The BYD Qin PLUS is probably one of the best-value urban commuter cars in its price range. It has only a slight sporty character — mainly the quick acceleration from a standstill. Aside from that, the braking feels soft, body roll during turns is noticeable, and the steering is extremely light. Even the regenerative braking feels so weak that it’s barely noticeable.
Overall, the ride comfort is actually very similar to a traditional gasoline car, or in some situations even better, although the suspension damping is definitely weaker. As for the usual advantages of new energy vehicles — smoothness, quietness, and low running costs — those are already well known.
The car still feels worth the money overall, but there are also many obvious cost-cutting measures and disappointing details. Here are some of the biggest drawbacks after real-world ownership experience.
1. Headlights
The headlights are probably the weakest part of the entire car.
Low beams are barely acceptable
High beams are extremely poor
On dark rural roads at night, speeds above 60 km/h feel unsafe
In rainy weather, visibility drops so much that driving at 40 km/h feels necessary
This is easily the most worthwhile upgrade for owners.
Interior lighting is also weak:
Cabin reading lights are too dim
Vanity mirrors have no lights
Only one reverse light is equipped due to cost-cutting
2. Air Conditioning System
The A/C control logic feels poorly designed.
The AC mode constantly blows cold air
Heating becomes effective only after disabling AC
Temperatures above 23°C already feel very warm
In winter and rainy weather, the windows fog up very easily. Defogging works well, but the controls are inconvenient. There are also no physical buttons for mirror heating or temperature adjustment, forcing drivers to rely heavily on voice commands or touchscreen controls.
3. Power and Acceleration
This is one of the car’s strengths.
Extremely responsive from 0–70 km/h
Highway overtaking feels effortless
Acceleration remains strong even at 100–120 km/h cruising speeds
The car can easily reach 150 km/h during overtaking
4. Braking Feel
The brakes feel soft and lack confidence.
Initial braking response feels vague
Strong nose-diving under braking
Comfort mode improves smoothness but increases braking distance
Drivers are advised to keep a larger following distance at highway speeds.
5. Suspension and Chassis
The suspension tuning is very stiff.
Poor vibration filtering
Sensitive to road imperfections
Rough asphalt feels bouncy
Long speed bumps or gravel roads become very uncomfortable
On uneven roads, the car can sometimes feel like a boat swaying side to side.
6. Cornering Stability
Body roll is quite obvious during turns, especially at higher speeds, reducing driver confidence.
7. Interior and Infotainment
The infotainment system itself runs smoothly and feels tablet-like, but there are several usability issues:
Screen size feels too small
Default navigation software is outdated
Smartphone map projection forces vertical-screen mode
Music apps cannot cache songs offline
Mobile data usage becomes surprisingly high
The center console layout is also inconvenient:
Gear selector placement feels awkward
USB ports are difficult to access
Frequently used climate controls lack proper physical buttons
8. Noise Isolation
At low speeds, the cabin is impressively quiet.
Minimal motor noise
Rear passengers barely hear anything
Highway noise is acceptable for the class
However, poor road surfaces quickly ruin the quiet driving experience.
9. Seats and Comfort
Seat support is average.
After very long drives, fatigue becomes noticeable. Rear-seat comfort is actually slightly better than many gasoline cars thanks to:
Softer cushions
More reclined seating angle
Quiet cabin without engine vibration
The passenger seat is reportedly comfortable enough to make people fall asleep easily.
10. Mobile App Experience
The smartphone app works smoothly, and some owners rarely even use the physical key anymore.
However, several features still need improvement, such as:
Windows not automatically closing after locking the vehicle
Limited remote-control functionality
Final Thoughts
The BYD Qin PLUS DM-i delivers excellent fuel economy, low ownership costs, quiet city driving, and strong acceleration for the price. For daily commuting and urban driving, it offers outstanding value.
However, weaknesses in chassis tuning, suspension comfort, braking feel, lighting quality, and interior ergonomics make it clear that the car prioritizes affordability and efficiency over refinement and driving dynamics.