BYD Seal Review

The Seal is BYD’s electric executive saloon, positioned against the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Polestar 2, Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i4. It arrived in the UK in late 2023 and demonstrated that BYD could produce something more ambitious than a functional, value-led electric car.

Its styling is sleek without being anonymous, while the cabin combines a large rotating touchscreen with a richer selection of materials than you will find in some similarly priced alternatives. It does not feel like a car developed to meet the lowest possible price. The doors close solidly, the main touchpoints are well finished and the standard equipment list is extensive.

The range is deliberately simple. Both versions use an 82.5kWh lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery, with no smaller-battery entry model. The Design has one motor driving the rear wheels, while the Excellence adds a front motor to provide four-wheel drive and considerably more performance.

The latest Seal also addresses one of the original car’s most obvious weaknesses. Rear boot capacity has increased from 400 to 485 litres, while the storage compartment under the bonnet now holds 72 litres. A Bluetooth smartphone key, an updated driver-monitoring system and additional colour choices have also been introduced.

The result is a more complete electric family car. It still lacks the loading flexibility of the hatchback-style Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i4, and its 150kW rapid-charging speed is no longer particularly noteworthy. Even so, the Seal’s combination of comfort, performance, range and equipment makes it a credible alternative to more established electric saloons.

The BYD Seal Design is the clear sweet spot. It uses the same 82.5kWh battery as the Excellence, but its single rear motor reduces weight and energy consumption. That gives it an official WLTP range of 354 miles, compared with 323 miles for the four-wheel-drive version.

With 312PS and a 5.9-second 0-62mph time, the Design is already faster than most buyers will need. It also comes with a panoramic glass roof, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and a 12-speaker Dynaudio audio system.

The Excellence adds a second motor, four-wheel drive, a head-up display and frequency-selective dampers. Its 530PS output and 3.8-second acceleration time are dramatic, but the novelty of full-power starts is unlikely to compensate for its reduced range and higher price in everyday driving.

Choose the Excellence when four-wheel-drive traction or extremely rapid acceleration is a genuine priority. For most buyers, the Design is the more efficient, comfortable and better-value car.

The BYD Seal Design costs £45,730, while the Excellence AWD is priced at £48,730. The £3,000 increase buys a second motor, four-wheel drive, substantially more performance, a head-up display and upgraded damping.

The Seal is not intended to be a budget electric car. Its price places it directly against the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Polestar 2 and well-equipped versions of the Volkswagen ID.7. A comparable BMW i4 will generally cost more once its specification is brought up to a similar level.

BYD’s long standard equipment list strengthens the value argument because there is little need to add expensive option packs. Buyers should still compare finance and leasing costs rather than concentrating only on the list price. Discounts, deposit contributions and monthly offers can change the relative value significantly, and any quoted monthly payment needs to be considered alongside the deposit, mileage limit, fees and end-of-agreement conditions.

Nearly new examples can represent better value for buyers paying outright. As with many electric cars, lightly used Seals are often advertised well below their original list prices, although values vary with age, mileage, condition and dealer support.

The Tesla Model 3 remains the most obvious alternative. It has an efficient drivetrain, a slick infotainment system and an excellent public-charging experience, but the Seal has a more conventional cabin, a richer selection of materials and more equipment as standard.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is particularly efficient and can charge much faster when connected to a suitable ultra-rapid charger. Its streamlined appearance is more divisive, however, and some buyers will prefer the BYD’s interior design and finish.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is a better fit for buyers who need more rear-seat space and a more accessible hatchback boot. It is larger, more restrained and particularly well suited to long motorway journeys, although comparable versions can cost more.

A Polestar 2 has a stronger premium identity and a more intuitive Google-based infotainment system, but its cabin feels tighter in the rear. The BMW i4 remains the driver’s choice, with sharper responses and excellent refinement, although it commands a sizeable premium when similarly equipped.

There is plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and steering column, making it straightforward for drivers of different heights to find a comfortable position. The low dashboard and large windscreen help forward visibility, although the Seal feels broad on narrow roads and in older multi-storey car parks.

Front occupants have generous legroom and a useful selection of storage areas around the centre console. The door bins are a practical size, while the floating centre-console design creates additional space underneath.

Rear passengers benefit from the Seal’s long 2,920mm wheelbase. Legroom is generous and the flat floor makes the middle seat more usable than it would be in many petrol or diesel saloons. The low roofline reduces the sense of space slightly, and taller passengers may find headroom less generous than in a Volkswagen ID.7. The panoramic glass roof makes the cabin feel brighter but can also allow more heat into the car in strong sunlight.

Isofix mounting points are fitted to the front passenger seat and both outer rear seats. The rear doors open widely enough to make fitting most child seats straightforward, but the low seating position requires more bending than you would experience with an SUV.

The latest Seal has a 485-litre rear boot, a useful improvement over the original car’s 400-litre capacity. It provides enough room for shopping, suitcases or a folded pushchair, but the figure does not tell the whole story. Its saloon opening is narrower and less useful for bulky items than the hatchback arrangements in the BMW i4, Polestar 2 and Volkswagen ID.7.

There is also a 72-litre storage compartment under the bonnet. This is large enough for the charging cables and keeps them accessible when the main boot is full. The rear seatbacks fold when additional space is needed, although the opening into the cabin is still less versatile than a full hatchback.

At 4,800mm long, 1,875mm wide and 1,460mm high, the BYD Seal occupies a similar amount of road space to other electric executive saloons. It measures 2,150mm across with its mirrors extended, so it can feel substantial on narrow roads and in older car parks. Front and rear parking sensors and a clear 360-degree camera are standard, while the 5.7-metre turning radius is reasonable for a car of this size.

The centrepiece of the dashboard is a 15.6-inch touchscreen that rotates electrically between landscape and portrait positions. It is an effective demonstration feature, but most owners are likely to leave it in landscape mode because this works better with smartphone mirroring and is less distracting while driving.

The screen responds quickly and its graphics are clear, although the menu structure is not as intuitive as the systems in the Tesla Model 3 or Google-equipped Polestar 2. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, allowing drivers to bypass much of BYD’s native software.

Temperature controls remain visible at the base of the display, but changing more detailed ventilation settings requires touchscreen inputs. That is less convenient than using physical switches, particularly on an uneven road. Shortcut buttons on the centre console help with several frequently used functions, so the cabin is not entirely dependent on the screen.

A 10.25-inch digital instrument display sits ahead of the driver. It presents the essential information clearly, although some of the graphics are small. The Excellence also has a head-up display.

Both versions receive the 12-speaker Dynaudio audio system, wireless phone charging, multiple USB connections, voice control, navigation and over-the-air software capability. A Bluetooth smartphone key is also included alongside the NFC key function.

Black upholstery is standard, with Tahiti Blue offered as an alternative interior colour. Both versions have leather-trimmed seats, with heating and ventilation for the front occupants.

The dashboard and door panels combine padded surfaces, metallic-effect trim and gloss finishes. The marine-inspired detailing will not appeal to everybody, but the cabin generally feels substantial and carefully assembled rather than cost-cut. There is little difference in material quality between the Design and Excellence.

Both versions use BYD’s lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery. The Design sends its power to the rear wheels and feels immediately responsive without being difficult to control. Its acceleration is more than sufficient for joining fast roads or overtaking, and it is easier to drive smoothly than the Excellence.

The four-wheel-drive version adds a second motor at the front axle. Full power produces the kind of acceleration normally associated with high-performance cars, but it is difficult to exploit on public roads. The additional motor also increases the car’s weight and reduces its official range by 31 miles.

WLTP figures are useful for comparing different cars but should not be treated as guaranteed real-world results. Temperature, speed, weather, wheel choice and use of the heating or air conditioning will all affect how far the Seal travels between charges. In favourable mixed driving, a range approaching 300 miles should be realistic in the Design, while sustained motorway speeds or cold weather will reduce that figure.

Around town, the Seal is smooth and easy to place once you have adjusted to its width. Electric power delivery is progressive, visibility is generally good and the surround-view camera helps when parking. The steering is light enough for low-speed manoeuvres without feeling completely disconnected.

The suspension also copes well with typical UK roads. Despite the weight of the battery and the standard 19-inch wheels, the Seal rounds off broken surfaces and avoids the brittle low-speed ride found in some electric cars. Larger potholes still make their presence felt, but the overall setup favours comfort without allowing excessive body movement.

On country roads, the rear-wheel-drive Design feels more agile than its two-tonne weight suggests. The steering is responsive, grip is strong and the body remains controlled through quicker bends. It is not as communicative or precise as a BMW i4, but it is more engaging than many buyers will expect.

The Excellence’s extra front motor adds traction, particularly in wet conditions, but also introduces more weight. Its frequency-selective dampers adapt their response to different suspension movements and preserve a comfortable ride, although the four-wheel-drive car does not feel dramatically more sophisticated during normal driving.

Motorway refinement is a strength. There is little motor noise and wind noise is well contained. Some tyre noise reaches the cabin over coarse surfaces, but the Seal remains a relaxed long-distance car. Its regenerative braking settings provide useful deceleration, although drivers looking for strong one-pedal driving may find the most powerful setting less assertive than expected.

The BYD Seal received a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2023. It scored 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 82 per cent for vulnerable road-user protection and 76 per cent for safety assistance.

Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, door-opening warning, traffic-sign recognition and driver-attention monitoring. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera are also fitted to both versions.

Euro NCAP found that the automatic emergency braking system generally performed well. BYD subsequently updated the lane-support software to make it more usable, with the five-star rating remaining unaffected. Some of the assistance systems can still feel keen to intervene, but the standard safety equipment is comprehensive.

Both versions can charge at up to 150kW from a compatible DC rapid charger. Under suitable conditions, BYD quotes 37 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent charge and 26 minutes for a 30 to 80 per cent top-up.

That is adequate for occasional motorway journeys, but several rivals can replenish their batteries more quickly. The Hyundai Ioniq 6’s 800-volt electrical system gives it a particular advantage when connected to a sufficiently powerful charger.

The Seal has an 11kW onboard AC charger. A complete charge using an 11kW three-phase supply takes about 8.6 hours. Most UK homes have a 7kW wallbox, which will require a little over 13 hours to replenish a completely empty battery. In practice, owners will usually charge only the energy used during the day rather than waiting for a full zero to 100 per cent recharge.

Charging at home on an off-peak tariff is likely to cost significantly less than fuelling a comparable petrol car. Public rapid charging can be several times more expensive, so drivers without access to home charging should check the prices of the networks they expect to use before assuming the Seal will produce major running-cost savings.

Vehicle-to-load capability is standard, allowing the battery to power compatible electrical appliances through an adaptor.

BYD provides a six-year or 93,750-mile vehicle warranty. The electric drive unit is covered for eight years or 93,750 miles.

The Blade Battery is covered for eight years or 125,000 miles and is guaranteed to retain at least 70 per cent of its original capacity during that period. Roadside assistance is also included, subject to BYD’s warranty terms.

The BYD Seal sits in insurance groups 48 to 50. The rear-wheel-drive Design is in group 48, while the 530PS Excellence AWD occupies the maximum group 50.

Both versions are therefore likely to be expensive to insure, particularly for younger drivers. The Design also compares unfavourably with rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6, BMW i4 and Volkswagen ID.7, which begin in lower groups. Obtain a quote for the exact registration before committing to a purchase, lease or finance agreement.

Electric cars pay the standard annual VED rate after the first year of £200.

It will also attract the Expensive Car Supplement when the original list price exceeds £50,000. The standard Seal Design and Excellence are both below that threshold at their current list prices, so neither attracts the supplement unless factory-fitted options take the original price above £50,000.

Where it applies, the £440 annual Expensive Car Supplement is charged for five years from the second year. Eligibility is based on the car’s original list price, including factory options, rather than a discounted transaction price, finance offer or later used value.