.
| Powertrain | DM-i plug-in hybrid (1.5L NA + motor) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 70 kW (94 hp) |
| Motor | 175 kW (235 hp), ~270 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.5 s |
| Top speed | 180 km/h |
| Range | 310 km EV / 1,845 km combined |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Plug-in hybrid (DM-i) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 235 hp (175 kW motor) |
| ACCELERATION | 7.5 s (0-100 km/h) |
| TOP SPEED | 180 km/h |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD |
| BATTERY | 26.6 kWh or 38 kWh LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 205–310 km CLTC |
| COMBINED RANGE | Up to 1,845 km CLTC |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,850 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,910 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,840 mm |
At 4,850 mm long with a 2,840 mm wheelbase, the Song Ultra DM-i is a genuine B-segment mid-size SUV despite the sloped roofline visually borrowed from the smaller Song L. Cargo space measures 680 liters with the five-seat cabin in use, expanding to 1,700 liters with the rear seats folded flat — a manual fold rather than a powered one. The demo car rode on Kumho tires and 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic glass roof with a powered sunshade sits overhead, letting in light without the heat gain of a fixed glass panel.
| LENGTH | 4,850 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,910 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,670 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,840 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 680 L (seats up) / 1,700 L (seats folded) |
| SEATING | 5 seats |
Charging & Battery
The Song Ultra DM-i uses BYD's second-generation LFP Blade battery in two sizes: 26.6 kWh for the 205 km CLTC electric-only trims, and 38 kWh for the 310 km trims. A standard AC charge takes roughly 3 to 5 hours for a full battery. BYD hasn't published an exact DC fast-charging time for this generation's DM-i pack, so treat any specific minute figure with caution until officially confirmed. With a full tank and full battery, combined range tops out at 1,845 km, and once the battery is depleted the 60-liter fuel tank and 1.5L engine take over at a rated 3.3 L/100 km.
| BATTERY | 26.6 kWh or 38 kWh LFP Blade (Gen 2) |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | ~3–5 hours (full charge) |
| FUEL TANK | 60 L, 3.3 L/100 km depleted |
Design & Interior
The Song Ultra DM-i wears a coupe-like sloped roofline and slim, blade-style LED tail lights that BYD calls "Chong Guang Jie" running lights, plus front LED headlights with separate high and low beams. Inside, the demo car had a light grey interior with a dual-screen dashboard layout, a driver display paired with a large center touchscreen, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with the "Song" character badge at its center. Standard comfort features include a "queen co-pilot" front passenger seat with ventilation, heating, massage and a powered leg rest, plus a rear "big bed mode" that folds the interior flat for sleeping — both aimed squarely at family road-trip use. The reviewer confirmed the infotainment runs a full English-language interface option alongside Chinese.
Technology & Features
Every Song Ultra DM-i trim comes standard with BYD's Yunnian-C intelligent damping body control system and a 16-speaker Dirac surround sound system, both unusual standard-fit items at this price point. The center touchscreen supports BYD's own infotainment software with a full English toggle, and the driver display shows real-time charge percentage, estimated remaining charge time and electric-only range directly behind the wheel.
Safety & ADAS
Standard safety kit includes a 360-degree camera system and a dense array of parking sensors, plus BYD's TBC (tire-blowout control) system to keep the car stable if a tire fails at speed. The range-topping 310 km trim adds an optional roof-mounted LiDAR unit as part of BYD's "God's Eye B" smart-driving package, a feature not available on the four lower trims.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2 (base) / L2+ with optional LiDAR (top trim) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | 360° camera, parking sensors, TBC blowout stability |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 km Leading | 235 hp | 270 Nm | 7.5s | 180 km/h | FWD | 26.6 kWh | 205 km | Over 1,700 km | $19,200 | Entry trim |
| 205 km Surpass | 235 hp | 270 Nm | 7.5s | 180 km/h | FWD | 26.6 kWh | 205 km | Over 1,700 km | $20,700 | Adds comfort/convenience options |
| 310 km Honor | 235 hp | 270 Nm | 7.5s | 180 km/h | FWD | 38 kWh | 310 km | 1,845 km | $22,100 | Larger battery for longer EV range |
| 310 km Flagship | 235 hp | 270 Nm | 7.5s | 180 km/h | FWD | 38 kWh | 310 km | 1,845 km | $22,900 | Adds flagship trim equipment |
| 310 km Flagship LiDAR | 235 hp | 270 Nm | 7.5s | 180 km/h | FWD | 38 kWh | 310 km | 1,845 km | $23,600 | Adds God's Eye B LiDAR smart-driving package |
Pricing & Availability
The Song Ultra DM-i launched in China on May 28, 2026 across five trims running from CNY 129,900 to 159,900 (about $19,200 to $23,600). It sits alongside the previously-covered all-electric Song Ultra EV in BYD's lineup, giving buyers the choice between pure electric range and a plug-in hybrid with no charging-related range anxiety. As of July 2026, BYD has not confirmed export availability for this specific DM-i generation, and the reviewer noted BYD's export paperwork for 2026-model vehicles is lagging behind rivals like XPeng, ZEEKR and Leapmotor, which already have 2026 models cleared for shipping — so international buyers going through resellers may currently only be able to source the prior model year.
How It Compares
Against its own BYD siblings, the Song Ultra DM-i undercuts both the Song L DM-i and Song Pro DM-i on price while offering meaningfully more power (235 hp versus 100-194 hp) and a longer combined range (1,845 km versus roughly 1,090-1,100 km) — the reviewer specifically noted the Song Ultra shares its sloped-roof design language with the Song L, making the two easy to visually confuse despite the Ultra's larger footprint and stronger powertrain. The Sealion 06 DM-i is the closest match on power (194 hp) but costs about $1,350 more for less combined range. For buyers who want the most range and power per dollar in BYD's own mid-size PHEV SUV lineup, the Song Ultra DM-i is the strongest value on this list.
- Starting price of $19,200 undercuts BYD's own Song L and Song Pro DM-i siblings while offering more power and range
- Up to 1,845 km combined range with a genuinely useful 310 km electric-only option on higher trims
- Standard features like the 16-speaker Dirac sound system and Yunnian-C damping control are unusual at this price
- LiDAR-based smart-driving package is limited to the single range-topping trim, unlike some rivals that offer it lower in the lineup
- Front-wheel drive only, with no all-wheel-drive option for buyers who want it
The Song Ultra DM-i is a straightforward value play: more power, more range and more standard equipment than BYD's own cheaper Song-badged PHEVs, at a price that still undercuts them. It's aimed squarely at family buyers who want a spacious mid-size SUV with genuine road-trip range and don't need all-wheel drive or the top trim's LiDAR smart-driving package. For most shoppers in this segment, the entry or mid trims already deliver the bulk of what makes this car appealing, making the range-topping LiDAR version more of a nice-to-have than a must-buy.
