BYD Seal Excellence AWD reviewed

The BYD Seal has the number 3.8s badged on the back…

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Car Reviewed: BYD Seal Excellence AWD

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And it is a delightful rear – bold but with an elegant and slim taillight strip running from one side of the car to the other. The overall design of the BYD Seal is sleek and modern, with a coupe-style rear and a well-balanced road stance. The front grille is distinctive, with a unique pattern that sets it apart from other luxury sedans. Indeed everything about this car reeks of sophistication and refinement.

BYD’s Seal Excellence, the third all-electric car to grace the UK market, is not just a vehicle, it’s a statement of exclusivity. This luxury sedan, with its impressive performance and advanced features, is set to become BYD’s flagship, a symbol of prestige and innovation.

First, BYD introduced the Atto 3, with its quirky gym-like design cues and then the compact Dolphin crossover hatch.

Now they have reached for the stars with the lovely Seal. It is long and lean with a coupe-style rear and a well-balanced road stance.

It comes in only two variants – the rear wheel drive Design trim and the all-wheel drive Excellence trim, which I am testing and which I am pleased to report comes in at a realistic £48,695.

Realistic because the finish on this car is so good that it is going to take the competition straight to the heart of the European market.

Both cars are powered by an 82.5kWh battery, offering a range of 354 miles on the RWD and 323 miles on the AWD. The battery technology used in the BYD Seal is advanced, allowing for fast and efficient charging.

With the RWD, you get 313PS of power, but a whopping 530PS on the AWD, which is how it can reach 62 miles in just 3.8s. Try the launch mode and see. It drives effortlessly and is as smooth as silk.

The location of the battery balances the car and with all-wheel-drive, the car never feels at all nervous on corners. Indeed, it leaps at them, pushing forward onto the road ahead.

The rear wheel drive feels slightly lighter but certainly more than adequate for most situations.

Inside, the BYD Seal is luxurious and comfortable, with quilted leather seats finished in contrasting stitching.

A wonderful panoramic roof stretches from the windscreen to the coupe-style rear, adding light and airiness to the driving experience.

There are many little cubby holes for storing stuff and room for two mobile phones to charge wirelessly.

It seats five comfortably and offers a boot with a 402-litre capacity.

It would not be a BYD without mentioning the unique 15.65-inch rotating touchscreen, which can be used in portrait or landscape mode. It hosts the car settings, navigation, radio and driver assistance systems. A large and clear 10.25-inch instrument panel complements it.

The Seal is blessed with plenty of safety equipment and alarms, including a 360-degree camera, blind spot monitoring, hill descent control and forward and rear collision warning.

BYD is a Chinese company that has been making car components and tech equipment for decades. It is known for its innovative and high-quality products, and its expertise in electric vehicle technology is evident in the BYD Seal. Now, they have channelled that expertise into cars with rather excellent results, which is nothing but good news for customers.