We have heard lots recently about the huge dent in Tesla sales due to the Chinese launching into the electric car market. So what is this car all about and is it worth the hype – or is it just a cheap knock-off?
The BYD company, standing for ‘Build Your Dreams’, is its third EV to make it to the UK. The first was the Atto 3 Crossover, followed by the Dolphin hatch. Now we get a sport saloon that might not prove to be the biggest seller of the trio, but which adds some zest to the rather bland range.
It looks smart and neat and, as is the Chinese way, they have spent a lot of time copying elements of existing European cars to produce this. As with all things ripped off, though, they have failed to match Tesla’s quality, chassis and build quality.
Established in 1995, BYD was not even a car company originally, but a battery producer for phones and gadgets. That didn’t mean that, when it moved into automotive production in 2005, it would only build electric cars; it built hybrids and ICE as well. And it’s huge; shifting 1.86 million cars in 2022 and employing some 600,000 people across its electronics, new energy, automotive and rail sectors.
The Seal launches in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive (AWD) iterations, each using the same 82.5kWh battery. The former is £45,695 and offers a 354-mile WLTP range alongside a 308bhp peak, achieving 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. £3,000 more will get you a dual motor, AWD version whose power peaks at 523bhp, taking a chunk out of both its range figure (323 miles) and 0-62mph sprint (3.8s).
To hammer the point home, this version wears a ‘3.8s’ badge on the boot lid. Gone are the days of a chrome ‘GLX’ providing the company car park kudos. It’s not a cheap car coming from a largely unknown brand; pricing is broadly in line with the Hyundai and exceeds the Tesla, demonstrating that this Chinese marque isn’t interested in being perceived as a budget alternative.
There’s more originality inside, with the same curious steering wheel design BYD has used elsewhere, alongside a rotating 15.6in touchscreen. Press a button on the steering wheel or screen and it turns 90º between portrait and landscape.
There’s a full-length panoramic roof to help increase the sense of space inside; something BYD claims is already strong thanks to its ‘blade battery’, assembled onto the frame of the car to both increase body stiffness (the equivalent of a supercar’s, we’re told), keep the floor low and boost legroom for passengers (though it’s not noticeably generous).
Too much tech has been added. Each one has three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – and a whole plethora of active safety systems as standard. They’re pretty standard stuff – lane keep, crash detection, speed limit warnings – but prove a dominant part of the driving experience.
Charging is up to 150kW, which is hardly industry leading, but at least snares you a 10-80% charge in under half an hour. Oh, and customer feedback has led to UK cars getting a subtle ‘BYD’ badge on the back rather than the full ‘BUILD YOUR DREAMS’ script titillating those sat behind you in traffic. Phew!
The Seal is a solid entry in the EV saloon market, but doesn’t have a strong personality, and grates as much as it soothes. Consider its rivals: the Tesla Model 3 is affordable, and (oddly) cool and desirable, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2 represent well-priced, individually styled and distinctive alternatives, while the BMW i4 staunchly defends driving thrills.
While nowhere near as packed as the EV crossover marketplace, the plug-in saloon pack are all much more talented, and BYD doesn’t have competitive enough pricing to upset the applecart. You can tell it comes from a firm that is trying to find its feet in the European market and hasn’t quite figured out what works for its potential audience yet.
Don’t bet against BYD figuring it out in short order, but in the meantime, this is a car that lacks the charm or character to win your heart; and doesn’t quite stack up for the head either.
TECH STUFF:
Model reviewed: BYD SEAL 230kW Design
Power: 308 bhp
Speed: 0-62 - 5.9 secs
Top: 111 mph
Range: 354 mls. Actual 270 mls.
Price from: £45,640
