I never realized I’d love learning and testing cars, at least not until a rally driver sat beside me during a slalom run, speaking words that would calm even the most restless heart.

“Don’t worry about the cones,” he said as I wobbled through my first lap. And when I drifted into something close to perfection, he whispered “you’re good” more times than I deserved.

Those words stuck more than the speed, and definitely more than the skid marks.

This wasn’t in my bingo card. After winning at the 24th Henry Ford Awards, I thought I’d already said my parting words to automotive coverage.

I poured myself into a passion project tied to my life as an endurance athlete, and when that wrapped, I thought I’d simply move on.

Yet here I was, in Zhengzhou, China — invited by ACMobility — to witness BYD’s first all-terrain circuit, one of the first in the country built exclusively for new energy vehicles.

Arriving at a playground built for new energy vehicles

It was a cold Thursday morning when I boarded a bus to the circuit. The ride stretched over an hour, the kind that lulls you into a half-sleep, half-reverie.

My head bobbed against the window, eyes occasionally opening to marvel at the changing landscape outside. Blue skies meeting industrial romance.

When we finally arrived, I was greeted not just by the sheer expanse of the All-Terrain Circuit but also by the stars of the day: the BYD eMax 9 and Sealion 8, parked like models awaiting their cue.

Before diving into the schedule, I warmed myself with a familiar oatmilk latte from the BYD Café and gawked at the base version of the Yangwang U9 — one of the world’s fastest production car — gleaming under the lights as if to remind us that speed, too, can be art.

We were told the facility housed eight experience zones, each a playground for machines and a test of our courage. And with that, the adventure began.

The world’s tallest artificial dune, now a test track

The first stop was the Indoor Sand Dune, a 29.6-meter vertical drop with a 28-degree slope, certified by Guinness World Records as the highest and largest dune-climbing facility in existence.

Constructed with 6,200 tons of sand, it was designed to mimic the Alxa Desert. Watching the Yangwang U8 command the terrain was nothing short of cinematic. Its wheels tore through the sand with authority, moving like a predator that knew no fear.

We didn’t get to try it ourselves, but my mind drifted to the dunes of Ilocos back home. I wondered how it would feel to tame our own desert with a machine like this, if the U8 ever makes its way to Philippine shores.

What driving through water looks like in the future

The Yangwang U8 returned to center stage at the Wading Pool, a 70-meter stretch of water that felt more like a flood zone than a testing ground.

Through the underwater glass, we watched the vehicle maneuver forward, reverse, and even turn while afloat, all thanks to BYD’s E4 platform.

It was an eerie yet comforting sight, technology meeting something similar to a calamity head-on. In a country like ours, where typhoons strike as often as heartbreaks, such a feature could be a lifeline.

For a moment, I wasn’t just watching a demo; I was imagining families safe inside, crossing flooded streets with grace instead of fear.

Riding shotgun in one of the fastest production cars in the world

Then, came the Yangwang U9. On paper, it’s a beast with 1,290 horsepower and 960 kilowatts. In reality, it was an experience that rewrote my understanding of speed.

I strapped myself in, buff and helmet in place, choosing the Moonlight Stone colorway with interiors in regal purple, which perfectly matched my lavender Nike jacket.

The acceleration was like a trail run on steroids. The heartbeat I feel when descending a mountain trail — reckless yet alive — was the same beat that coursed through me as the U9 devoured the 1,758-meter track with its nine curves and long straight stretch.

The seats hugged me like a co-conspirator, keeping me steady even as the world outside blurred. I didn’t even realize how fast we were going until I glanced at the dashboard.

Fear and euphoria danced together in my chest. Now, I get the high and adrenaline from racing cars.

Learning to let go while machines take over

The off-road testing area spanned 27 scenarios, though time only allowed us to try the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in the junior section.

Still, it was enough to excite me. The car climbed 27-degree slopes, crawled down stairways (and not feel anything), and tiptoed over rocks as if they were pebbles.

I had to fight the instinct to control everything. But these machines were designed to carry you safely even when your nerves frayed.

It was a strange kind of intimacy and learning to surrender. I realized that sometimes, letting go is the only way forward.

Drifting in circles I had no business being in

At the heart of the circuit lay a 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock, our next stop.

The Kick-Plate simulated icy roads, throwing the car into sudden skids while professional drivers demonstrated how NEV safety systems took over with precision.

It was held in a controlled emergency situation, simulating scenarios we pray never happen but feel grateful to be prepared for.

Later, I took the Denza Z9 GT onto the Low Friction Circle, a 44-meter-diameter track laid with 30,000 basalt bricks covered in water. I had no business drifting — let alone in front of a crowd of seasoned drivers — but BYD’s millisecond-level control and Drift Mode made it possible.

For a few seconds, I found flow, spinning in rhythm with the machine. Until the instructor told me to “maintain,” and pressure snapped me out of it, spinning me like I was in a film getting in an accident.

My knees were shaking when I stepped out, equal parts embarrassed and exhilarated.

How a slalom course became my favorite part

What surprised me most was how much I loved the slalom. Maybe it’s because obstacles have always defined my life, on and off the Spartan course.

Driving the BYD Seal EV through cones and curves felt oddly personal. I wasn’t the best.

I hit cones and I apologized to the rally driver guiding me. Yet when I drifted through U-turns and roundabouts, something familiar sparked in me.

It reminded me of growing up on highways filled with those very curves, sneaking in practice at midnight when no one was watching.

This time, though, the sun was setting, and the moment felt bigger. The course ended not just with applause but with reflection. Life, like a slalom, is about moving through obstacles with grace, even when you stumble

The bigger dream behind the Zhengzhou circuit

The BYD Zhengzhou All-Terrain Circuit is more than a playground. It’s a vision of what driving could become in an age of new energy vehicles.

It democratizes technology, making once-distant innovations something you can touch, feel, and experience.

Soon, another BYD circuit will rise in Shaoxing, with a sprawling off-road area set 500 meters above sea level.

Alongside CAMF, BYD is also launching the “New Track Scheme,” a program meant to cultivate 100 professional racers and introduce racing culture to more people.

As I left the circuit, lavender jacket still smelling faintly of rubber and adrenaline, I realized that this wasn’t about cars alone.

It was about rediscovering joy in places I never thought I’d find it. Maybe that’s what the road ahead is about. Not just speed or power, but new ways of dreaming.

Over ten years ago, I got my first car. It was a gift from my parents for graduating college: a humble 2013 Honda City. Over the years, it’s been through everything like dates, work events, long road trips, breakups. And it’s still going strong. There’s not much that beats the feeling of your first car.

Ten-and-a-half years since then, I got my hands on the BYD Seagull, the smallest vehicle in BYD’s lineup, and it feels oh-so-nostalgic. It’s like I got my very first car all over again.

Big things, small packages, and all that

Since this is BYD’s smallest car, you can’t really expect the usual eye-watering performance that BYD is so known for. That said, there’s still much to love about this small package — 75 of them, to be precise.

The BYD Seagull sports 75 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque. It’s around what you’d expect from a starter car, but the drive is still pretty smooth. The car’s speed is powerful enough for city driving, including sharp inclines and twisty turns. Steering is also buttery smooth. Even if you have to go through hours of Manila traffic, the Seagull is a comfort to drive.

During my short stint with the car, I drove through Taguig and Makati. Normally, this is a nightmare scenario for me. But with the Seagull, I didn’t get the usual back pain that I get from long drives.

Maybe not the suspension, though

Now, that said… I’m not a big fan of the suspension. On smooth roads, the Seagull is perfectly fine. However, I took this guy out during the height of the typhoon season, which also means potholes wherever you go.

You don’t really expect much from a small car, but this one was bumpy. It wasn’t too uncomfortable. If you’re used to smoother rides, though, the Seagull might give you a surprise.

There were also one or two times that I accidentally went through sharper potholes. (Sorry, BYD!) Now, those were painful. If you have this car, you’ll need to be more careful about what you put the car through. One wrong move, and you’re inflicting serious damage on the car.

An interior to make other starter cars weep

If you have an aversion for how tiny hatchbacks look, check out how the Seagull looks on the inside. The first thing that will stand out is the cushy leather seats. Normally, a seat this comfy has no business being in a starter car, but BYD makes it work. It looks and feels plush.

Besides the luxurious seats, the car has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so I had no problem keeping my drive smooth. And yes, the screen rotates, as you’d expect from BYD.

Despite the digital console, it still has a bunch of analog controls — including climate and volume dials — laid on a cylindrical format. Not having normal buttons takes some getting used to, but I appreciate the tactile sensation, nonetheless. I didn’t have to fiddle around with screens for when I needed to have my eyes focused on the road.

Though small, there’s a lot of space for your things. When the rear seats are folded, the cabin can hold 930 liters of baggage. In a pinch, you can definitely use the Seagull for moving houses.

Finally, the car has USB ports, a panel for wireless charging, and vehicle-to-load plugs. If you get stuck in traffic, you won’t get anxiety from dying devices.

Range anxiety is real

Though your devices will likely get through the day unscathed, the actual drive might be more of a problem. The Seagull says that you can squeeze out around 300 kilometers from a single charge. I had trouble replicating this.

After only three days, the full battery fell to less than 20 percent. Critically, I wasn’t even driving somewhere far. For two of those days, I was driving only around Quezon City. It was only on the third day that I took it to Taguig and Makati. This was using a combination of the car’s Normal and Eco modes.

I didn’t have the car long enough to test it on a common work week. However, based on those numbers, it’s hard to imagine that the Seagull can last an entire week going back and forth two cities.

Much like other electric vehicles, this one has regenerative braking. According to the driver who brought the car to my house, you can charge the car by up to 10 percent with a single run on the Skyway. I wasn’t able to take this car myself to the Skyway, but I did try to replicate what he did on open stretches of road. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t replicate what he claimed. Of course, I’m not saying that he was lying, but there might be a sweet spot that I just couldn’t find.

If you’re savvier, you might be able to squeeze numbers closer to the promised 300 kilometers. But for my driving style, the efficiency was just fine.

Charging is thankfully easy

Range anxiety aside, charging the battery is easy, at least. At the time of my review, the cost of charging was around PhP 28 to PhP 35 per kilowatt. Via DC charging, PhP 500 got me 50 percent of the battery back in only around 40 minutes. Because the battery is so small, topping up after a long day isn’t too much of a chore.

Additionally, the car comes with a home charging kit. A single overnight charging session should get you up and ready for the coming day.

Is the BYD Seagull your GadgetMatch?

There are only a few things that a starter car needs to be. It doesn’t need to be flashy, luxurious, or expensive. All it needs to do is get the job done of taking you from point A to point B on a daily basis.

It’s also not expensive. It starts at PhP 898,000. It comes in three colorway options: Delan Black, Apricity White, and Sprout Green.

Now, if I got the BYD Seagull as my very first starter car, I would’ve been more over the moon that I already was with my 2013 Honda City. The hybrid offers you a decent helping of automotive technology. It makes for a comfortable daily drive.

It’s not a perfect vehicle by any means. There are still some aspects that I didn’t really love. But there are still a lot that I did. If I put myself in the shoes of a recent graduate, I would immediately think, “Wow, I want these features for my next car years down the road.”

For that, the BYD Seagull gets a Swipe Right for being an amazing starter car for new graduates and young professionals today.

SEE ALSO: Eclectic meets electric: The BYD Seagull charms with its rizz

One of the best things about the electric vehicle market is its affordability. For a more affordable price tag, the segment can give you a car that packs in all the latest technology you need to make a long trip into a comfortable one. But the appeal of a premium electric or hybrid car is tantalizing. Why settle for an affordable car when you can aim for a high-end one? That’s where the new Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 e comes in.

The new PHEV puts out 252 horses and 400Nm of torque. Coupled with a 9G-TRONIC (9-speed) transmission system, you have the makings of an extremely capable road warrior. As a hybrid, it comes with a 25kWh battery for maximum efficiency.

But, of course, the power is just one of the reasons why you’d want a PHEV. You’re also in it for the convenience, comfort, and entertainment features. The GLE 400 e features a 12.3-inch MBUX multimedia system. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a powerful Burmester surround sound system.

For safety, the vehicle features the usual array of ADAS features but includes its own special flavors. This includes Active Distance Control, ATTENTION ASSIST Drowsiness Detection, and Urban Guard Vehicle Protection.

For both drivers and passengers, comfort takes center stage with ARTICO man-made leather upholstery and MICROCUT microfiber. It also comes with electrically adjustable front and rear seats with memory functions.

Naturally, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 e will cost a pretty penny. It will start at PhP 5,790,000, which Mercedes-Benz says is a competitive price for the premium PHEV market. It comes in Selenite Grey, High-Tech Silver, Obsidian Black, and Polar White.

SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz just turned its luxury cars into PHEVs