BYD just launched the Great Tang, a full-size electric SUV that offers the range of a regular gasoline-powered car and takes only slightly longer to refuel (read: recharge).
The company’s flagship eSUV starts at around $35,500 and gives most American electric SUVs a serious run for their money.
What exactly does $35,500 get buyers?
The Great Tang comes in all-electric and plug-in hybrid variants.
The baseline trim, Premium EV, starts at 239,900 yuan (about $35,500), comes with a 105.79 kWh battery, and offers 497-mile CLTC range. For buyers who want even more flexibility, the Flagship EV trim, at 269,900 yuan ($40,000), offers a larger 130.15 kWh battery with 590 miles of CLTC range.
I mentioned earlier how the Great Tang’s charging time is only slightly longer than refueling a regular car at a gas station. That’s because BYD has equipped it with its 1,000-volt Flash Charging system. Thanks to the exceptionally high voltage, the system reaches 10% to 70% in five minutes and up to 97% in nine minutes.
Power figures range from 496 hp in single-motor form to 784 hp combined with dual motors. The Great Tang ships with a LiDAR (roof-mounted) and BYD’s God’s Eye B driver-assistance system that enables features like autopilot (on the highway) and smart remote parking.
What else does the eSUV offer?
Inside, the Great Tang’s cabin features three screens spanning across the dashboard. A display drops from the ceiling for rear passengers, while the zero-gravity captain seats in the front and the second row feature heating, ventilation, and massage for added comfort.
BYD also threw in a built-in cooler and folding tray tables, because why not. To put things in perspective, the Tesla Model X AWD tops out at 352 miles of EPA-estimated range and starts at $79,990; the Great Tang beats it on range by nearly 240 miles and undercuts it by approximately $40,000.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re envious, because BYD’s latest electric SUV isn’t coming to the United States.
Ever since the automaker opened preorders in April, it has logged 150,000 preorders in total, which is a new record for a single BYD model. That is a testament to the demand for aggressively priced, feature-rich EVs, as opposed to the more expensive ones available in the United States.