Peter Lyon
October 1, 2024
With its July Southeast Asian premiere in Indonesia, BYD has now officially announced that Malaysia would soon welcome the M6 completely electric MPV. No folks, there’s no mistake. That is an “M6” and no, it’s not from BMW.
The actual date of the debut has not yet been revealed by BYD Malaysia or its local distributor Sime Darby Beyond Auto, but considering the brand’s history of releasing at least one vehicle annually, we can expect the M6 in the next two months.
Regarding specs, let’s read into the specs from the car in Thailand and Indonesia. First things first. The M6 is an all-electric (EV) MPV that was inspired by the e6, which was originally intended to be introduced in Malaysia. It comes in six- and seven-seater versions, but it’s uncertain if we’ll receive both of them as well.
The M6, which is basically an e6 facelift, has undergone a substantial nip and tuck, especially on the front end, which now has full-width silver trim in conjunction with new headlights to match the new brand design. The outward makeover of the M6 is completed with a set of 17-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels and full-width tail lamps with elaborate design.
Inside, the changes are somewhat more subdued. Indeed the most noticeable change is the new open-pore wood-grain dashboard, which replaces the e6’s glossy surface. The centre console has also undergone revision, most notably by losing the rotary dial in favour of a new, short gear lever. Regrettably, a new wireless charging pad has replaced the physical temperature controls.
The central infotainment display, located higher up on the dashboard, has also increased in size, measuring 12.8 inches instead of 10.1, and it now features an orientation switch feature that allows the display to rotate 90 degrees. For a more contemporary look, updates have also been made to the instrument cluster and steering wheel.
An NFC key card, automated climate control, faux leather upholstery, a six-speaker sound system, a 360-degree surround view monitor, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities are among the features that come as standard. The higher-grade model gains a powered tailboard, power-adjustable and ventilated front seats and a panoramic glass top.
The BYD M6 Level 2 SAE semi-autonomous driving capabilities come standard with adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, and automated emergency braking. However, the Extended Range variant is the only one with access to the more comprehensive ADAS package, which includes functions like door opening warning, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic assist with automated braking, and emergency lane keeping assist.
There is only one motor available for the BYD M6, albeit there are two variants, and the performance numbers vary depending on which one you choose. The front-mounted motor of the base model, dubbed the Dynamic in Thailand, produces 163 horsepower and 310 Nm, resulting in a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 10.1 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Extended Range edition (known as Superior in Indonesia) sees an increase in power output to 204 horsepower, which is comparable to the Atto 3 and results in a faster 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.6 seconds. Both versions offer a notable improvement over the performance metrics of the BYD e6.
The motor is powered by the brand’s renowned Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which has a 420 km (NEDC) range on the base variant with a capacity of 55.4 kWh. With a larger 71.8 kWh battery pack, the Extended Range, as its name implies, can travel up to 530 km (NEDC) on a single charge. As far as those ranges go, we’d deduct at least 12% off the distance in real-world operation.
DC rapid charging supports up to 85 kW on the base model and 115 kW on the Extended Range, with the latter taking 40 minutes to go from 10-80%. There is an onboard 7 kW AC charger included with both models.
The BYD M6’s sticker price in Indonesia ranges from IDR379 million (about RM110k) to IDR429 million (approximately RM124k), with both countries pricing it to beat the Toyota Innova Zenix.
Interestingly, the base cost of the BYD M6 in Thailand is less than that of the top-of-the-line Toyota Veloz in Thailand. Could this also be a sign of BYD’s aggressive approach towards Malaysia?
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Here is an electric MPV that we think families have been waiting for. It looks the business, seats six or seven, depending on spec, offers all of the mod cons like autonomous braking and cross-traffic alert, and looks like entering Malaysia with a competitive price tag.
