The New Ti7: BYD’s $25,000 Premium SUV PHEV Destroys Remaining Justifications for Pure ICE

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BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao brand recently released the Ti7, a premium SUV with an evolved PHEV platform. While some have been reluctant to embrace PHEVs, the quality and value in this segment makes traditional ICE models hard to justify.

As Steve Hanley recently wrote in an excellent article about the new Horse range extender: “It pains us to admit we might have gotten too far out over our skis when it comes to promoting the EV revolution and wishing the S curve would hurry up to work its magic. The biggest factor, of course, other than the whiplash of changes in policy, is that in many places — particularly in the US — EV prices are still significantly higher than they are for conventional cars. That has to change before the EV revolution becomes unstoppable.”

BYD’s BEV sales have increased this year, while PHEV sales have declined. However, PHEVs are still being developed, with the Ti7 serving as the latest example of a model offering superior value to comparable ICE vehicles.

To avoid any confusion, this vehicle has been referred to in English as the Tai 7 (phonetic spelling for Titanium in Chinese, also the name of a Chinese ethnic group), Titanium 7, and Ti7 (periodic table abbreviation for Titanium and phonetic spelling for pelican in Chinese). BYD uses Ti7 badging on the vehicle, so that is what I will use.

A Compelling Option for Premium SUV Buyers, Regardless of Powertrain

The Ti7 is a millimeter less than 5 meters long, placing it in the mid-to-large SUV segment in China, a little larger than a BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Land Rover Discovery, or Range Rover Sport. For comparison, this is also a little longer than the new Model YL, but it is wider and, at 1,865mm (73.4 inches), significantly taller, with a more upright, usable cabin. BYD claims that the vehicle has class-leading cabin space, making up 70.9% of the vehicle’s length. However, rather than trying to squeeze a third row of seats into the vehicle, the focus was placed on maximizing the space for 5 passengers. While the PHEV does not offer a frunk, it also has an exterior storage compartment mounted to the tailgate.

Unlike the body-on-frame Bao 5 and Bao 8, the Ti7 has unibody construction, with the structure of the vehicle integrated into the body. In general, this creates a stiffer, lighter, and more space efficient structure, while tending to not be as well suited for off-road applications. Likewise, the 210 mm (8.27 in.) of ground clearance clearly isn’t intended for extreme rock crawling, but is competitive for the class.

The car uses virtual pivot double wishbones up front and a five-link rear suspension, combined with BYD’s Disus-C active dampening system. The vehicle also offers TSC high-speed tire puncture assistance and stability control, which retains vehicle control during a blowout and allows the vehicle to be driven with the remaining tires when one goes flat.

All trim levels come with BYD’s “God’s Eye” intelligent driving system, with top trims integrating LiDAR. The panoramic sunroof comes with a retractable sunshade. In addition to the front and center screens, all models come with a wide 26-inch heads-up display. The “leather soufflé seats” are heated, cooled, and massaging, and offer extending leg rests. The tailgate is powered, and an onboard refrigerator is standard on all but the base trim. In addition, the launch mentioned an expanding range of integrations with cell phones, payment systems, and retailers — for example, voice ordering with in-vehicle payment based on facial recognition at Luckin Coffee, with navigation to pick up your beverage.

The Ti7 positioning focuses on customization and personalization. Buyers can customize the interior and exterior lighting signature. In addition to 3 interior and 7 exterior colors, custom colors can be ordered from the factory. Scent diffusers can even let users customize how their vehicle smells.

Beyond the core vehicle, BYD is planning to offer an expanded range of accessories integrated into the vehicle ecosystem. The interior integrates BYD’s recently-developed tablet (included in the launch package) that mounts to seatbacks via an “eco-connector,” enabling rear seat entertainment and vehicle interaction. The tablets work with an optional gaming controller, provide control of rear comfort functions, and enhance safety through measures like showing rear passengers if a car is approaching or if a hazard is outside as they open the door. Face and shoulder massage devices can be added to accompany the massaging seats. For those with human babies, a motorized child seat rotates and reclines, with the ability to be controlled and monitored from the front center screen. For those with fur babies, an ISOFIX pet carrier also offers remote monitoring. Extending capabilities further, the car also offers an electric skateboard that stows under the rear floor, and a drone base on the roof. Additional accessories are anticipated, with a roof tent and onboard storage seen in videos shown at the launch.

An Evolved PHEV Powertrain

The PHEV system includes a 1.5T range-extender engine, positioned horizontally up front, that can produce up to 115 kW with a rated 45.3% thermal efficiency. According to reports, citing MIIT regulatory filings, the Ti7 is available in RWD with a 200 kW 97.5% efficient motor, and AWD adds a 160 kW front motor, enabling a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 4.5 seconds. However, to improve efficiency on the AWD, the front motor can disconnect when not needed. The larger 35.6 kWh battery versions offer 200 km of electric only range for the RWD or 190 for the AWD versions, while a smaller 26.6 kWh battery on the entry level trim has 135 km of rated range.

If reports are accurate, a front motor with no physical connection to the rear wheels on the rear wheel drive is a departure for BYD. Typically, two-wheel drive PHEVs from BYD have been front wheel drive, packaging the engine with the drive motor. This system has typically allowed for the engine to directly clutch to a fixed gear that can drive the wheels under limited circumstances. In the case of the Ti7, with no physical connection, the engine would be truly acting as a range extender (aka EREV). In addition, the smallest battery tends to offer range that was more expected in the larger battery of other models. Meanwhile, the larger battery’s 200 km range is a significant upgrade from most BYD PHEVs. While the smaller battery can easily cover typical daily driving, the larger battery, with more range than many EVs from a decade ago, makes it less likely that the range extender will turn on.

The 800V platform uses the latest generation Blade battery with an upgraded cooling system that improves temperature uniformity by 45% while reducing energy consumption by 34%. The car is also capable of fast charging in 17.5 minutes from 30% to 80%.

The Value Makes ICE Hard to Justify

Based on initial exposure to the prototype, the price was speculated to be 300,000 RMB (~$42,000). While the vehicle was well equipped, it was expected to slot a little below other Chinese domestic premium models in its class and roughly half the price of competing European premium models in China. However, the launch price was a positive surprise. The entry level 135 km RWD Pro model comes in at 179,800 RMB ($25,200 USD), while stepping up to the 200 km RWD Max brings the price to 189,800 RMB ($26,600 USD). AWD versions come with the larger battery for 190 km of range, coming in at 206,800 RMB ($29,000 USD) for the Max trim and 219,800 RMB ($30,800 USD) for the Ultra trim.

For the default BEV comparison, the smaller Model Y starts at 263,500 RMB ($37,000) in China, while the gap expands with the 339,000 RMB ($47,600) Model YL, which is closer in size. Beyond the powertrain, according to reports, the Tesla offers less equipment and less-premium interiors.

However, if you compare the Ti7 to traditional ICE vehicles in this class, it makes it hard to pick internal combustion. Comparable SUVs from legacy automakers tend to be less advanced and more than twice the price in China. If the Ti7 was sold at close to that price in the US, the large, premium PHEV SUV would not only be the least expensive plug-in vehicle for sale, but also one of the least expensive SUVs overall. The large SUV would appeal far more to many Americans than other low-cost options. Even if SUVs are not the most efficient vehicle form factor, the powertrain would significantly reduce petroleum consumption versus ICE over the longest drives and potentially eliminate it for daily driving.

The 200 km range, even if optimistic, makes it less likely that the engine will come on in daily driving, also saving money on fuel. People are financially motivated to charge in a country without Europe’s “company car” distortion and where retail electricity costs just $0.075/kWh, with prices set to drop further with the rapid implementation of low-cost renewables. For people with “range anxiety,” the 1300 km of combined range should set their mind at ease, but they should increasingly find that they do not need it, especially with fast charging.

Beyond BYD, other strong PHEV offerings are entering the market with even longer battery ranges from companies like XPeng. With improvements in range, efficiency, and cost, PHEVs may stick around for a while. And, as the market shifts to BEVs, there are also plenty of those models available to transition to. Even if some people are not ready to buy an BEV now and even if they do not want the stereotypical “ecocar” form factor, the argument to pay more for a less equipped and capable ICE SUV becomes even harder to justify.