BYD Song Plus 2026: New Features and KSA Market Expectations

Saudi Arabia: Among the several options present in the market right now, BYD’s Song Plus, a compact SUV, arrives in Saudi Arabia promising a real plug‑in hybrid experience. Positioned as a family SUV, the 2026 Song Plus, a globally popular SUV, provides efficiency, quiet electric‑first driving, and everyday city practicality – not outright, purely higher performance. Developed on BYD’s growing reputation for electrified powertrains, especially its DM‑i plug‑in hybrid system, which prioritises smooth city driving and lower running costs.

Here in the Saudi market, its real appeal is in the balance it offers as a five‑seater packed with modern tech and the flexibility of electric driving without being completely dependent on the city's charging infrastructure. The lower fuel prices in our market reduce the hybrid’s cost advantage, but it also has great comfort, refinement, and future‑ready tech, so you may find the Song Plus a sensible alternative to conventional petrol S110 km.

Saudi Market Entry and Positioning

Among other Chinese brands, BYD entered Saudi Arabia slightly later, in 2024, by appointing Al‑Futtaim Electric Mobility Company as their official local dealer. The Song Plus sits in the compact SUV segment, competing against the Jetour Dashing, KIA Sportage, and Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s priced from SAR 104,900 to SAR 134,900 across three variants.

That’s competitive. But here’s the reality: Saudi buyers care about resale value, and BYD’s track record in the kingdom is barely two years old. The Song Plus needs to prove itself not just on efficiency but on whether it holds value when you try to sell it three years later. No one’s figured that out yet, because the cars haven’t been here long enough.

The SUV entered a market segment where buyers want space, features, and reliability. Chinese brands are getting better at the first two. The third? That’s still an open question, but as time goes on, it is likely to improve, the way China has become an automotive powerhouse.

What's New in 2026 Variants

The 2026 Song Plus comes with three trims: Design (FWD), Design AWD, and Premium. All run the DM‑i plug‑in hybrid system, which is essentially a 1.5L turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor and an 18.3 kWh Blade Battery.

Power output varies: the base design delivers 265 hp, and the Design AWD and Premium push that to 320 hp. The AWD variant hits 0–100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, which sounds impressive. The electric‑only range is up to 110 km on WLTC. In real Saudi driving, where air conditioning is on high and highway speeds are high, you can realistically expect closer to 80–90 km, which is quite good actually. The combined range reaches 890 km, meaning fewer fuel stops on Riyadh–Dammam runs.

According to BYD, the updates for 2026 include refined DM‑i calibration for better thermal efficiency, improved regenerative braking response, and new exterior colours, including Smoke Grey. The rotating 12.3‑inch touchscreen gets smoother animations and AI voice commands, though how well that works in Arabic remains to be seen.

Exterior Design

The Song Plus uses BYD’s Dragon Face 3.0 design language: dual U‑shaped LED headlights, a full‑width rear light bar, and a sculpted front bumper. It looks modern enough.

The dimensions are 4,775 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,680 mm high, with a 2,712 mm wheelbase. That’s competitive with the Sportage and Tiguan, giving decent rear legroom for families. 18‑inch alloy wheels come standard on the Design trim. The Premium gets 19‑inch wheels, which look better but slightly increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Roof rails are standard across all variants.

So what about its design? It’s actually not a standout, particularly, but it blends into the SUV crowd, which might be exactly what some buyers want. No one’s going to mistake it for a luxury brand, but it doesn’t look cheap either.

Interior and Cabin Technology

Inside, the Song Plus focuses on practicality with some tech that is exciting. The rotating 12.3-inch touchscreen is the main attraction of the cockpit, which is vertical for navigation and horizontal for media. It runs BYD's DiLink system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The seats are leather across all variants, and the Premium gets ventilated front seats, which actually matters in Saudi summers. Rear passengers get adequate legroom, and the seats fold for cargo flexibility. The boot space is competitive at around 500 litres, mostly fine for the size of the car. 

The build quality is solid from the first touch, with soft-touch materials on the dashboard, decent panel gaps, and quality that doesn't immediately make you feel like you are in a budget Chinese car, but it is Redefining Comfort with top notch interior. But long-term durability? You will only know after driving it for three to four years and touching 100,000 km.

Multi-zone climate control is standard. The Premium variant includes a heated/cooled front centre console box, ranging from -6°C to 50°C. The wireless charging, multiple USB-C ports, and ambient lighting – the features list reads well on paper.

Keep in mind, this is a Chinese brand, and your expectation of service should be moderate. Simply because BYD is expanding and its network is limited to cities, it will take time to spread across the country.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety equipment varies by trim. The base design includes:

• Six airbags for front, side, curtain
• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control
• Traction control
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear camera
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning

The design, AWD, and premium get:

• 360-degree camera system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane tracing assist
• Automatic emergency braking
• Rear cross traffic alert

Be rest assured about the battery, as the Blade Battery has passed nail penetration tests without fire or smoke, staying at a 30-60°C surface temperature. That's reassuring for safety, though battery longevity in sustained 45°C Saudi heat is still being proven in real-world conditions. ISOFIX child seat anchors are standard. Electronic parking brake, auto-hold, speed-sensing door locks – the checklist is comprehensive.

What's missing? Not much other than a 360-degree parking assist on the base trim. No head-up display even on the Premium. These are not real dealbreakers, but competitors at this price offer them.

Powertrain and Performance

The DM‑i system is the core selling point of this car. It pairs a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine (around 110 hp) with a powerful electric motor, delivering a total system output of 265 hp (FWD) or 320 hp (AWD). The Song Plus operates primarily in electric mode for city driving. The engine kicks in for highway speeds or when the battery depletes. If your daily commute is from Riyadh’s northern suburbs to downtown, you can run electric‑only most days. Charge overnight on a standard outlet (8–10 hours) or faster with a dedicated charger.

The transmission is a single‑speed electronic hybrid system (EHS), and it operates smoothly, eliminating the need for gear hunting. FWD provides adequate traction for most Saudi roads.

BYD Song Plus 2026 Specifications

Specification	Details
Engine	1.5L Turbocharged (FWD) / 1.5L Naturally Aspirated (AWD)
Electric Motor Power	197 hp (FWD) / 160 kW (AWD)
Total System Output	265 hp (FWD) / 320 hp (AWD)
Battery Capacity	18.3 kWh Blade Battery (LFP)
Electric Range (WLTPC)	Up to 110 km
Combined Range	Up to 890 km
Fuel Consumption	6.9 L/100 km (combined)
0-100 km/h	5.9 seconds (AWD) / 8.5 seconds (FWD)
Top Speed	180 km/h
Transmission	Single-speed EHS
Drivetrain	FWD / AWD
Dimensions (L×W×H)	4,775 × 1,890 × 1,680 mm
Wheelbase	2,712 mm
Seating Capacity	5
Boot Capacity	500 liters

KSA Market Expectations

Everyone considering this car as a potential purchase needs to keep certain factors in mind. 

Resale Value: Right now it is unknown. The first Song Plus units only arrived in late 2024/early 2025. No one knows what a three-year-old BYD will be worth in the Saudi used market.

Service Network: Right now, it’s limited; only three cities have BYD service centres. If you’re outside Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam, you may face issues. Availability improves as sales volume grows, but right now, it’s thin. Compare that to Toyota’s or Hyundai’s 20+ service points across the kingdom.

Fuel Savings Reality: The math only works if you charge regularly and drive mostly in the city, like the Weekend Road Trips from Riyadh or others. This is very vital; if you’re doing highway km at Saudi speeds (140+ km/h), the hybrid advantage disappears. You’re running mostly on petrol most of the time. And with fuel at SAR 2.18/L for 91 octane, savings are not high enough to fully offset the higher purchase price and unknown resale risk.

Charging Infrastructure: Home charging works if you can install a dedicated charger at home.

Climate Adaptation: Summers hit 50°C. Air conditioning runs constantly. That drains the battery faster, reducing electric range and pushing you back to petrol mode. BYD’s battery thermal management is decent, but extreme heat accelerates battery degradation.

Buyer Psychology: Saudi buyers want space, features, and brand prestige. The Song Plus has the first two, but the brand is gaining momentum; it will take time before it’s widely accepted.

Competition: The Jetour Dashing starts at around SAR 90,000; the KIA Sportage is proven reliable, while the Volkswagen Tiguan has a strong brand name. The Song Plus is positioned somewhere in the middle, pricier than the Jetour and less established than KIA or VW. It needs to be significantly better to justify the risk premium. 

Warranty: To instil a sense of confidence in its car, BYD offers a 6-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and an 8-year battery warranty. That's competitive. But a warranty is only valuable if the service network can honour it efficiently. Right now, that's questionable outside major cities.

Market Share Reality: BYD sold well globally in 2024, becoming one of the world’s top EV players, but in Saudi Arabia it’s still a minor player. Low volume means fewer independent mechanics will learn to service these vehicles. You’re locked into the dealer network, which is still small.

The Song Plus could succeed in KSA, with key factors like 

• Villa owners with home charging capability
• City-focused drivers with short daily commutes
• Early adopters willing to accept resale uncertainty
• Buyers who want sophisticated tech and also vouch established brands

The value proposition is not that strong for everyone else, particularly for those who drive long distances, live in apartments, or plan to sell in 3–4 years; other than that, it is just a good car.

Conclusion

The Song Plus with 2026 updates is BYD’s attempt to offer a genuine plug‑in hybrid SUV to Saudi buyers at quite a competitive price point. A closer look reveals how well‑equipped and efficient it is for anyone looking at a mixed hybrid as an option for everyday city use.

The fuel savings are real, provided you have the discipline to charge regularly at the home charging station and use it mostly in the city. For certain buyers, the Song Plus does work well, as it is a safe, practical, and tech‑loaded option, but keep in mind the service and resale aspects. BYD has become a top global auto brand, fast‑emerging across key markets thanks to its strong EVs. In KSA, it is expanding its portfolio with globally popular models; this is good news for our market. And the Song Plus represents the same strategy: it is not a bad car; it just requires you to accept risks that Japanese and Korean alternatives do not necessarily carry.