Build Your Dreams is a Chinese manufacturer which has surprisingly taken on well-established brands like Tesla, Hyundai and MG. BYD might be a new name to Australia, but this is an experienced EV-specialist brand with its own EV platform and cutting-edge battery technology. The BYD Seal is only their third offering here and has the promise to make a name for itself in the medium-sized electric sedan segment, with an alluring combination of range and performance. We’ve tested the BYD Seal and it gave us much to think about.. Let’s dive in!

Pros

• Packs decent performance with solid road manners
• Long list of technology features both within the software as well as the hardware
• Stunning design for the price
• Great noise insulation
  

Cons

• Charging structure is still lacking
• On-road efficiency is lower than rivals from Tesla and Hyundai
• Ride quality and handling needs tuning for Australian terrains
• No single-pedal driving
• ADAS functions can be intrusive at times
  

The BYD Seal majorly competes with the likes of the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Polestar 2. However, amongst all these cars, the most affordable vehicle is the BYD Seal. If you don’t want to shell out close to $70,000 for the top-of-the-line performance version, the entire lineup kicks off from just under $50,000.

These are prices before on-road costs

Exteriors

Styling Elements

The BYD Seal has extremely stylish exteriors. However, unlike what we saw in the BYD Dolphin where the headlight structure along with the front grille gave a dolphin-like finish, Seal is designed more like a porpoise. Google it!

There is a clear German influence in the overall styling of the Seal and that’s a positive against its similarly priced rivals which are decent lookers themselves. At the front, you get sleek LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs or Daytime Running Lights and strips visible in the sporty-looking air intakes on the front bumper light up too.

You get pop-out door handles that sit flush into the bodywork, for better airflow around the electric sedan. Around the back, you get full LED connected tail lights with a special badge on the Performance trim - 3.8s - which is a nod to the Seal’s acceleration capabilities.

The BYD Seal presents a captivating exterior, reflecting a harmonious blend of contemporary design and aerodynamic efficiency. BYD Seal boasts an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.219. Its streamlined silhouette exudes a sense of sophistication, setting it apart in the competitive electric vehicle landscape.

Colour Options

The BYD Seal is available in 5 vibrant colours, but the optional ones are priced on the higher side. These colours look sophisticated under the great blue sky and contrast well against the grey roads and blue sky.

The colours are Cosmos Black |  Atlantis Gray | Aurora White (Standard) |  Arctic Blue |  Shark Gray (available only for the Performance variant)

There are two interior colours consumers get to choose from and they are;

Thaumas Black (Standard) | Ocean Blue (Optional)

Wheel Design

The Seal's wheel design adds a touch of flair to its exterior. Apart from the Dynamic variant which comes with an 18-inch alloy wheel type, both the Premium and Performance boasts 19-inch alloy wheels with plastic inserts meant for improved aerodynamic efficiencies (i.e. range).

Interiors

Interior Layout & Space

Step inside the BYD Seal, and you'll find an interior layout that comes across as luxurious and built for comfort. The cabin and the cockpit are amply spacious and allows for ample leg and headroom for the occupants. Even with a 5th passenger, the car seems to be accommodating to everyone without restricting the movement. Even with the panoramic sunroof, the taller passengers sit comfortably in the back. Additionally, the sunroof is a bit bigger than that of its competitor the Model 3. It’s only a few inches bigger but the difference is discernible.

Comfort & Ergonomics

. The driver gets an 8-way power-adjustable seat with 4-way lumbar power adjustment, while the passenger seats are 6-way power-adjustable but lack lumbar adjustment. The long and short of these ergonomically designed seats is that they are extremely comfortable and cosy for long journeys, creating a pleasant driving experience..

The material quality is premium with genuine leather-wrapped seats and steering wheel for the Premium and Performance variants. However, the entry-level Dynamic variant comes with imitation leather seats.

Boot & Storage

If you think the cabin of BYD Seal is spacious, take a gander at the boot of this sedan. For its segment, the makers at BYD have designed to maximise the space you get for storage and luggage. 400 litres of boot space seems decent and the wide opening makes it easier to load larger items. There’s also the “frunk” under the hood offering another 50 litres of storage, good for the EV’s charging cables or a small bag.

Even in the cabin, there is ample space to store items like charging cables and wires and whatnot. Cleverly posed cubby holders and some more storage in the middle and under the armrests allow for those minute things that were forgotten at home to be forgotten in the car.Technology & Infotainment

What follows is a portion of an exhaustive list of Technology and Infotainment features that make the Seal a very attractive proposition in this segment. The tech features are pretty much inclusive for all types of urban use and mindfully curated to serve almost all needs, and most are offered from the entry-level trim itself

Technology Features

• iTAC (Intelligence Torque Adaption Control)
• Electrically heated and adjustable exterior mirrors
• Soundproof double-glazed glass - windshield and front door
• Heated steering wheel
• Driver seat 8-way power-adjustable
• Driver seat 4-way lumber power adjustment
• Passenger seat 6-way power-adjustable
• Front seats are ventilated & heated
• Driver seat with position memory
• Courtesy seating
• Keyless entry & start
• NFC card key
• Wireless phone charger × 2
• 12V accessory socket
• PM2.5 filtration system
• PM2.5 high-efficiency filter (CN95)
• Negative ion air purifier
• Automatic dual-zone heat pump air-conditioning
• Automatic anti-dazzle interior rearview mirror
• Rain-sensing frameless wipers
  

Infotainment & Connectivity Options

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• FM & DAB Radio
• Apple CarPlay (wired)
• Android Auto (wireless)
• Bluetooth phone connectivity
• Audio streaming
• 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen display
• DYNAUDIO, 12 speakers
• Voice assistant - English
• Satellite navigation

Performance & Engine

BYD Seal comes in 3 different variants; Dynamic, Premium & Performance. Each offers a different powertrain setup. While the Dynamic and Premium are capped off at single-motor driving the rear-wheels only, the Performance variant gives you a dual-motor all-wheel drive layout.

Engine Specifications

Battery System

The Seal uses BYD’s own Blade battery technology which is fundamental to the car’s structure, dubbed ‘Cell to Body’, where the top cover acts as the body floor. You get the choice of two battery sizes depending on the trim level, but both support AC charging at speeds up to 11kW with a 3-phase charger, and DC fast charging of up to 150kW with an average of 95kW.

Essentially this isn’t the most impressive specification out on the electric sedan market but it’s definitely not a deal-breaker.

Handling & Driving Dynamics

The BYD Seal is a very powerful package in the top trim with its dual-motor setup offering punchy acceleration. It claims a nought to 100km/h time of just 3.8 seconds and it felt pretty close to that in our tests. Sure, the top speed of 180km/h is less than that of the Tesla Model 3 which peaks at 200km/h, but that’s an easy compromise to live with, especially when you consider that the BYD Seal offers this performance at a more affordable price. Understandably, the Dynamic and Premium trims are not as exciting but still offer a decent drive experience overall.

In terms of power delivery, the BYD Seal isn’t exactly the most refined experience compared to similarly powerful electric sedans but it’s fairly rewarding for its price. Even with the different drive modes - Normal, Eco and Sport - the last one does not feel super responsive out of the box, which might be better for new EV users. The Seal is fairly agile with decent body control when changing directions. It has decent braking performance as well, but no paddle-shifters to adjust the regenerative braking which can only be changed via a sub-menu.

The Seal has something called a Passive Damping Setup which is common to cars like the Kia EV6 GT. It just means that the car can take over bumpy and erratic roads at high speeds without unsettling the passengers too much. The car uses a double-wishbone suspension at the front and a five-link setup at the rear. It is tuned for urban driving thus the entire setup sits upon smooth sealed surfaces, put it on country roads and all the comfort is not just compromised, you might be fed up of the ride as soon as there are multiple bumps at short intervals on the road.

Safety Features

The BYD Seal has a comprehensive list of safety features for both Advanced and Passive safety in order to provide maximum peace of mind while cruising through urban landscapes.

• 9 SRS Airbags
• 360° Camera
• Front Parking Sensor (2 Zones)
• Rear Parking Sensor (4 Zones)
• ISOFIX Child restraint anchorage points
• Electronic child lock
• Intelligent power brake system
• Electric Power Steering (DP-EPS)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
• Hill Hold Control (HHC)
• Auto-hold
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
  

Advanced Safety Features

• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA）
• Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
• Predictive Collision Warning (PCW)
• TracSign Recognition (TSR)
• Intelligent Speed Limit Information (ISLI)
• Intelligent Speed Limit Control (ISLC)
• Front Cross Trac Alert (FCTA)
• Front Cross Trac Brake (FCTB)
• Rear Cross Trac Alert (RCTA )
• Rear Cross Trac Brake (RCTB)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Door Open Warning (DOW)
• High Beam Assist (HMA)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Child Presence Detection (CPD)
• Head Up Display (W-HUD)
  

Crash Test Ratings

The BYD Seal has been awarded a 5-star rating by ANCAP. The test was conducted in August 2023 and the rating is valid till December 2029. Following is a brief breakdown of the ANCAP report. You can read the entire report here.

• Adult Occupant Protection - 89%
• Child Occupant Protection - 87%
• Vulnerable Road User Protection - 82%
• Safety Assist - 75%
  

Ownership Experience

The BYD Seal presents itself as an exciting option for drivers seeking a feature-rich, sporty and stylish electric sedan. The spacious and modern interior with high-quality materials promises a comfortable experience for both passengers and drivers. The highlight for many owners of the Seal will be the impressive thrilling driving experience with sufficient energy efficiencies to calm that range anxiety. However, there are a few aspects to consider before putting in an order.

BYD is a relatively new brand outside of China, so long-term reliability and resale value are yet to be established. The availability of charging stations, especially for long trips, could impact ownership convenience. Finally, while the infotainment system is packed with features and does that cool rotation trick, it might require some familiarisation for users who aren't accustomed to BYD's interface. Overall, owning a BYD Seal offers a blend of luxury, performance, and a spacious electric sedan at an attractive price point. However, those prioritising a proven track record from a long-established brand or a more user-friendly infotainment system might want to explore other options in the electric vehicle market.

Major Drawbacks

• Similar to other electric vehicles, the BYD Seal faces challenges to long-distance travel due to the still-developing charging infrastructure, especially in more rural or less densely populated areas.
• The advanced technology and features in the BYD Seal come with a higher price tag compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. This can be a barrier for some potential buyers, despite the long-term savings on fuel and maintenance.
• While the Seal offers a good driving range, it may not be sufficient for all users, particularly those who undertake frequent long-distance travel. Range anxiety remains a concern for many electric vehicle owners, who may worry about running out of battery far from a charging station.
  
  

Major Strengths

• The BYD Seal offers impressive acceleration and handling, thanks to its powerful dual electric motor setup. This performance-oriented approach makes the Seal a compelling choice for drivers looking for an electric vehicle that doesn’t compromise on driving excitement.
• Equipped with BYD’s cutting-edge Blade Battery technology, the Seal offers adequate range, longevity, and safety.
• The BYD Seal boasts a well-appointed interior with high-quality materials and a range of advanced tech features. This includes a large infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, and a suite of driver-assistance systems, providing a comfortable and technologically rich driving experience.
  

Maintenance & Warranty Information

Owning a BYD is getting easier by the day. With BYD opening new service centres across the nation and partnering up with mycar to expand into licensing additional service locations, the service and maintenance cost of BYD is only getting more and more affordable. Here’s a link to every service station of BYD in Australia. Click Here!

The servicing of BYD is also capped for all the 3 cars for now. Here’s a table explaining the service timings and cost.

BYD offers a robust Traction Battery Warranty of 8 years of 1,60,000kms whichever occurs first and the vehicle warranty is offered to the consumers for 6 years or 1,50,000kms whichever occurs first.

You can view the entire Manufacturer's Warranty here.

Verdict

The BYD Seal is a serious bit of kit, ready to trade blows with Tesla in the electric sedan market. Sure, you have the top-end Performance variant that offers neck-snapping acceleration for a bargain price, and also the mid-level Premium variant for the maximum range with the full suite of features. But then you also have the most affordable Dynamic variant that makes this good-looking electric sedan a lot more accessible without compromising too much on creature comforts. It does have room for improvement in areas regarding drive and suspension tuning, better infotainment software, and maybe even enhanced range with some OTA updates.

What we adore about the Seal is the value-for-money proposition that could enamor you with its styling, comfortable cabin, long list of features and impressive performance. All of this makes it stand out in the sea of EVs trying to outdo each other in obvious tech.

Reference

Brochure

Owners Manual