Is the BYD Song Fuel-Efficient?
4 Answers
BYD Song is not fuel-inefficient. The fuel consumption of the Song Pro gasoline version is 7.0L/100km, while the BYD Song Pro DM version consumes 1.4L/100km. The following factors affect fuel consumption: Driving Habits: Personal driving skills have a significant impact on a car's fuel consumption. For short trips of just a few kilometers, due to the mechanical design characteristics of the vehicle, it takes some time of operation to reach optimal efficiency. If the car hasn't fully warmed up during these short trips, higher fuel consumption is inevitable. Road Conditions: Road conditions include whether the road is smooth, the level of friction, the size of inclines, and whether there is traffic congestion. Generally, roads with many sharp turns and frequent braking will result in significantly higher fuel consumption. During peak commuting hours in the morning and evening, it's common to travel only a few kilometers in an hour, leading to fuel consumption that can be more than three times higher than during smooth traffic conditions.
After owning the Song Pro DM-i for a year and a half, fuel consumption really depends on how you use it. For my daily commute, 80% is powered by electricity. The company has charging stations, and my daily 30-kilometer commute costs only 2 yuan in electricity, which works out to less than 0.1 yuan per kilometer. On long trips when the battery is depleted, the hybrid mode's fuel consumption is generally around 5-5.5L per 100 kilometers. Last time on the highway, I specifically tested it with adaptive cruise set at 120 km/h (the speed limit), and the display showed 5.8L. However, the most fuel-efficient scenario is actually in the city when the battery is depleted. In this state, the engine directly drives the wheels while kinetic energy recovery charges the battery, making it more efficient than conventional fuel cars in traffic jams. When the battery is sufficiently charged, no fuel is used at low speeds. Starting from a red light is entirely powered by the electric motor, and by the time the engine kicks in, its RPM is already in the efficient range.
When I first switched from a gasoline car to the Song PLUS DM-i, I was quite concerned about fuel consumption, but the actual driving experience brought a pleasant surprise. The brilliance of the hybrid system lies in its intelligent power distribution: it starts with electric power to save fuel, and during rapid acceleration, the motor and 1.5L engine work in parallel to drive the vehicle. During high-speed cruising, the engine directly drives the wheels to avoid energy conversion losses. For daily commuting, if the battery level is maintained above 20%, the combined fuel consumption typically stays around 4-5 liters per 100 kilometers. Last week, I drove from Hangzhou to Suzhou, covering 830 kilometers on a full tank and full charge, with 100 kilometers of range remaining upon arrival. During maintenance, the technician advised keeping up with regular servicing and avoiding frequent low-battery driving to maintain more stable fuel consumption.
As a ride-hailing driver, my Song DM-i has clocked 80,000 kilometers. The most fuel-consuming scenario is during winter when using the heater with insufficient battery, as the engine needs to both power the vehicle and provide heating, potentially pushing fuel consumption to 7-8 liters. However, during regular trips, I generally maintain around 4.5L per 100 km plus 15 kWh of electricity, translating to a cost of roughly 0.3 yuan per kilometer. Key tips: avoid aggressive throttle when the battery is low, as the system defaults to sport mode, drastically increasing fuel consumption; utilize stronger energy recovery settings; and avoid frequent full charges—keeping the battery between 30-80% is better for longevity. These practices save me nearly a thousand yuan in fuel costs monthly.
