Hitting the market in 2012, the F5 Suri has made quite a splash in the Chinese car market. Google BYD’s F5 Suri sedan and you’ll notice most headlines include something about the sedan->ke142 earning a five-start safety rating in China’s nationwide C-NCAP testing standards. The car was even crowned “The Safest Car in China,” surpassing even contenders from Ford->ke31 and Volkswagen.->ke94 The car even holds the title of the world’s only remote-controllable sedan.

Wait, remote controllable? Yep. The BYD F5 Suri was the first of BYD’s->ke4952 products to come with a remote control that operated the car from up to 10 meters (~30 feet) away for tight parking and other similar situations. While it might not be the cell phone controller James Bond used on his BMW 7 Series->ke323 in , the F5 Suri’s four-directional remote allows the outside driver to turn the wheels and move the car forward and back at very low speeds.

The F5 Suri isn’t all party tricks, though. It comes with a host of standard equipment found in all modern global sedans. A turbocharged engine with direct injection is mated to a dual clutch transmission, eight airbags envelope the cabin, a myriad of electronic safety systems keep the car on the road, and a host of driver centric technology->ke1701 makes F5 feel more premium.

Though BYD’s long-term plans include shipping globally, including the U.S., things aren’t quite to that point yet. Passing the U.S. safety tests and emissions regulations are only the first hurdle.

Click past the jump to read more about the BYD F5 Suri.

2014 BYD F5 Suri

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 BYD F5 Suri
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 107 @ 5800
  • Torque: 106 @ 5800
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Outside, the BYD F5 Suri looks like a decent sedan. Sculpted lines, LED rear taillights, jeweled projector-beam headlights, chrome accents, and an illuminated BYD logo on the trunk help it stand out. A shark fin antenna pulls down GPS signal for the infotainment system while dressing up the roofline and fog lights and chrome allow wheels help dress up the lower half of the car.

Cameras mounted in the front grille, side mirrors, and trunk lid help the driver keep an eye on thing when maneuvering in close quarters.

Exterior Dimensions

Length mm(in.)

4,680 (184.25)

Width mm(in.)

1,765 (69.49)

Height mm(in.)

1,490 (58.66)

Wheelbase mm(in.)

2,660 (104.72)

Track (F/R) mm(in.)

1,525/1,520 (60.04/59.84)


Interior

The Technology continues inside the F5 Suri. Eight-way power leather seats hold the front two occupants while the rear seats get a folding center armrest and a good amount of legroom. The rear seatback folds down for extra storage and there are several cubby spots around the cabin.

The driver is treated to two barrel-type gauges with a 4.3-inch TFT screen perched between them. The screen gives all the vital information about the car, including fuel level, engine-coolant temperature, and tire pressure, among other things. A large touchscreen resides in the center console and is capable of understanding multi-gesture inputs like swipes.

Drivetrain

Powering the BYD F5 Suri is a turbocharged, 1.5-liter gasoline four-cylinder. It features direct injection to help save fuel while creating usable power. Making 151 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, the F5 will move to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds. That might not be fast, but it’s fairly respectable for such a small engine.

A dual-clutch transmission is responsible for all the shifting. Rather than being tuned for lightning-quick shifts, its purpose is to help conserve fuel while giving good feel. Power is routed to the front wheels while an electronic steering rack helps minimize torque steer.

A second engine option is available as well. Still displacing the same 1.5-liters, this four cylinder does not have the turbo. Power is reduced to 107 horses and 106 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is standard equipment here.

Drivetrain/Specifications

Engine model

BYD 473QE

BYD 476ZQA

Engine Type

L4/16 Valve,Water cooling,SOHC,EGS

L4/16 Valve,Water cooling, DOHC.Turbo charging

Displacement L

1.5

1.5(Turbo)

Max.Power

107 HP @ 5,800 RPM

151 HP @ 5,200 RPM

Max.Torque

106 LB-FT @ 4,800 RPM

177 LB-FT @ 1,750-3,500 RPM

Top Speed

166 km/h (103 mph)

190 km/h (118 mph)

Fuel delivery

Multi-point sequential fuel injection

Direct injection

Transmission

5MT

6MT / DCT


Prices

Don’t expect BYD to announce pricing of the F5 Suri for U.S. consumption anytime soon, but do expect the sedan to be highly competitive in the segment. Figure a base starting price of around $20,000.

Competitors

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry has long been the leader in four-door sedans inside the U.S. With its great reputation for reliability, low cost of ownership, and new-for-2015 good looks, the Camry is the top-dog target.

The Camry comes powered by either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 178 horsepower or a 3.5-liter V-6 making a respectable 268 horsepower. A six-speed conventional automatic does the shifting.

Pricing for the Camry starts at $22,970 and rises up past eh $31,000 mark for the top-trim model.

Hyundai Sonata

Another import, this one from South Korea, is kicking butt and taking names. The heavily refreshed 2015 Sonata looks more grown-up and handsome than its last generation and has an interior to match. Much of its design can be traced back to its bigger, more expensive brother, the Genesis.

Power comes from several places, including a 2.4-liter, a 2.0-liter turbo, or a 1.6-liter turbo. The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter is the volume engine while the 2.0-liter turbo is the sportiest. The 1.6-liter turbo holds the fuel-economy crown.

Pricing for the Sonata starts at $21,150 and can rise beyond the $33,000 mark for the top-trim Sport 2.0T model. The 1.6-liter Sonata Eco starts at $24,085.

Conclusion

The BYD F5 Suri seems to have all the right equipment car buyers these days want like electronics, comfortable seating, good looks, and a competitive price. The F5’s remote start and remote control feature is bound to turn heads and gain headlines, as the feature is nearly unheard of. Combine that with its top-scoring marks in safety, and this BYD sedan is a solid competitor.