By Sagar Parikh & Shrawan Raja
With most car buyers in recent years shifting towards SUVs for their extra space and versatility, the number of saloon options has significantly declined, particularly evident in the electric midsize segment. In the UK, the BYD Seal is one of the few electric midsize saloons available today. Launched globally in May 2022, we feel that the Chinese model is holding up well in this deluge of electric crossovers.
Recently, we had the chance to experience the Tesla Model 3 rival in person in the Asian-spec, and here’s what we learned:
Design
The BYD Seal has a futuristic exterior and doesn’t go overboard with quirkiness, exhibiting the balance one expects in a premium saloon. Its noticeably low, downward-sloping bonnet, concave nose, strong shoulders, sloping fastback, and diffuser-style rear bumper give it sportiness.
The slim design of the headlamps and side mirrors, the flush-integrated door handles, and the tightly stretched glasshouse bring elegance to the design. The car boasts a low drag coefficient of just 0.219 Cd.
Interior
The interior of the BYD Seal continues with the sleek look of the exterior, with a dashboard featuring flowing lines, floating displays, and a suspended centre console design.
Diamond-shaped quilting and double stitching on the seat covers give the cabin a more upmarket appearance. The front seats include heating and ventilation functions, and we think the latter is practical in the UK’s hot summers, especially considering a panoramic glass roof is standard.
The front seats offer 8-way (driver)/4-way (passenger) electric adjustment, and on the driver’s side, 4-way electric lumbar support and a memory function are also included. A 15-watt dual wireless smartphone charger, two 60-watt USB Type-C charging ports, and a head-up display round out the main features. There are more than 20 storage spaces for small objects spread throughout the cabin.
Our observations in the BYD Seal
I am six feet tall, and entering the BYD Seal required some adjustment because of the lower roofline and the seat position. Once inside, the seat felt comfortable, with strong support for my back and shoulders and moderate under-thigh support. Heating and ventilation are included. The fixed headrest still supported my head well, and headroom was just sufficient for my height.
Visibility was better than expected for a coupe-like sedan. The steering wheel, with a manually adjustable column, offered a solid grip, and the blue topstitching with piano black inserts added a sporty touch. Material quality across the cabin felt high-end.
I counted several different textures on the door panel alone. The centre console’s piano black finish collected fingerprints quickly, and I felt it could use a different treatment in future updates. The crystal gear selector and the large glass roof added visual appeal and improved cabin ambience.
In the rear seat, positioned behind a six-foot-tall driver, legroom was sufficient and knee room felt comfortable. The backrest angle suited me well, although it cannot be reclined. The seatback folds to extend the boot for longer items. Under-thigh support was moderate, and headroom was just adequate. Passengers taller than six feet will prefer sitting in the front.
Specifications
The BYD Seal measures 4,800 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,460 mm in height and has a 2,920 mm wheelbase. It offers 400 litres of boot space and has a 53-litre frunk as well.
BYD gives customers a choice of two variants in the UK: single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD, both with an 82.5 kWh LFP battery pack. The former travels 354 miles on a single charge, and the latter covers a distance of 323 miles, both as per WLTP.
The single-motor RWD variant packs 308 bhp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque and the dual-motor AWD variant 523 bhp and 494 lb.-ft. of torque. 0 to 62 mph comes in 5.9 seconds in the former and 3.8 seconds in the latter, while the top speed of both is the same 111 mph.
Price
The BYD Seal retails at GBP 45,705 in the single-motor RWD variant and GBP 48,705 in the dual-motor AWD variant.
Since 2014, I’ve worked as an international automotive editor, attending global motor shows, industry events, media drives, and tracking the latest developments across the sector, with a particular focus on electrified vehicles.
