BYD eMAX 7 Electric MPV – Road Test Review – Toyota Innova Gunner???
BYD Auto is the largest manufacturer of new energy vehicle or NEV which includes Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. The car maker is even ahead of Tesla and is the third most valued car manufacturer in the world. Though they are global leaders here in India the brand is fairly young but is already gone into the dynamic mode by launching the eMAX 7 Electric MPV that takes on the like of the segment leader Toyota Innova heads on. The car maker also seems to have done their homework rather well, we head to sunny and welcoming city of Chennai to get our first hand experience of the first all electric 6/7 seater Electric MPV the BYD eMAX 7. Here’s our detailed road-test review of the all electric car that can change the fortunes for the brand here in India.
Food for Thought
BYD entered India in 2016 but as a battery and chassis supplier to Olectra Greenwich LTD and in 2022 they started assembling electric passenger cars via the SKD operations with models ranging from the e6 and the Atto3. The eMAX7 replaces the e6 but globally the eMAX7 is sold as the M6 MPV. Now the M6 is again based on the Song Max MPV model from BYD which has been on sale since 2017 but in its ICE engine form. Later in 2019 BYD showcased the Song Max in its Plug-in Hybrid form at the Shanghai Auto Show. This version never sold but BYD started offering the Song Max DM-I in 2022 equipped with the latest generation DM-I plug-in hybrid system. Now what India gets as the eMAX7 is the latest generation of the Song EV Max that was showcased at the Bangkok International Motor Show in 2024.
Exteriors
In terms of exteriors the BYD eMAX7 stands at 4710mm in length, 1810mm in width, 1690mm tall and an overall wheelbase of 2800mm putting it bang on into the Toyota Innova Crysta’s competition class. In terms of looks the eMAX7 gets a rather ICE MPV like face which consists of a rounded bonnet mated to a thick faux aluminum band with BYD branding on it that runs across the width of the EV, headlamps get five multi beams and come with white LED glow and a slim LED DRL strip. The front bumper continues the rounded style theme which also includes black inserts and chrome strips finishing the styling upfront. Can be defined in one word as the Shark Face design.
Side profile comes with a sharp waistline that defines the profile, you also get a few more soft character lines that stylize the sides and a chrome insert placed on the running board giving the sides that premium touch. The wing mirror gets dual-tone finish, houses the side camera and LED turn lights and is door mounted. Glass area is large and is defined with the chrome beltline surrounding it with the Space badging on the fixed quarter glass section. The door frames get the blacked out treatment while the roof gets the faux metal finished roof-rails and the shark-fin antenna. The roof does not get an opening sunroof but gets all glass roof top that adds a lot of premium and sophisticated styling to the MPV. The eMAX7 drives on R17 spec tyres mounted on multi-spoke dual-tone alloys.
The rear profile is styled more like an SUV with large connected LED lights, chrome garnish, large rear glass and a extended spoiler with integrated stop lamp. The rear bumper gets a touch of chrome along with stop reflectors that finish the styling on the eMAX7.
Interiors
The cabin of the eMAX7 gets a dark theme with some premium touches like a faux wood insert on the dash along with a faux metal lining. The highlight of the cabin area is the 12.3 inches touch-screen system which also rotates electrically into landscape or portrait mode when wanted. This unit is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity etc. The steering is a three spoke design that comes with leather wrapping and metal inserts along with MFD buttons for multimedia and ADAS controls. Manual adjust for height and reach is available. The driver instrumentation comes with mechanical dials while there is a MFD unit placed between that displays the readings of the EV. The Build Your Dreams badge is placed prominently above the AC vents while the center console houses the wireless mobile charging dock along with storage space besides it. The drive shifter is a futuristic design unit with metal inserts on its sides giving it that premium look.
Besides the shifter are placed the control buttons for the drive modes, climate control start/stop, Auto Hold, audio volume etc. Just behind the shift moudule are two can holders along with a slim storage space. You get openable armrest with good storage space under it also here you get the USB A and C ports, power outlet and a very unique card reader slot too.
Seats come with nice dark brown faux leather upholstery again adding to the premium touch. Front seats get full electric adjust for reach, incline and also get the ventilation feature. Seat sizing is good and so is the countering. Drivers visibility is also good for the road ahead. The middle row seats can be got as bench seats for the 7 seater version or as captain seats for the 6 seater that we drove. Getting inside the vehicle is pretty easy with the large door aperture. The captain seats can be adjusted as per comfort in terms of incline and recline angles. You also get foldable adjustable arm rests on these seats. Middle row offer excellent comfort with superb leg room, knee room and head room. The passengers here get their own climate control along with AC vents mounted on side roof area.
Getting into the third row is by folding ahead the middle row seats, you get good enough space to walk into the seating area which offers you two adjustable head rests and recline setting too. Seating here is pretty good with decent amount of knee, leg and head room for two medium sized adults. The passenger here wont even feel claustrophobic thanks to the large fixed quarter glass. What is missed are charge ports for the third row.
Boot Storage
BYD eMAX7 comes with an electrically openable boot lid which gets you into the boot area that stands at 180 liters with all the three rows up and can be extended to 580 liters with the third row folded down. Noteworthy here is that there is no inclusion of the 5th or spare wheel on the car and not even available as an accessory. What you get is a puncture repair kit.
Drive – Motor – Suspension
The BYD eMAX7 is available in two battery pack options a 55.4kWh and a 71.8kWh one. Both come with the in house proprietary Blade technology. The smaller battery pack model makes 120kw while the larger one makes 150kw and both of them generate 320Nm of torque. Top speed stands at a limited 180kmph while the zero to 100kmph is reached in 10.1 seconds and 8.1seconds on both the models respectively. The Charging time varies from 4.5hrs on a DC fast charger to 11hrs using a AC home charger.
How is it to drive?
On the move you have the typical EV style silent drive feel, power delivery is good with excellent pickup and road manners. The steering feels well connected and you wont feel scared or overpowered driving this big sized MPV due to its easy drive dynamics. The overall in cabin comfort is excellent and things in here are super silent. Yes some amount of road noise does filter in here but otherwise you get a premium plush overall drive feel.
The suspension setup is excellent offering real good drive feel even on bad roads and potholes. The 180mm of overall ground clearance is very good for an EV that helps it glide over speed breakers of any size. You can toggle between the drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport if you want more fun but then the drive range which is a claimed 530kms for the larger battery model will drop to some extent as per the mode.
Nevertheless the eMAX7 actually delivers the drive range promised well nearly same depending on the drive conditions and drive style but the drive range anxiety is near to zero on it is what we can say after driving all day around Chennai and the East Coast Road in it. Where the BYD eMAX7 shines is its high speed stability and its ability to offer a very comfortable premium drive feel at all speeds and road conditions.
ADAS Safety
The BYD eMAX7 comes with ADAS Level 2 Safety suite which includes features like Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Reverse Cross Traffic alert, Blind Sport warning, 360 degree camera with transparent bonnet etc.
Verdict
The BYD e6 was majorly targeted towards the fleet operators and taxi segment, the eMAX7 is more targeted towards private car owners. In terms of style, features, comfort and safety its delivers everything and more. The Electric MPV has an excellent drive range and actually achieves that with ease. BYD has priced the eMAX7 bang into the Toyota Innova segment at Rs. 26.90 Lakh for the base Premium trim while the fully loaded larger capacity battery trim comes in at Rs. 29.90 Lakh making it a very strong and confident option for you if you are considering a Electric MPV for you.
Review – Ritesh Madhok
Video & Edits – Tarun Madhok
Photography Courtesy – Parth Gohil
