BYD M3e

On the inside, the BYD M3e feels even more dated and a last-generation vehicle, due to the absence of modern essentials like a touchscreen infotainment system or a TFT MID unit in the instrument console. Instead, the BYD M3e gets an archaic 2-DIN button-operated audio system and conventional analog dials for the instrument console behind the four-spoke steering wheel.

The long center console with silver touches on its sides adds some appeal to the cabin. This center console also accommodates the panel for the automatic climate control below the audio system and the transmission lever at the bottom.

The BYD M3e comes with captain seats in the middle row and a flat bench in the last row. All the seven seats of the MPV offer an appreciable amount of space despite its compact footprints.

While the BYD M3e is being pitched as a new age electric vehicle meant as a future mobility solution, it actually doesn’t look like one. The overall design of the BYD M3e looks very conventional, and from some angle, it actually looks like a van from the previous generation.

At the front of the BYD M3e, the conventional grille of an MPV is replaced by a closed smile-like grille, which is divided into three parts, with the central one having the rounded BYD logo. Adjacent to the sides of the grille are large and curved headlamp assemblies, which look a bit plain due to their all halogen setup. The same curved design has been given for the fog lamp housings, which in addition to the fog lamps, also house LED daytime running lights at their bottom.

The side profile of the BYD M3e looks very old school, with a boxy design towards the rear of it. The door panels are vertical, just like in any other conventional-looking van, with sliding rear doors and squared out windows being another highlight which gives it a pure MPV flavor. The sharp curved crease flowing sideways through the door handles add some visual element to the side profile, which otherwise looks quite bland.

At the rear, the BYD M3e has a boxy design for the rear door, with vertical tail lamps on the sides of it. The tail lamps have curved extensions on the sides.

Like the overall design in and out, the chassis of the BYD M3e too feels a generation old. The MPV gets independent Macpherson struts at the front and independent leaf springs at the rear. The MPV feels rugged enough to take on bad roads but doesn’t feel plush enough when it comes to the ride quality.

The BYD M3e gets an all-electric powertrain in the form of a combination of a 70 kW AC permanent synchronous motor and a 50.3 kWh NCM lithium-ion battery. The electric motor is mounted on the front axle and pumps out 180 Nm of torque. The battery of the BYD M3e has a claimed maximum driving range of 300 km (WLTP cycle) and takes 7.2 hours from AC method of charging and 1.3 hours with 40kW DC fast charging. The top speed of the BYD M3e is capped at 100 kmph.

The BYD M3e comes with just basic essentials when it comes to safety, with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, brake override system and reverse parking sensors on offer.

The BYD M3e is definitely not a modern-day vehicle, thanks to its dated styling and bare basic equipment package. However, for a basic electric vehicle to ferry seven people from point A to point B, the BYD M3e is a decent vehicle to opt.