There’s a new MPV in town, and it looks mighty promising. Granted, it is not an ICE MPV, but rather an electric one in the form of the BYD M6. Priced from only RM109,800, the electric MPV offers excellent value for money, especially when compared against other options in the local market now, such as the Mitsubishi Xpander.

That being said, I would personally recommend the higher-end Extended trim of the BYD M6 instead of the more affordable Standard variant. While it does cost quite a bit more at RM123,800, it offers better performance, longer range, as well as a suite of creature comforts like ADAS, a fancy panoramic glass roof, and a powered tailgate.

After driving the M6 Extended briefly around Shah Alam, I’m left pretty darn impressed by the EV. Those who want a seven-seater MPV should definitely give the M6 a consideration.

First, let’s talk specifications. Powering the Extended model of the M6 is a 150kW (204PS) motor with 310Nm of torque, allowing the MPV to accelerate from 0-100kmph in 8.6 seconds. This is quite a bit quicker than the Standard variant; it can do the century sprint in 10.1 seconds instead from its 120kW (163PS) motor with 310Nm torque.

In terms of range, the M6 Extended offers up to to 530km of range out of its 71.8kWh battery. However, it’s worth mentioning that this figure is measured on the NEDC cycle, which is quite a bit more optimistic than the WLTP standard. As for charging speeds, the Extended can draw up to 115kW of power with a DC charger.

While BYD Malaysia did not specify the M6’s AC charging speed, it should be 7kW as per the global specification of the MPV.

Now, when I first got behind the wheel of the BYD M6, the smooth acceleration of the EV is immediately noticeable. This, paired with the comfortable ride quality of the MPV, make for a pleasant, relaxed driving experience. Evidently, the EV is tuned for comfort, which is apt for a model catered to families.

Of course, the M6 does comply accordingly when I put my foot down on the acceleration pedal. The instant torque provides a good amount of pull, and it feels very much like a fast EV despite its MPV body style. However, as I was driving the M6 at a rather leisurely pace, I can’t quite gauge the body roll of the car, though I do think the MPV handles quite well.

While the M6 is a fun car to drive, there are some aspects of the EV that I don’t quite like. The brakes, for one, are very sensitive. The brake pedal has a high biting point, so it can be tricky to modulate the brakes properly. Granted, I’m optimistic this is something that drivers can get accustomed to over time.

Besides that, there’s also the fact that the M6 only supports 7kW AC charging, which is not particularly fast. To be fair, the M6 is one of the more affordable EVs in the market now, so this charging rate isn’t exactly a surprise. Still, it would’ve been nice if the EV supports (at the very least) 11kW AC charging.

If you want to see and test drive the BYD M6 for yourself, you can do so from 18 to 20 October at Dataran Karnival, Perkarangan Stadium Shah Alam. The first 100 to book any variant of the M6 at the event will even receive RM800 Gentari charging credit, while the first 300 bookings of the Extended model nationwide will be bundled with a free home charger.