Netspeed Software Inc.

Interest in electrified vehicles has been growing, especially in recent weeks, and more manufacturers want a piece of the pie currently dominated by BYD Cars Philippines. One of the latest entries in our market is the Geely EX5 EM-i, and yes, it is the plug-in hybrid sibling of the fully electric EX5. For this spec-sheet brawl, we’ll be pitting the new Geely crossover against the most popular PHEV in the local compact-crossover class, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i. Let’s see how the challenger stacks up against the segment leader.

Both of these vehicles are front-wheel-drive and follow a similar philosophy, with an electric-biased PHEV system. Both feature a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that acts as a generator in ‘series’ mode and as a power assist in ‘parallel’ mode when you need extra boost. The EX5 EM-i’s electric motor puts out 215hp and 262Nm, while the Sealion 6 DM-i generates 194hp and 325Nm. For those curious, the manufacturer’s 0-100kph times are 8sec for the Geely and 8.3sec for the BYD.

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco

On the tech side of things, the EX5 EM-i has a 15.4-inch touchscreen, while the Sealion 6 has a 15.6-inch touchscreen that rotates. For connectivity, the Geely is equipped with Apple CarPlay, while the BYD has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Note that the EX5 BEV sibling, which was launched last year, has been receiving over-the-air updates, including Android Auto. The Geely has a single wireless charger while the BYD has two. The EX5 EM-i’s top Max trim featured here comes with 16 speakers, while the Sealion 6 gets 10.

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Both compact crossovers come with a host of safety features, including advanced driver-assist systems. Another feature present on both electrified vehicles is a 360-degree-view camera system. Geely also highlights ‘Volvo Safety DNA’ in its marketing.

In terms of size, the two are very close to each other, with the EX5 EM-i measuring 35mm shorter, 15mm wider, and 15mm taller than the Sealion 6 DM-i. As for the unladen ground clearance, the Geely sits 1mm lower than its BYD rival.

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco

The Geely EX5 EM-i Max is priced at P1,468,000, while the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i retails for P1,548,000. Notably, the lower trim EX5 EM-i Pro, which lacks some features like ADAS, the panoramic sunroof, the power tailgate, 19-inch wheels, and the fancy 16-speaker system, is priced at P1,288,000, which is closer to the smaller Sealion 5 DM-i’s P1,198,000.

It looks like Geely has been studying BYD’s Sealion 6 very closely. It’s definitely a close fight between these two compact PHEV crossovers. The question now is, which one would you choose? If you’re still undecided, check out the side-by-side spec sheet we prepared and let us know in the comments which one you’d rather take on a real road trip.