Tested: BYD M6 Standard Range – Back to Basics!

Despite its ‘basic’ specs, the BYD M6 Standard Range proved to be a sensible yet capable EV for you and your family.

In the midst of the luxury EV MPV hype, the BYD M6 stands out as the sole offering in this burgeoning EV market space that’s actually affordable.

Offering a more practical and flexible three-row seven-seat layout than its two-row five-seat adversaries, the M6 promises to be a pretty stellar alternative over the now ‘cliched’ EV SUV crossover choices out there. Even in this baseline Standard Range form featured, this EV MPV packs a serious punch to not only make it a viable MPV, but also a pretty decent EV at the same time.

Without further ado, here are five reasons why the BYD M6 Standard Range is perhaps the best entry-level EV currently available in our market…

Reason #1: It Looks Pretty!

From the get-go, one can be forgiven for mistaking the M6 for any compact MPVs from the 2010s, as it gets a pretty conventional design. While this may upset some prospective EV owners who prefer to stand out against the crowd, the M6’s subtle and ICE-ish design sees it bode well with more buyers who prefer this ‘conventional’ look.

Even in this baseline Standard trim, the M6 gets almost the same bells and whistles as its top-spec twin, with key highlights including full LED headlights, full-width LED taillights, a slew of chrome accents, 17-inch alloy wheels shod in Giti Control P10 tyres, and more.

Dimension-wise, the BYD M6 measures slightly bigger than the current-crop of ICE-powered compact MPVs in our market.

In terms of size, the M6 sits slightly above the current crop of compact ICE-powered MPVs in our market, measuring 4,710 MM long, 1,810 MM wide, 1,690 MM tall, and with a 2,800 MM wheelbase. Despite its MPV bodystyle, the M6 gets a pretty decent ground clearance of 140 MM, meaning this is one MPV that should clear typical roadside kerbs well.

All in all, the BYD M6 is a perfect choice for those who don’t like standing out too much in the crowd, but at the same time offers better practicality over its SUV counterparts. Speaking of which…

Reason #2: Spacious Cabin with Ample Equipment

What caught us by surprise with this so-called compact ‘entry-level’ EV MPV is the amount of space and amenities it boasts on board. Featuring a conventional three-row seven-seat (2-3-2) layout, the M6 provides enough space for the whole family, and it is definitely more spacious than your usual compact MPV suspects out there.

Starting with the two front seats, though they are not powered, both still provide good comfort and support to drivers and passengers, and the faux leatherette upholstery is a bonus in this entry-level model.

Space in the second-row seats, on the other hand, is ample, as both legroom and headroom are abundant for three adults to sit in a relatively comfortable manner. Also elevating the life quality in the second row are the rear A/C vents with their own dedicated control panel, plus two USB ports to keep occupants’ gadgets juiced for long-haul travels.

As for the third row, space is predictably not as lavish as the second row, but it adequately fits two adults in a not-so-compromised position. Long-distance travel is not recommended for adults back here, but kids will fit here nicely, and the dedicated third-row A/C vents might be enough to keep them behaving well for ‘balik kampung’ trips.

With all three seats up, the M6’s boot space is limited to only 180 litres, which may sound miniscule but is actually still larger than most other compact MPVs out there. For those who don’t need the third-row seats all the time, folding them down will expand your boot space to over 580 litres, which is more than enough for a family of five.

As for the amenities, the M6 Standard Range gets a rich equipment list, although some compromise can be seen in this entry-level EV MPV. As standard, you’ll get tech like a 12.8-inch rotating infotainment screen that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, several USB charging ports, but at the expense of a semi-digital metre cluster and no wireless charger.

One thing’s for sure, more traditional drivers will certainly appreciate the M6’s ‘conventional’ front dash layout featuring tons of buttons and dials, though absence of a dedicated climate control panel might turn them off slightly.

That said, the BYD M6 Standard is surprisingly a practical EV MPV with ample tech and space. Yes, it is not as posh as some of its other Chinese adversaries out there, but we find this base-spec EV MPV to be more than adequate for your daily needs. But how far can it go, though?

Reason #3: ‘Respectable’ Powertrain & Battery Setup

One not-so-good thing about buying a base-spec EV is that its powertrain and battery figures won’t be as sexy as its high-spec twins, but in the BYD M6 Standard’s case, we’ll argue that it’s pretty ‘respectable.’

The M6 Standard Range uses the same single FWD motor setup as the BYD Atto 3 Standard, outputting 161 HP and 310 NM.

In Standard Range form, the M6 is powered by a single, front-mounted (FWD) electric motor that produces 161 HP and 310 NM, which is enough to throttle this MPV from nought to 100 KM/H in 10.1 seconds and a limited V-max of 180 KM/H. Just like its SUV twin, the M6 underpins BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 EV platform that features a 400-volt battery architecture — no 800-volt architecture for entry-level EVs like this.

In turn, this also means that the M6 Standard gets the same battery and charging performance as the entry-level Atto 3, where its 55.4-kWh LFP ‘Blade’ battery pack can only support AC 7 kW and DC 89 kW charging inputs. Considering that most public DC chargers peak at 100 kW, we’d reckon this is not a big compromise, though the slow AC charging speed may turn some buyers off.

BYD claims the M6 Standard can cover up to 420 KM of NEDC range in a single full charge, which is about 350 to 370 KM in the more realistic WLTP standards. In real-life usage, that should be more than enough for your daily commute and school runs, but tread carefully, and you could even potentially use it for your weekend short getaways and trips.

All in all, travelling with short-ranged EVs like the M6 Standard here calls for some trip planning beforehand. But as long as you pace yourself and don’t put too high of an expectation on it, the M6 here could potentially be a pretty usable all-electric peoplemover.

Reason #4: Ride & Handling Is Quite Decent, But…

We usually don’t have high expectations in terms of drive dynamics with entry-level EVs like the BYD M6. Much to our surprise, it delivers pretty decent ride and handling performance as far as family-movers as such go.

Don't let its timid power figures fool you, the M6 Standard still feels quite zippy and nimble!

From the get-go, you’ll immediately notice that despite its mediocre performance figures, the M6 Standard is a zippy car, and you still get the instant torque and acceleration often associated with EVs.

Overtaking and hill climbs feel effortless in this supposed ‘entry-level’ EV, but what truly caught us by surprise was the decent ride and handling performance of the M6. Still far from its Bavarian-born name twin, the M6 Standard does feel quite nimble, while at the same time not being too soft or wobbly like other Chinese EVs we’ve tested prior.

Comfort is quite decent too, as rear passengers don’t feel that much of the rebound like many other EVs do, while the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels are quite decent, with wind and tyre noises only noticeable once we pass beyond the highway speed limits.

With all the positives now out of the way, the M6 Standard does fall short in one spectrum—safety. In its baseline form, the M6 does not come with any ADAS functions whatsoever, which is quite surprising since most Chinese EVs are laden with these active safety features.

Fortunately, the M6 Standard makes do with its lack of ADAS functions with a decent amount of passive safety systems, with things like six airbags, three-point seat belts for all seven seats, traction (TCS) and stability (VSC) controls, a 360-degree camera system, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) all primed in this entry-level EV MPV.

Then again, one may argue that most Malaysian drivers won’t even bother using the ADAS functions, and many even find them to be quite bothersome. But with our regional crash test protocol, ASEAN NCAP now puts a strong emphasis on active safety features, perhaps it’ll be wise for BYD to introduce them in the next model year update for the M6.

Reason #5: A Very Attractive & Affordable Price Tag!

At RM109,800, the BYD M6 Standard Range is one of the most affordable new EVs you can buy in the local market today. Considering the size and practicality it offers over the more compact entry-level EV hatches out there, the M6 Standard seems to be a no-brainer for those seeking to jump into the EV bandwagon with their families in tow.

Moreover, there’s the M6 Standard’s inclusion of a decent warranty package provided by BYD Malaysia, adding to its cause. Included is a standard 6-year or 150,000 KM base vehicle warranty, an 8-year or 150,000 KM drive unit warranty, and a separate 8-year or 160,000 KM warranty for its high-voltage blade battery.

Yes, the simplicity of the BYD M6 Standard in both its design and tech bits may be a bit of a turn-off for some EV buyers. However, it arguably holds its own merits in attracting a more conventional pool of buyers who simply want an electric car that’s both practical and affordable.

Regardless of your choice or preference, we certainly feel that one cannot go wrong selecting the BYD M6 Standard as their first EV.

SPECIFICATIONS

BYD M6 STANDARD RANGE 

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