Ultimate Showdown in the 150,000 RMB PHEV SUV Segment: BYD Song PLUS DM-i vs Geely Galaxy L7 – Which Should You Choose?

I. Quick Overview: Key Differences at a Glance

II. In-Depth Comparison: Who Understands Chinese Families Better?

1. Power & Energy Consumption: Smooth Fuel Efficiency vs Dynamic Performance

Pros and Cons Analysis:

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i:
  • Advantages: Almost identical to pure electric vehicles during urban commuting, with smooth acceleration and no lag; lower fuel consumption in EV-depleted mode (approximately 5.0-5.5L/100km in real-world conditions) for more cost-effective long-term use; better noise and vibration control when the engine kicks in.
  • Disadvantages: Insufficient power reserve during high-speed overtaking, with a 1-2 second delay when stepping on the accelerator hard; higher engine speed and slightly more noticeable noise during high-speed driving.
• Geely Galaxy L7:
  • Advantages: 6.9-second 0-100km/h acceleration leads the segment, providing more confidence during traffic light starts and high-speed overtaking; the 3-speed DHT Pro allows the engine to maintain an economical speed during high-speed cruising, balancing performance and fuel efficiency; clear logic for power mode switching, with more aggressive throttle response in Sport mode.
  • Disadvantages: Slightly higher fuel consumption in EV-depleted mode (approximately 5.3-6.0L/100km in real-world conditions); occasional slight lag during low-speed crawling (much better than traditional fuel vehicles but not as smooth as the Song PLUS DM-i).

2. Design & Interior: Classic Timelessness vs Tech-Savvy Modernity

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: Adopts a symmetrical cockpit design with large-area soft material wrapping, paired with a floating central control screen and physical air conditioning buttons, creating an overall warm family-oriented atmosphere. In terms of details, the stitching craftsmanship on the door panels and center console is exquisite, and the storage space is reasonably laid out – for example, the wireless charging pad in front of the gear lever and the layered storage compartment in the armrest box are very practical.
• Geely Galaxy L7: Features a wrap-around cockpit design, with the 4-screen linkage (25.6-inch AR-HUD + 12.3-inch passenger entertainment screen + 10.25-inch instrument cluster + 13.2-inch central control screen) as its biggest highlight. The interior color schemes are more vivid (available in blue-white and black-red two-tone), with through-type air conditioning vents, offering a stronger sense of technology and visual impact.

Many users feedback that the interior of the Song PLUS leans more towards a warm family feel, is stain-resistant and easy to maintain, and does not easily cause aesthetic fatigue with long-term use; while the Galaxy L7's wrap-around cockpit has a stronger tech atmosphere, and the passenger entertainment screen is very popular among young people at home. However, the light-colored interior is prone to showing dirt and requires more frequent cleaning.

3. Space & Comfort: Battle of Family-Friendly Large Spaces

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: The seats are made of imitation leather with soft padding and an appropriate seat cushion length, providing good thigh support; the driver's seat supports electric adjustment and lumbar support, reducing fatigue during long drives; the rear seat backrest angle is adjustable, and the central floor hump is small, ensuring acceptable comfort for the middle passenger when the car is fully occupied.
• Geely Galaxy L7: High-end models are equipped with the "Queen Passenger Seat," which supports electric adjustment, heating/ventilation, and massage functions – a rare feature in the segment, offering an excellent experience for front passengers; the driver's seat also supports electric adjustment and lumbar support, with better wrapping than the Song PLUS DM-i; the rear seat padding is slightly harder, resulting in less comfortable long-distance rides compared to the Song PLUS DM-i.

4. Intelligent Technology: Infotainment & ADAS Experience

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: Equipped with the DiLink 4.0 intelligent connected system, the 15.6-inch rotatable central control screen is an iconic feature, supporting free switching between landscape and portrait modes (landscape for watching videos, portrait for navigation). The system's UI design is concise and clear, with high operational fluency. It supports voice control for air conditioning, navigation, windows, and other functions, with a voice recognition accuracy rate of approximately 95%, fast response speed, and support for continuous dialogue and dialect recognition.
• Geely Galaxy L7: Equipped with the Galaxy N OS intelligent system, the 4-screen linkage is its biggest highlight. The AR-HUD can project navigation information, vehicle speed, and other data onto the front windshield, eliminating the need to look down at the instrument cluster; the passenger entertainment screen supports independent video playback and music streaming, and can share content with the central control screen. The system supports multi-user voice wake-up with a recognition accuracy rate of approximately 92%, but the operation logic is slightly complex and requires some time to adapt; some functions load slowly, and occasional lag may occur.

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: High-end models are equipped with the DiPilot intelligent driving assistance system, including functions such as ACC adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition. The advantage of this system is its high stability, precise lane keeping, and reasonable following distance control, making it suitable for use on highways and urban expressways; the disadvantage is that the functions are relatively basic, with no high-level autonomous driving options.
• Geely Galaxy L7: All models come standard with L2-level intelligent driving assistance systems. In addition to regular functions, it also supports features such as automatic lane changing with turn signals, automatic adaptation to speed limit signs, and traffic jam assist. The system has strong recognition capabilities, accurately identifying pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, and obstacles; however, the lane keeping smoothness is not as good as the Song PLUS DM-i, and occasional slight deviation may occur during high-speed driving.

III. Buying Guide: Tell You Exactly Which to Choose

🚗 Recommended for Choosing the "BYD Song PLUS DM-i" if:

1. You pursue ultimate fuel efficiency, have a daily commute mainly in the city, and have convenient charging access (home charging or workplace charging), hoping for the lowest long-term usage cost.
2. You value market penetration and brand reputation – BYD's PHEV technology has been validated by the market for many years, and the used car residual value is higher (approximately 65% after three years, higher than the industry average).
3. You prefer a smooth and quiet driving experience, have no high requirements for acceleration performance, and prioritize passenger comfort for your family.
4. You have elderly or children at home, need more balanced space performance, especially in terms of headroom and trunk practicality.
5. You plan to use the car for a long time (more than 5 years) and value the reliability of the three-electric system and the lifetime warranty policy.

🚀 Recommended for Choosing the "Geely Galaxy L7" if:

1. You have higher requirements for power performance, frequently drive on highways or enjoy driving dynamics, and want more confidence during traffic light starts and overtaking.
2. You are a tech enthusiast who loves cutting-edge configurations such as multi-screen linkage and AR-HUD, and appreciates a tech-focused in-car atmosphere.
3. You have a limited budget but want to enjoy higher configurations – the Galaxy L7 has a lower starting price, and mid-to-high-end models offer better cost-performance (for example, you can get the Queen Passenger Seat and 4-screen linkage at around 140,000 RMB).
4. You are between 25-35 years old, pursue a youthful and sporty design, do not want to buy a "mainstream car," and hope your vehicle has more personality.
5. The front passenger seat is often occupied, and you value front passenger comfort configurations (heating/ventilation/massage) to enhance your family's riding experience.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who has lower usage costs for urban driving?

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i (110km version): Can drive approximately 90km on a full charge (real-world conditions), requiring 2 charges per week to cover commuting needs, with weekly electricity costs of about 30 RMB; if you forget to charge, the EV-depleted fuel consumption is 5.2L/100km, with weekly fuel costs of about 104 RMB, resulting in a comprehensive weekly cost of 30-104 RMB.
• Geely Galaxy L7 (115km version): Can drive approximately 95km on a full charge, requiring 2 charges per week, with weekly electricity costs of about 31 RMB; the EV-depleted fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, with weekly fuel costs of about 112 RMB, resulting in a comprehensive weekly cost of 31-112 RMB.
   
  In the long run, the Song PLUS DM-i can save about 400-600 RMB in annual usage costs. Data referenced from real-world fuel consumption reports by Dongchedi and Autohome.

2. What are the differences in battery safety and technology between the two models?

• The BYD Song PLUS DM-i is equipped with BYD's self-developed "Blade Battery," which uses long battery cells and an oblong package. It has passed extreme safety tests such as needle penetration, extrusion, and high temperature (BYD's official test videos show no open flames or smoke after needle penetration of the Blade Battery), featuring excellent thermal stability and collision resistance.
• The Geely Galaxy L7 is equipped with Geely's "Divine Shield Battery Safety System." The battery pack adopts a cage-type protective structure, equipped with millisecond-level power cutoff protection and an intelligent temperature control system. It has passed rigorous tests such as "gunshot test" and "deep-sea pressure resistance test" (certified by China Automotive Engineering Research Institute), with equally excellent safety performance.
   
  Core difference: The Blade Battery focuses more on structural safety, while the Divine Shield Battery emphasizes system protection. Both are in the first tier of battery safety in their segment, so there is no need to overthink.

3. How about maintenance costs and long-term reliability?

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: The first maintenance is free at 3,000km, followed by maintenance every 7,500km. A minor maintenance (oil and filter change) costs about 500 RMB, and a major maintenance (oil, filter, air filter replacement, etc.) costs about 800 RMB, with an average annual maintenance cost of 1,000-1,200 RMB.
• Geely Galaxy L7: The first maintenance is free at 5,000km, followed by maintenance every 10,000km. A minor maintenance costs about 550 RMB, and a major maintenance costs about 900 RMB, with an average annual maintenance cost of 900-1,100 RMB.
   
  In terms of reliability, the Song PLUS DM-i has been on the market for many years with cumulative sales exceeding 1 million units and low complaint rates (data from Chezhi.com shows that the complaint rate in 2025 is only 1/3 of the segment average), mainly focusing on infotainment lag; the Galaxy L7 has a shorter market presence with cumulative sales exceeding 300,000 units, and its complaint rate is slightly higher than the Song PLUS DM-i, mainly related to 3-speed DHT gearbox lag and infotainment lag. Overall reliability is still acceptable.

4. If the pure electric range is insufficient, who is more reliable for long-distance travel?

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: Lower fuel consumption in EV-depleted mode, with an official comprehensive range of about 1,100km on a full tank and charge, and an actual range of about 950-1,000km, reducing refueling frequency; smoother engine intervention for better long-distance riding comfort.
• Geely Galaxy L7: More sufficient power reserve for more confident high-speed overtaking and uphill driving; official comprehensive range of about 1,370km on a full tank and charge, with an actual range of about 1,100-1,150km for longer 续航；the 3-speed DHT Pro allows the engine to maintain lower speeds during high-speed cruising, resulting in better noise and fuel consumption control.
   
  If long-distance travel is mainly at constant speed, the Galaxy L7 is more worry-free; if the long-distance route is complex (more mountain roads and overtaking), the Song PLUS DM-i's smoothness is more desirable.

5. Is there a significant difference in residual value between the two models?

• BYD Song PLUS DM-i: Approximately 80% residual value after one year, 65% after three years, and 50% after five years.
• Geely Galaxy L7: Approximately 78% residual value after one year, 60% after three years, and 45% after five years.
   
  With its larger market penetration and more mature technology, the Song PLUS DM-i has a slightly higher residual value. If you plan to change cars within 3 years, the gap is not significant; if you plan to hold the car for more than 5 years, the impact of residual value difference on the overall usage cost is small.