BYD's model lineup is now quite comprehensive, covering everything from sedans to SUVs, and even sports cars. The range spans from the smallest microcars to large SUVs. However, when it comes to MPVs, although we have seen benchmark models like the Denza D9. upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that BYD's main brand lacks a mid-to-large-sized new energy MPV.
The new vehicle from BYD's Dynasty network, "Xia," is set to fill this gap. It was officially unveiled to the public on the media day of the Chengdu Auto Show, along with a pre-sale price announcement of 300.000 yuan. As a mid-to-large-sized new energy MPV, we are highly curious about this vehicle. Our interest isn't just in the product's revealed capabilities, but also in its pricing. After all, a pre-sale price of 300.000 yuan is certainly worth analyzing.
As the new "dynasty" in the Dynasty series, the choice of "Xia" as the name is intriguing. Xia was China’s first dynasty, symbolizing "pioneering." As BYD's first entry in the MPV sector under its main brand, using this dynastic name seems quite fitting.
Being the start of a "new dynasty," this vehicle naturally comes with an entirely new exterior design. Its design is unlike any of BYD’s previous models, and it’s highly likely that the exterior style of the Xia will serve as the foundation for BYD’s future MPV family design. So, it's worth taking a closer look at its appearance. Whether or not it's attractive is subjective, but in my opinion, it looks quite good, at least without any odd design elements.
Currently, not much information has been revealed about this car, but one thing is certain: like many of BYD's other new models this year, the Xia will also feature the DM5.0 plug-in hybrid system. There's no need to elaborate on the power of this system—it’s already well-known. It’s highly likely that the Xia will set new benchmarks in the mid-to-large new energy MPV sector in terms of energy consumption and range.
In addition to the DM5.0 system, as a mid-to-large MPV, the Xia will certainly have all the typical features of a domestic MPV—refrigerators, TVs, and large sofas. These are the basics. Since the interior hasn’t been revealed yet, we can’t comment on it, but based on BYD’s other models, it’s safe to say it won’t disappoint.
After its unveiling, many people immediately speculated that the BYD Xia is simply a rebranded Denza D9. Let’s clarify: while the side lines of the Xia and D9 do bear some resemblance, particularly in the decorative design around the D-pillar, the BYD Xia’s dimensions are 5145mm (length) x 1970mm (width) x 1805mm (height), with a wheelbase of 3045mm. In comparison, the Denza D9 is 5250mm long, with a wheelbase of 3110mm. So, the BYD Xia is actually smaller than the D9.
As for whether the Xia and D9 share the same platform, it’s not out of the question. The Denza D9’s platform is excellent and advanced, and since the D9 has already been mass-produced for some time, the platform’s costs have been reduced. Building the Xia on this platform would help lower the overall production cost of the vehicle.
Given that, we can boldly speculate about the possible pricing of the BYD Xia. We already have a price anchor: the pre-sale price of 300.000 yuan. Typically, the official retail price will be lower than the pre-sale price. Therefore, we can predict that the starting price of the BYD Xia will be below 300.000 yuan. But by how much? That’s hard to say. Considering its size, positioning, and the Denza D9’s price of 339.800 yuan, we lean towards a starting price around 280.000 yuan.
If it indeed starts at 280.000 yuan, this vehicle would be incredibly competitive. At that price, it would directly challenge models like the Odyssey and Sienna, whose new energy versions generally start at around 220.000 yuan. For just a few thousand yuan more, you could upgrade to a higher-class vehicle, and most consumers would likely opt for this upgrade.
For models priced at or slightly below 300.000 yuan, the BYD Xia will undoubtedly take a significant share of the market. So, as long as the pricing isn’t excessive, this vehicle is almost certain to become a major hit, potentially dominating the mid-to-large new energy MPV market for a long time.
For now, we’ll have to wait for the official pricing. But barring any surprises, the BYD Xia could very well be a “no-brainer” purchase.
