They say choosing a car is like choosing a partner—you need to think it through carefully to find the one that suits you. But after a three-month "honeymoon" with BYD, I’ve started to wonder if I made the right choice.
I was initially attracted to BYD because of its "new era" vibe.
The label of "new energy" represents environmental friendliness and the future. The fact that it's a domestic brand stirred my national pride. Coupled with the overwhelming ads and recommendations from friends, I had high expectations. It felt like owning it would bring a better life.
However, reality has turned out to be like a bitter cup of tea—full of anticipation at first, but leaving a bitter aftertaste.
The range problem was something I didn’t anticipate.
The "dreams of faraway places" painted by the salespeople crumbled in the face of reality. The advertised range of over 400 kilometers barely reached just over 300 kilometers in my experience—and that’s when driving only in the city.
Once, due to work, I had to make an impromptu trip to the suburbs, only to be faced with the alarming "low battery" warning while on the highway.
Watching the destination on my GPS get closer while my remaining battery dwindled, panic started to set in. That’s when I fully understood the term "range anxiety."
To avoid getting stranded, I had to slow down, turn off the air conditioning, and even refrain from playing music to save every bit of battery.
When I finally found a charging station, there was already a long line. Seeing all the equally anxious drivers waiting, I couldn’t help but sigh in regret.
Back when I drove a gasoline car, I never had to deal with these worries. I could go wherever I wanted without the fear of running out of gas mid-journey.
Now, I have to carefully plan my trips around charging stations, even altering my travel plans.
It feels like I’ve lost my freedom, being bound by the need to charge.
Besides range anxiety, the inconvenience of charging is a constant headache.
Since I can't install a home charging station, I rely on public ones.
Public chargers are limited in number and unevenly distributed, so it’s often hard to find one.
Sometimes, I finally find a free charger, only to discover it’s painfully slow.
Charging the car can take several hours, which is an unbearable waste of time for someone like me with a busy schedule.
To make matters worse, some charging stations have issues—failing to recognize the car or suddenly disconnecting during charging, catching you off guard.
Every time this happens, I can’t help but complain—why is charging so difficult?
Is this really the "future" of electric vehicles?
Apart from range and charging, the interior of the BYD has also been disappointing.
When I first got the car, there was a strong, pungent odor inside. I thought it would go away after a while, but even after months, the smell still lingers.
I’ve tried various methods like placing activated charcoal bags and spraying air fresheners, but nothing has worked.
This unpleasant odor not only affects my mood while driving but also makes me worry about the air quality inside the car—could it harm my health?
I started to wonder if BYD cut corners on materials.
Why didn’t my friends, who also bought BYD cars, have the same issue?
Was I just unlucky, or did I get a "defective" vehicle?
What frustrates me the most is BYD’s much-touted smart system, which frequently malfunctions.
The 360-degree surround view often lags, freezes, or even goes black, making me nervous when reversing, afraid I might hit something.
The dashcam’s recording function is also hit or miss. Sometimes it works fine, but other times it doesn’t respond at all, causing me to miss important footage.
Once, I needed footage from the dashcam to provide evidence for a minor accident, only to find out that it didn’t record anything that day, costing me unnecessary repair fees.
That’s when I realized that these "high-tech" features aren’t as mature as they seem and could even pose safety risks.
Whenever these problems arise, I can’t help but wonder—has BYD really taken user safety seriously?
Did they sacrifice reliability and safety just to chase after "tech appeal"?
BYD does have some good points.
Its acceleration is impressive, with quick starts and strong power, providing some driving pleasure.
During driving, there’s almost no noise, making the ride more comfortable and quiet compared to traditional gasoline cars.
The interior space of the BYD is also quite roomy, making it suitable for daily commuting or family outings.
But these advantages can’t outweigh the problems.
Whenever I’m troubled by range anxiety, charging hassles, the interior odor, and smart system failures, I can’t help but regret my choice of BYD.
Did I really choose this car just to save a little gas money, only to endure these frustrations and annoyances?
I find myself missing the carefree days of driving a gasoline car—going wherever I wanted without worrying about range, waiting in line for charging, or fretting over air quality and smart system glitches.
Maybe, for people who can install a home charger or don’t drive frequently, BYD is a good option.
But for someone like me, who often drives long distances and has high expectations for vehicle quality and user experience, BYD isn’t an ideal choice.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this:
Why is there such a big gap between my expectations and the reality of my choice?
Is there really a problem with BYD’s products, or were my expectations too high?
Or perhaps, I didn’t do enough research before buying and was misled by the salespeople’s sweet talk?
I think the answer is multi-faceted.
As a rapidly rising domestic brand, BYD still has some gaps to close in areas like technology development, product quality, and after-sales service compared to established joint ventures.
The new energy vehicle industry itself is still in its early stages, with many technologies not fully mature and infrastructure not yet complete, leading to many inconveniences for users.
More importantly, I also had some misconceptions in my car-buying mindset.
I relied too much on marketing and word-of-mouth, while overlooking my actual needs and circumstances.
I thought that by choosing a new energy vehicle, I was choosing environmental protection, technology, and the future, without considering the real-world challenges of range, charging, and safety.
This experience has taught me an important lesson:
Buying a car isn’t just about mobility; it also impacts our quality of life and safety.
When choosing a car, we shouldn’t blindly follow trends or focus only on price and features—we must also consider our personal needs and circumstances, making rational analyses and judgments.
We should also have confidence and patience with domestic brands.
Though they will inevitably face various problems and challenges as they develop, as long as they continue to innovate and improve product quality and services, they will surely earn consumer trust and recognition.
To those considering buying a BYD or any other new energy vehicle:
Before making a decision, do thorough research and don’t be swayed by superficial appeal or blindly follow the trend.
Choosing the right one for you is the best choice.
