The BYD Song MAX is a compact MPV introduced by BYD Company Limited in 2017. As the first mass-production model to adopt BYD's "Dragon Face" design language, it represented a strategic entry for the brand into the petrol MPV market. The debut of the Song MAX marked BYD's transition from early reverse engineering to an era of in-house design, quickly emerging as a dark horse in the domestic MPV segment following its 2017 rollout.
The Song MAX lineup encompasses two primary powertrain types: petrol and the DM-i plug-in hybrid, offering both 2+2+2 six-seater and 2+3+2 seven-seater seating configurations. The petrol variant debuted in September 2017, priced between RM79,900 and RM129,900. In March 2022, BYD launched the Song MAX DM-i (priced from RM145,800 to RM172,800 after comprehensive subsidies), marking the model's complete transition towards new energy powertrains. An all-electric EV version was also offered. By 2023, cumulative sales across the Song MAX range surpassed 200,000 units, having achieved over 10,000 monthly deliveries for 13 consecutive months and dominating the RM100,000-class MPV segment as a 13-time monthly sales champion.
Penned by former Audi design director Wolfgang Egger, the Song MAX was the first production model to showcase BYD's signature "Dragon Face" front fascia. The front end is dominated by a large-mouth chrome grille flanked by matrix LED headlamps, delivering a sleek, modern, and commanding presence. The LED headlights feature a dual-L motif, complemented by dynamic sequential turn indicators that echo the front and rear lighting clusters, offering high recognisability at night.
In profile, a floating roof design is paired with a sharp, wedge-like character line extending from the front fenders to the rear taillights. Combined with a low-slung beltline, it creates a clean and athletic stance. At the rear, a full-width chrome garnish bridges the taillights, complemented by an open-style number plate recess and symmetrical dual-line styling for added visual depth. Dimensions for the petrol model stand at 4,680 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,680 mm tall, with a 2,785 mm wheelbase. The DM-i version extends to 4,710 mm in length, with overall height increasing to 1,880–1,885 mm on variants equipped with the raised roof (1,690 mm on standard versions), while retaining the 2,785 mm wheelbase.
Inside, the 2017 model debuted a wraparound cockpit layout, combining a slush-moulded soft-touch dashboard with extensive leather upholstery to deliver class-above perceived quality. The 2022 DM-i updated this with a Cocoa Brown eco-friendly cabin theme, featuring wave-textured soft upholstery across the dashboard and door panels, along with 3D ambient lighting for a more premium ambience. High-spec variants boast a distinctive "raised roof" design—an elevated roof section that significantly enhances second- and third-row headroom, serving as a signature styling cue of the DM-i lineup.
The petrol-powered Song MAX is driven by a 1.5TI direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine (code BYD476ZQA/B), producing 113 kW (approx. 154 PS / 152 hp) and 240 Nm of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Real-world performance is modest, with relatively subdued low-end torque and noticeable turbo lag; overtaking or hill climbing under full load requires heavy throttle input, though output remains adequate for daily urban commuting.
The 2022 Song MAX DM-i is powered by BYD's Xiaoyun dedicated hybrid 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle naturally aspirated engine, developing 81 kW (110 PS) and 135 Nm of torque, mated to an E-CVT. Electric propulsion is delivered by front-mounted electric motors offering either 132 kW (approx. 180 PS) or 145 kW (approx. 197 PS), corresponding to 51 km and 105 km pure electric range options. Total system output reaches 145 kW, enabling a 0–100 km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.
In terms of efficiency and range, the 105 km variant is equipped with an 18.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery, delivering an NEDC electric range of 105 km (85 km WLTC), a combined WLTC fuel consumption of just 2.01 L/100 km, and a battery-depleted fuel consumption of 5.4 L/100 km. Total cruising range on a full tank and full charge extends up to 1,090 km. This version supports DC fast charging, taking roughly 30 minutes to charge from 30% to 80% SoC. Standard across the range is BYD's VTOL (Vehicle-to-Load) mobile power station feature, providing up to 3.3 kW of 220V external power supply.
Underneath, the Song MAX features a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension setup with a monocoque body, configured exclusively with front-wheel drive (FWD). Early petrol units utilised hydraulic power steering, whereas later iterations and DM-i models upgraded to electric power steering (EPS), providing light low-speed manoeuvrability and stable high-speed tracking, with steering response par for the segment. Braking is handled by front ventilated discs and rear solid discs; the petrol model features a traditional handbrake, while the DM-i version adopts an electronic parking brake (EPB) with Auto Hold.
Suspension tuning leans towards comfort, absorbing minor road undulations reasonably well. However, the rear torsion beam setup struggles over speed humps and rough tarmac, transmitting noticeable jolts to rear occupants alongside elevated tyre roar on coarser surfaces. Road tests note that the DM-i chassis delivers little noticeable refinement gains over the petrol model, with scope remaining for NVH suppression improvements.
The Song MAX's infotainment suite evolved from a conventional setup to the brand's signature DiLink intelligent ecosystem. The 2019 facelift introduced a 10.1- or 12.8-inch adaptive rotating floating touchscreen running the DiLink system, capable of automatically toggling between portrait and landscape modes, supporting over 3 million apps alongside voice control, telematics, and over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The 2022 DM-i updated this with standard DiLink 4.0 (4G), featuring a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen on mid-to-high variants alongside an 8-inch digital instrument cluster.
On the comfort and convenience front, the 2022 DM-i comes standard with keyless entry, push-start ignition, a 360-degree surround-view monitor with a transparent chassis display, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Higher variants gain a powered tailgate and a panoramic glass roof (complemented by the raised roof on selected DM-i trims). Upholstery is finished in synthetic leather; six-seater models feature individual second-row captain chairs with armrests, fore-aft sliding, and recline adjustments. The third-row seats fold flat into the floor, expanding boot capacity well beyond the standard 652 litres.
Passive safety is anchored by BYD's 3H ultra-high-strength cage body structure, with high-strength steel accounting for over 60% of the architecture to effectively disperse and absorb collision forces. Airbag provisions include six airbags as standard on the DM-i (dual front, front side, and full-length curtain airbags), while mid-to-high petrol variants previously featured up to eight airbags with the addition of knee airbags.
Active safety on the 2022 Song MAX DM-i is powered by the DiPilot driver assistance suite, delivering Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. Key functions include full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC with Stop & Go from 0–150 km/h), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). DM-i variants also benefit from BYD's proprietary Blade Battery, which has passed stringent nail penetration safety tests, boasts IP67 water ingress protection, and features an automatic high-voltage disconnect in the event of an impact.
The Song MAX enjoyed immense early success, recording monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units for 13 consecutive months between its 2017 launch and late November 2018, racking up over 160,000 units and clinching more than 30 automotive awards, including "MPV of the Year" and "Most Stylish 7-Seater". However, sales began to taper off from 2019 onward, slipping to just 2,462 units in December 2019 to rank 14th in the MPV segment. The introduction of the DM-i version in 2022 spurred annual sales to 63,037 units, before entering a steady decline. By late 2025, retail registrations had gone unrecorded for nine consecutive months. The DM-i has now reached the end of its lifecycle, having competed directly against rivals like the Geely Jiaji, GAC Trumpchi M6, and various Wuling MPV offerings.
Owner feedback remains divided. Praise centres on the handsome styling enabled by the "Dragon Face" design, the practical six-seater layout, and the remarkable fuel economy and low running costs of the DM-i hybrid. On the flip side, complaints point to the thirstier real-world urban fuel consumption of the petrol variant (averaging around 8.8 L/100 km overall and exceeding 10 L/100 km in city traffic), a firm and unrefined ride from the rear torsion beam over uneven surfaces, compromised rear-passenger ride comfort, and limited boot room when all seats are in use.
In summary, as the trailblazer of BYD's "Dragon Face" era and a key strategic vehicle in the brand's MPV portfolio, the BYD Song MAX achieved remarkable commercial success upon launch through its head-turning design and versatile seating arrangements. While its market presence gradually waned amid intensifying competition and a slowed product update cycle, the Song MAX played an undeniable role in setting new aesthetic standards for domestic MPVs, while BYD's DM-i hybrid tech gave traditional MPVs a second wind in China's automotive landscape.
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