BYD Seal Review 2024

The BYD Seal has the potential to shake up the electric car market in the same way the Tesla Model 3 did when it arrived in 2019. We think this electric saloon is desirable enough to tempt buyers away from the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and even the BMW i4... but should you spend your money on one? Read our full 2024 BYD Seal review to find out.

BYD is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that you’ve probably never heard of. But it’s actually got some serious clout as a battery manufacturer – its clients include big names such as Tesla and Apple, while its electric buses and trucks have been on sale in Europe for more than 20 years.

The brand decided to expand into the passenger vehicle market in 2023, with the BYD Atto 3 and affordable BYD Dolphin.

The BYD Seal represents the next generation for the marque, providing a noticeable shift upmarket. As BYD doesn’t want to be a budget car manufacturer, it’s already pricing the Seal against established competitors and has the premium brands in its sights.

So what do you get for your £45,000 plus? Well, there are two models available: the BYD Seal Design and the BYD Seal Excellence.

Both are generously equipped – so much so, you’d struggle to tell the two apart. Only a slightly cringey ‘3.8S’ badge on the back of the range-topper identifies it as a dual-motor model; this is a nod to its fairly swift 0-62mph time.

The BYD Seal’s interior is lovely. Apparently inspired by marine life, you’ll find a range of exotic materials and quality finishes.

There’s also a rotating infotainment screen – something of a BYD trademark – which is bit unnecessary, but also a welcome talking point.

BYD’s battery expertise means the Seal is fitted with a very narrow battery pack, which doesn’t eat considerably into interior space.

As such, you sit lower than in a lot of EVs, while there’s plenty of room for both front and rear passengers. It’s a shame, though, that luggage space is restricted by the Seal’s narrow boot opening.

On the road, the BYD Seal is pretty sprightly. We reckon the more affordable model will be fast enough for a lot of buyers, while it can also travel slightly further between charges. The BYD Seal Design has an official range of up to 354 miles, while the Excellence can manage 323 miles.

Charging the BYD Seal is easy – it can be topped up in less than half an hour using a 150kW rapid charger. We”d recommend charging at home, if possible – it’s easier and cheaper. A 7kW home charger will top up the Seal’s battery overnight.

A lot of electric car buyers will be sceptical about the BYD Seal. But this scepticism is not necessarily justified – we think it’s a bold alternative to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Volkswagen ID.7, while BYD’s worldwide presence ought to put your mind at rest about buying from an obscure brand in the UK.

In a world of overweight electric SUVs, the BYD Seal puts a refreshing focus on actually being good to drive.

It’s still a heavy chunk of metal, but its low centre of gravity and eager steering means it feels more enjoyable to drive than, say, a Volkswagen ID.5.

We’ve spent the most time in the all-wheel-drive BYD Seal Excellence and it handles well, with reassuring grip levels and communicative steering. A BMW i4 perhaps has the edge in overall dynamics, but the Seal feels sporty nonetheless.

And that doesn’t come at the expense of comfort. It copes surprisingly well with bumpy road surfaces – helped by the adaptive dampers that are fitted to the more expensive model.

Buy the more affordable BYD Seal Design and you’ll get a single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

With a power output of 313PS and 0-62mph acceleration figure of 5.9 seconds, it feels really rather quick – especially if you’re not used to the instant acceleration of an electric vehicle.

For pacier performance, you’ll need the dual-motor BYD Seal Excellence. With four-wheel drive and a 530PS power output, this can sprint to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.

It actually doesn’t feel all that dramatic, such is the impressive refinement of the BYD Seal, but it’s up there with the fastest electric cars on sale.

As you’d hope for a futuristic electric car, the BYD Seal is fully loaded with driver-assistance and safety technology.

It’ll do everything in its power to keep you safe: keep you in your lane, remind you of the speed limit and even apply the brakes to prevent a collision.

Pleasingly, this tech doesn’t feel excessive, though – unlike a Hyundai Ioniq 6, for example, it doesn't beep and hassle you to the point of distraction.

The BYD Seal has scored a maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, including scores of 89% and 87% for adult and child occupants respectively.

No data has yet been published on the towing ability of the BYD Seal.

The BYD Seal’s 402-litre boot is pretty big, but its traditional saloon-style opening means you might struggle to load bulky items.

If you’re planning to drop the seats and do an Ikea run on a regular basis, you might want to look at the BMW i4 instead.

There’s loads of room for passengers, while the narrow ‘Blade’ battery fitted to the BYD Seal means you don’t sit uncomfortably high, either.

The standard-fit panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy vibe and doesn’t eat into headroom like some sunroofs do.

There’s plenty of space in the cabin for storing your odds and ends (including a deep central cubby box as well as generous door bins), while there’s also an extra 53 litres of storage under the bonnet.

Interior quality is exceptional, with an impressive mix of materials and high-grade finishes.

It feels more special inside than a Hyundai Ioniq 6, thanks in part to the bold design choices – BYD says its cabin was inspired by the ocean, which is an interesting take on car interiors.

The BYD Seal features leather seats (with intricate stitching detail) as standard, while double-glazed windows in the front improve refinement and add to the feeling of quality.

There’s no doubt that the BYD Seal is a premium product.

The BYD Seal's infotainment screen is a chunky 15.6-inch display with a magic trick: it can rotate at the touch of a button.

This is a bit gimmicky; you’ll soon decide which way around you prefer it (we like it in landscape mode), but it’s certainly a talking point.

It’s responsive, easy to use and the graphics are sharp – all important attributes in an expensive EV’s infotainment system. You get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, too, so you can use apps from your phone on the move.

The BYD Seal is initially priced from around £46,000 for the Design model and closer to £49,000 for the Excellence trim.

It’s not a cheap electric car – you can pick up a Tesla Model 3 for a chunk less.

A more affordable entry-level model might make its way to the UK in the future but, for now, you’re limited to just the two variants with their premium price tags.

On the plus side, even the cheapest BYD Seal is well kitted out. The rotating 15.6-inch infotainment is standard, as are a 360-degree camera and panoramic sunroof, and there’s a range of colours to choose from.

The limited line-up (and few options) means delivery times should be short – while the BYD Seal also has the edge over rivals on company car lists.

Both BYD Seal models use an 82.5kWh battery pack, which can be fully charged in around 12 hours using a 7kW home wallbox.

The cost of doing so will depend on your home electricity tariff, but expect to pay around £20. For this, you’ll officially get a range of 354 miles from the Seal Design or 323 miles from the Excellence.

The BYD Seal’s real-world range will be slightly less than this, especially in winter, but longer journeys should be perfectly manageable.

If you do need to travel further than the BYD Seal can manage on a charge, a quick blast at a rapid charger will provide a speedy boost in range. An 150kW charger will top it up from 30% to 80% in less than half an hour.

Standard equipment on the BYD Seal Design includes a panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, 19-inch alloy wheels, high-beam assist and metallic paint.

Inside, the BYD Seal Design features a heated leather steering wheel, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), wireless phone charging, leather seats (heated and ventilated in the front), ambient lighting and dual-zone air conditioning.

A 360-degree camera is standard, as well as front/rear parking sensors, automatic vehicle hold, keyless entry/start and an electronic parking brake.

The BYD Seal Excellence adds a head-up display and semi-adaptive dampers, while the biggest change is the addition of an extra motor (providing more power and four-wheel drive).