BYD Seal review: Slippery newcomer looking to make a splash
Can the BYD Seal mount a credible challenge to high-end rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and BMW i4
If you have even a passing interest in EVs you’re likely to have heard of BYD and its models the BYD Seal, Atto 3 and Dolphin.
From a virtual unknown a few years ago, the Chinese brand has invested massively in getting its name known in Europe and the UK. From TV advertising to sponsoring the Euros, it’s not shy in trying to establish itself as a serious brand.
But throwing money around to make yourself famous will only get you so far, so there needs to be substance behind the noise, in the shape of cars that will attract buyers.
The brand arrived with the mainstream Atto 3 family SUV and the competitively priced Dolphin hatchback to attract volume customers, but also has its sights set on the more premium end of the market with the BYD Seal.
This is a car that wants to compete with the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, BMW i4 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 in the executive saloon segment which appears to be enjoying a boom in the electric era. So does the Seal have the capabilities to make a splash or is it a damp squib?
Design, interior and technology
The BYD Seal certainly lives up to its aquatic name, with a slippery, sleek design that looks like it should cut through the air with ease.
There are some hints of Model 3 about the front end but it’s got more character and detail than the melted soap bar Tesla. Touches such as the black body line that follows the placing of the battery and distinctive LED light signatures at the front and rear help elevate it, and strike a balance between the bland Tesla and challenging Hyundai.
Due to being a saloon, the Seal’s boot is capacious but impractical. At 400 litres, it’s not far off that of the Atto 3, but the relatively narrow opening makes it hard to fit large objects inside. Passengers fare better thanks to a long wheelbase that means there is decent legroom in the back and plenty up front. It’s comfortable for four but the middle seat is really just there to accommodate the arm rest, and the high floor means there’s not much foot room beneath the front seats.
BYD has experimented with some wild and unusual interiors in other models but the Seal is more traditional. And it’s better for it, with a classier, better considered interior look and feel than its other models (although Seal U borrows quite a bit of it). The seats are finished in diamond-stiched leather and there’s plenty of Alcantara (or Alcantara-like) material on the dash and doors that gives a sporty touch without overdoing it. It’s more inviting than a Tesla or Ioniq 6, but a Polestar or BMW still feels more special.
That said, everything feels well put together and there’s a useful cluster of physical switches arranged around the tactile crystal-effect drive selector. Ahead of that are two wireless phone chargers and there’s a generous but hard-to-access storage space beneath.
As expected there are a couple of big digital displays – one for instruments and the other for media/navigation. The rotating central screen is big, clear and responsive, and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. But, like many Chinese models, too many important functions are buried deep in submenus while extraneous rubbish gets pride of place on the main pages.
It shouldn’t require eight screen presses every single time you start the car to deactivate the nagging, inaccurate and overly aggressive lane keep ‘assistance’. The level of screen-stabbing required to control the air con and activate basic features such as the screen demister is also unspeakably frustrating and not at all a ‘premium’ experience.
BYD Seal battery, motor and performance
BYD has been making batteries for everyone from Nokia to Tesla for decades and builds the Seal’s entire drivetrain in-house, from the battery to the 8-in-1 motor module.
The Seal comes with a choice of motor setups but just one battery – an 82.5kWh unit good for between 323 and 354 miles. While all its key rivals offer DC charging in excess of 200kW, the Seal is limited to 150kW, but BYD claims a 0-80% top-up still only takes a very competitive 26 minutes.
The Design spec uses a single rear-mounted motor for a respectable 308bhp, while Excellence adds a motor at the front for a total output of 523bhp.
That’s enough to get this unassuming saloon from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. Something the car proudly communicates via a badge on the tailgate. That badge feels like BYD is trying too hard but there’s no arguing with the pace. Plant your foot and the Seal zips forward with gut-punching pace and virtually no sound. The twin motors and clever control systems do a good job of getting all the power and torque down without much fuss.
And it works in twisty conditions as well as in a straight line, with plenty of grip and well managed power distribution helping it slip smoothly between corners.
You can dial up the steering weight and braking response to ‘sport’ or use the small roller to select sport mode for some added dynamism. This brings some extra impetus and weight to the controls without straying too far into the fake ‘sportiness’ that sometimes comes with such settings. Overall, it feels balanced and composed. Not as nimble or lively as something like an i4 but quick and competent and capable of tackling a twisting country road rapidly and confidently.
However, the ride isn’t the smoothest. Despite (or perhaps due to) frequency adaptive damping it never feels fully settled and doesn’t have the soothing smoothness of some premium models, or of the less powerful, single-motor Design variant.
BYD Seal price and specification
BYD isn’t trying to undercut its rivals in quite so dramatic a fashion as some Chinese brands but the high-performance version of the Seal does manage to come in substantially cheaper than many alternatives.
In all-wheel-drive Excellence trim, it starts at £48,695. A Polestar 2 Performance is more than £55,000 and the Model 3 Performance £60,000, albeit with more range and pace. And an i40 M60 is more than £70k.
To keep things simple, the only options with the BYD Seal are the exterior paint and upholstery colours, everything else is standard across both models. That includes the 15.6-inch touchscreen, heated seats and steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof and a heat pump, plus keyless entry, a powered boot lid and 360-degree parking camera.
It’s a comprehensively equipped car and many of the standard features would be options on rivals, making the Seal seem like good value.
Verdict
That value helps the Seal’s case as a competitor to more established brands but it’s not its only appeal.
From the range and performance to the well appointed interior, it’s a seriously impressive car that is worth considering among those big names.
That being said, it is held back by stupid problems with the user interface and a ride that is not as composed as the rest of the package or as its rivals.
BYD Seal Excellence
Price: £48,695
Powertrain: two-motor, all-wheel-drive
Battery: 82.5kWh
Power: 523bhp
Torque: 494lb ft
Top speed: 108mph
0-62mph: 3.8 seconds
Range: 323 miles
Consumption: 3.9m/kWh
Charging: up to 150kW
