If I say the phrase ‘Seal’, you’ll most likely consider the lovable aquatic mammal or the rubber lining of your tailgate.
Nevertheless it’s additionally the title of BYD’s reply to the favored Tesla Mannequin 3 battery-electric mid-sized sedan. The BYD Seal has barely been on sale in Australia for a 12 months, however in that point it has made fairly the splash.
Regardless of native client tastes shifting in the direction of SUVs and utes, the Seal has rapidly change into the Chinese language model’s hottest mannequin in Australia… thus far.
To the top of October 2024, BYD has registered 5621 examples of the Seal in Australia, which is greater than its personal Atto 3 (5256 models) and Sealion 6 (4229) SUVs. By comparability although, Tesla has registered 14,475 Mannequin 3 gross sales in the identical timeframe.
Nonetheless, the BYD outsells nearly each different medium sedan in Australia bar the Toyota Camry, successfully outgunning the amount of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6 and Skoda Octavia mixed.
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluation of the BYD Seal Efficiency
So why has it confirmed so widespread? Properly, worth is definitely one facet, given the vary begins at just below $50,000 earlier than on-road prices, and the Efficiency flagship on check right here could be had for beneath $70,000 plus on-roads, simply undercutting the equal Mannequin 3.
It’s additionally, put merely, only a good automotive – discover out why on this evaluation.
How does the BYD Seal examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the BYD Seal towards equally sized automobiles.
BYD
Seal
How a lot does the BYD Seal value?
The BYD Seal is priced from simply $49,888 plus on-road prices, although the flagship Seal Efficiency AWD we’re testing right here is priced from $68,748 earlier than on-road prices.
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s the BYD Seal like on the within?
For those who’ve sat in or pushed a BYD earlier than, it’s extra of the identical from the Chinese language model’s steady, together with some distinctive touches to tell apart the Seal from different fashions within the vary.
The shows all make use of a well-known interface and, in a cool occasion trick, that huge 15.6-inch touchscreen can rotate between portrait and panorama orientations on the contact of a button.
Forward of the driving force is a freestanding 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that provides a few totally different views and varied menus. It’s additionally fairly clear and engaging in its presentation, which is a plus. The seats are additionally comfy, with a sporty design and first rate aspect bolstering, although the bottom cushion may use some further aspect help.
In comparison with the Tesla Mannequin 3, a correct driver’s show in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity may be key factors that sway you for those who’re into extra typical layouts.
The infotainment system itself is definitely actually good. Often, I’m crucial of the consumer interfaces employed by many Chinese language manufacturers as they’re usually undercooked and beneath featured variations of the multimedia methods obtainable of their home market, however BYD has accomplished an ideal job of getting this method prepared for the Australian market.
Past wi-fi smartphone mirroring, there’s customary FM/DAB radio, satellite tv for pc navigation, entry to embedded music streaming companies, Bluetooth cellphone and audio streaming, and over-the-air software program updates.
It’s clear, user-friendly and provides fairly snappy response. It’s additionally hooked as much as a fairly good 12-speaker Dynaudio-branded audio system.
Whereas there’s little in the way in which of bodily switchgear past a shortcut pod of buttons across the shifter, entry to the broader array of infotainment and local weather management features is all through the touchscreen.
If you’ll want to change fan pace or temperature on the transfer it might get a little bit fiddly, however there are no less than auto local weather, fan on/off and entrance demister buttons on the centre console.
You additionally get twin wi-fi cellphone chargers forward of the Volvo-like clear shift selector, and under the bridge-style centre console is a decrease storage compartment that’s additionally house to USB-A and USB-C inputs, in addition to a 12V socket.
So the primary row is fairly good, and I discovered the notion of high quality to be fairly excessive – loads of soft-touch supplies with properly contrasting top-stitching parts and neat quilting motifs on the seat upholstery.
These within the rear aren’t forgotten about both.
For those who’re a little bit above common peak like 6’1″ me, you’ll discover there’s good area even behind a driver round your peak.
Leg and knee room are good, although toe room is on the tighter aspect if the entrance seats are of their lowest positions. Head room can also be first rate, regardless of the usual fastened panoramic sunroof.
Facilities embody rear air vents with a small storage slot on the rear of the centre console, a flip-down armrest with cupholders, ISOFIX and top-tether youngster seat anchor factors, and twin map pockets on the backs of the entrance seats.
Beneath the bootlid, there’s a quoted 400 litres of bags capability, which whereas sufficient is sort of 200 litres down on the claimed quantity of the Mannequin 3.
Additional, there’s 50 litres within the ‘frunk’, which once more is down on the Mannequin 3’s quoted 88 litres.
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The highest-shelf Seal Efficiency is the only real variant obtainable with a dual-motor AWD powertrain.
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the BYD Seal drive?
This was my first ever drive within the BYD Seal, and I got here away fairly impressed with the electrical sedan.
For each day driving to and from work I fairly benefit from the serenity and linearity of EV driving. The Seal is clean, quiet and fairly comfy.
Speedy torque supply and the shortage of combustion engine noise are little question components in why an growing quantity of Australians are turning to electrical automobiles and plug-in hybrids for the each day grind.
In its customary setting, the Seal could be very a lot a sleeper, providing mild controls and easy response to offer off extra of a lazy, luxurious vibe fairly than overtly telling you it’s able to accelerating at warp pace.
The steering is mild, the suspension tune is on the softer aspect – significantly for one thing referred to as ‘Efficiency’ – which makes this sedan straightforward to manoeuvre in heavy site visitors and tight metropolis streets.
It would make you query whether or not it’s price spending the additional $10,000 for the Efficiency over the Premium with the Prolonged Vary battery pack, given the Seal’s extra comfort-leaning tuning.
Additional, if the Seal’s main function is to be an on a regular basis commuter, the tradeoff in efficiency by going for the single-motor Premium with an additional 50km in claimed WLTP vary (570km), whereas sustaining a good 5.9-second 0-100km/h acceleration declare.
However, for those who want the added grip of all-wheel drive, in addition to understanding you’ll be able to scoot to the authorized restrict in lower than 4.0 seconds, the Seal Efficiency is the choose for you.
I gave it a bootful a few occasions in Sport mode, and I can verify the Seal Efficiency is bloody quick, most likely sooner than it must be. It simply hooks up and goes, and it definitely feels as fast as its sub-4.0s declare suggests.
To be trustworthy although, I might be more than pleased with the mid-spec Premium and its further vary. The Efficiency, whereas very quick in a straight line, feels a little bit too subdued to be a correct sports activities sedan.
I’ve had much more partaking experiences in lower-powered combustion automobiles just like the BMW 3 Collection – 320i or 330i – and whereas even this flagship Seal is, remarkably, nonetheless cheaper than even the most cost effective 3 Collection, in order for you a correct sports activities sedan expertise you could be higher served elsewhere.
Nonetheless, the correct steering makes the Seal a pleasant factor to steer, although the softer suspension means you’ll be able to really feel the Seal’s weight in bends. Plant your foot out of an apex and also you get some wheel scrabble as properly.
Consider it extra of a really quick GT.
From a driver help tech perspective, BYD is certainly on the entrance of the Chinese language pack for calibration, with methods which are a lot nearer to section benchmarks.
Adaptive cruise management and lane centring are fairly good, although at occasions the adaptive cruise was a contact conservative and indecisive with lead automobiles that teeter between speeds.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert additionally turn out to be useful, and the wonderful encompass digital camera imaginative and prescient means there’s no excuse for rashed wheels or scraped bumpers.
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
The Efficiency sits atop a three-variant lineup in Australia.
Seal Dynamic highlights:
15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWireless Apple CarPlay, Android AutoSatellite navigation10.25-inch digital instrument cluster12-speaker 775W Dynaudio sound systemDAB digital radio1 x USB-C, USB-A outlet (entrance)1 x USB-C, USB-A outlet (rear)Twin wi-fi cellphone chargers8-way energy driver’s seat6-way energy passenger seat4-way power-adjustable steering wheelHeated and ventilated entrance seatsLeatherette-wrapped steering wheelLeatherette upholsteryKeyless entry and startAmbient lightingPanoramic silver plated glass roofRear privateness glass18-inch alloy wheelsAutomatic high-beamAutomatic LED headlightsRain-sensing wipers
Seal Premium provides:
Lengthy Vary batteryHead-up displayExterior mirror auto-tilt and memoryLeather-wrapped steering wheelLeather upholsteryDriver’s memory19-inch alloy wheels4-way lumbar adjustment
Seal Efficiency AWD provides:
Twin-motor AWDHeated steering wheelFrequency Selective Damping shock absorbers
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the BYD Seal secure?
The BYD Seal has a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on Euro NCAP testing in 2023.
Normal security tools contains:
9 airbags incl. front-centreAutonomous emergency brakingAdaptive cruise controlBlind-spot monitoringEmergency lane hold assistFront, rear cross-traffic assistIntelligent pace restrict assistLane departure warningLane hold assistRear cross-traffic assistTraffic signal recognitionParking sensors – entrance, rearRear occupant alertSafe exit warningSurround-view digital camera
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the BYD Seal value to run?
The BYD Seal is backed by a six-year, 150,000km automobile guarantee and an eight-year, 160,000km battery guarantee.
To see how the BYD Seal traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the BYD Seal
Humorous title apart, the BYD Seal actually isn’t any joke.
It’s an objectively good product with very sharp pricing and quite a lot of customary tools. For these wanting a extra like-for-like different to the Tesla Mannequin 3, it hits the mark in most space and considerably undercuts its US-engineered, Chinese language-made rival.
Past that, it’s a wonderful commuter, with punchy efficiency and good vary. The cabin provides a sensible design and it’s ergonomically extra typical than one thing like a Mannequin 3, whereas additionally nonetheless daring to be a little bit totally different.
Rear seat and boot area are sufficient with out being glorious; and whereas there’s good driving vary on supply whatever the variant you select, indicated effectivity of over 18kWh/100km isn’t exceptional, neither is the DC charging capability of 150kW.
As for whether or not the Efficiency is the choose, I believe my gripes with this automotive may simply be addressed by going for one of many extra reasonably priced grades.
The softer, extra comfort-oriented journey and dealing with calibration would higher go well with both the entry-level or mid-spec grades, with the latter providing superior driving vary at a $10,000-lower value level.
I additionally suppose that whereas the cabin is comparatively properly trimmed, a number of the cheaper inside surfaces and finishes are much more acceptable in a $58,000 BYD Seal than a $68,000 one.
On the Efficiency’s value level – efficiency apart – you’re additionally some fairly robust competitors past the Mannequin 3. The extra distinctive Hyundai Ioniq 6 begins from $66,500, whereas the Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor provides a powerful 659km of WLTP vary for a beginning of $66,400 (each costs exclude on-road prices).
Nonetheless, the BYD Seal has quite a bit to supply, and is greater than worthy of your consideration for those who’re out there for an electrical sedan.
Eager about shopping for a BYD Seal? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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