The popular hybrid crossover BYD Song Plus DM-i was tested in light off-road and serpentine conditions. The test drive, published on the YouTube channel AlgaDrive, showed what the car is capable of beyond city roads, reports infohub.kz.

BYD Song Plus is already well known to Kazakh motorists, but in ordinary urban conditions its capabilities are not fully revealed.

The Song Plus DM-i is equipped with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine and a hybrid system that allows the car to run on electric power alone or with the internal combustion engine. The battery is the proprietary Blade Battery with LFP chemistry and a capacity of 18.3 kWh.

The main advantage of the hybrid is evident outside the city: when the battery charge runs out, the gasoline engine kicks in. The total driving range is estimated at about 1100 km.

The car runs on regular AI-92 gasoline, which is especially convenient for long trips across Kazakhstan, where higher-octane fuel can be harder to find.

During the test, the final average fuel consumption was 5.5 liters per 100 km. At the same time, the car was used mostly in non-standard conditions, including serpentine roads and off-road.

The Song Plus is not an SUV and does not have all-wheel drive, but on light off-road it performed surprisingly confidently.

In Snowfield mode, designed for snow, gravel, and sand, the electronics redistributed torque when wheels slipped. Even with diagonal wheel hanging, the system helped the car get out without external assistance.

However, the capabilities of front-wheel drive have limits. On wet dirt roads, deep mud, or steep climbs, the lack of all-wheel drive will be a serious limitation.

For trips to a dacha, a tourist base, or a picnic on relatively prepared dirt roads, the Song Plus should be sufficient.

In the end, the BYD Song Plus proved to be not an off-roader but a versatile family crossover. Its strengths are fuel efficiency, long range, spacious interior, and good electronics performance on light off-road.

But for regular trips through heavy mud, it is better to choose a car with all-wheel drive.

Earlier, Kursiv Avto reported how far the BYD Song Plus DM-i traveled on one tank and charge.