The BYD Yuan (Chinese: 比亚迪元) is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto, slotting below the BYD Song compact crossover. It is part of BYD's "Dynasty Series" of production vehicles, and is named after the Yuan dynasty.

BYD Yuan
BYD Yuan Sport
Overview
ManufacturerBYD Auto
Production2016–present
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact crossover SUV
Body style5-door SUV
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorBYD S1
SuccessorBYD Yuan Up
BYD Yuan Plus / Atto 3

Released since March 2016, the BYD Yuan is currently available only as an all-electric vehicle, although previously a gasoline and a plug-in hybrid version were also offered. The gasoline version of BYD Yuan was sold since 2015 as the BYD S1 before being renamed and becoming part of the Yuan family. In some markets the S1 name was kept, and reused even for the all-electric version. The BYD S2 is an all-electric subcompact crossover that is essentially a rebadged Yuan, shorter than the original Yuan and the S1, and was launched in 2019.

The battery electric larger Yuan Plus variant was revealed in July 2021. It is marketed as the BYD Yuan Plus (or BYD Atto 3 in many markets). Compared to the first generation, it is classified as a compact crossover and features slightly larger dimensions, a more upmarket design, and BYD's proprietary blade battery.

In March 2024, the second generation Yuan called the Yuan Up was launched, slotting under the Yuan Plus and continue to serve as BYD's subcompact crossover offering.

First generation (2015)

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BYD Yuan
 
Overview
Also calledBYD S1
Production
  • 2015–2016 (BYD S1)[note 1]
  • 2016–present (BYD Yuan)
  • 2019–2022 (BYD S2)
Body and chassis
RelatedBYD S2
Powertrain
Engine
  • 1.5 L BYD473QE I4
    1.5 L BYD476ZQA I4 turbo
Electric motor
  • Permanent magnet synchronous motor 70 kW or 120 kW
Transmission5-speed manual
6-speed DCT
CVT
Battery
  • 53.22 kWh
  • 40.62 kWh
  • 42 kWh
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length4,320 mm (170.1 in)
Width1,765 mm (69.5 in)
Height1,630 mm (64.2 in)

The BYD Yuan is the fourth BYD product and the third BYD crossover using the Chinese dynasty naming system, following the BYD Song compact crossover, the BYD Tang mid-size crossover and the BYD Qin compact sedan. Just like they did with the BYD Song, BYD has decided to use the same name (Yuan) for the entire powertrain range, including a gasoline version, a hybrid version and an electric version (previously the gasoline version was known as the S1, while the hybrid and electric versions used the Yuan nameplate from the beginning).[1]

BYD S1

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The BYD S1 is a gasoline-powered subcompact crossover launched by BYD in 2015. Besides the Chinese market, it was also offered in the Philippines. In the Chinese market, with the introduction of the Yuan nameplate in 2016, the S1 was renamed and was since sold as the gasoline version of the Yuan.

In some non-Chinese markets, the old S1 name was kept, despite the renaming of the vehicle in China. Even the all-electric variant of the Yuan was known in some markets as the S1 EV.

BYD Yuan facelift and Yuan EV

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In 2018, the BYD Yuan was facelifted, with the new "Dragon Face" styling of the front end, in line with all the other "dynasty" series products. The all-electric Yuan EV360 was also launched with prices ranging from 79,900 yuan to 99,900 yuan.[2] The BYD Yuan EV360 has a 43.2kWh battery with a maximum range of 305 kilometres (190 mi).[3] There is also the BYD Yuan EV535 with a larger, 53.2 kWh battery.

2020 Yuan EV

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As of August 2020, the only variants of the Yuan advertised by BYD in China are all-electric. Alongside the 2019 BYD Yuan EV360 (42 kWh battery), the 2020 BYD Yuan EV is offered, with two battery options: 40.62 kWh and 53.22 kWh. According to the NEDC norm, the range with the larger battery is 410 km (250 mi).[4]

Yuan Pro (2021 facelift)

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The Yuan EV received a facelift for the 2021 model year called the Yuan Pro. The Yuan Pro features a redesigned front fascia in the same style as the BYD Han EV. In terms of performance, the Yuan Pro is available with a single motor producing 136 hp (101 kW; 138 PS) and a torque of 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft). The Yuan Pro is equipped with a 50.1-kWh lithium iron phosphate "blade battery" developed by BYD that is capable of a NEDC range of 401 km (249 mi).[5]

The interior is largely carried over from the pre-facelift model with the 10.1-inch multimedia screen, and is integrated with the DiLink3.0 intelligent connected system featuring voice command, voice notifications, Bluetooth phone calls, phone connectivity and mobile onboard television.[5]

BYD S2

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The BYD S2 is an all-electric subcompact crossover, shorter than the Yuan and the S1 (4100 mm vs 4360 mm) and sold in China since 2019. The battery capacity is 40.62 kWh.[6]

Yuan Plus (2022)

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BYD Atto 3 (Germany)

News of a larger all-electric variant of the Yuan surfaced in July 2021, with the model being branded BYD Yuan Plus to differentiate it from the first generation Yuan that continued to be sold. The Yuan Plus is significantly larger than the Yuan and Yuan Pro, and is now closer in size to a compact crossover. The model is branded BYD Atto 3 in international markets.

Yuan Up (2024)

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BYD Yuan Up

The successor of the Yuan Pro was released in February 2024 as the Yuan Up. The Yuan Up will continue to be positioned in the subcompact crossover segment under the larger Yuan Plus which is classified as a compact crossover.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ In some markets, the S1 name was still used after 2016 for the vehicle known in China as the Yuan, both for gasoline and electric versions.

References

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  1. ^ "BYD Yuan launched on the Chinese car market". Car News China. 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  2. ^ "比亚迪-元新能源".
  3. ^ "综合型选手 测比亚迪元EV360智联创酷型".
  4. ^ "全新元Ev-比亚迪汽车官方网站 比亚迪汽车 ─ 新能源汽车引领者".
  5. ^ a b "补贴后售12.13万起 比亚迪元Pro上市".
  6. ^ "首页-比亚迪汽车官方网站 比亚迪汽车 ─ 新能源汽车引领者". Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  7. ^ "3月上市/定位小型SUV 比亚迪元UP官图". Retrieved 2024-02-02.
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