Chinese EV maker BYD unveiled the Seal electric sedan at the 2023 Auto Expo. The BYD Seal will be available by the end of 2023. Notably, it will be the company’s third EV for the Indian market, following the e6 MPV and the Atto3.
In addition, the Seal is the first BYD model to have cell-to-body (CTB) technology. Most EVs have the battery slung from the body. Still, CTB forms a structural component. The head of the battery pack is efficiently the vehicle flooring, which conveys greater strength to the lower chassis.
The long-range version of the BYD Seal has a total driving range of 700km from its 82.5kWh battery, which falls under China’s generous CLTC standard. Meanwhile, the dual-motor Seal is advertised as having a 650 km range.
Actual driving is likely to result in a range of 500km. According to BYD, fast charging can charge the battery from 30% to 80% in half an hour. Lower-spec vehicles have a smaller 61.4kWh battery pack with a range of up to 550km.
As for the pricing, it starts at $42,000.
Exterior Features
The BYD Seal is classified as a “Sport Compact.” Sportiness permeates every aspect of the exterior.
The side view is a lean, athletic design from the short front roof line and markedly-raked windshield to the fastback with a slight trunk flick. The narrow side windows, elevated beltline, and more straightforward black little pinch the side, making the entire roofline appear lower than it is.
The front hood bulges and creases into the nose, the LED DRL rings to control the lower surface, and the gloss black splitter protrudes from the bottom.
| BYD Seal | |
| Weight | 2150 kg |
| Length | 4800 mm |
| Width | 1875 mm |
| Height | 1469 mm |
| Luggage Volume | 0 litre |
| Wheelbase | 2920 mm |
The entire vehicle is purposefully styled, remains still, and moves beautifully.
Even though everyone else appears to be using 20-inch or larger diamond-cut alloys, the 19-inch diamond-cut alloys occupy the wheel arches nicely.
The BYD Seal is, of course, a member of the BYD Ocean lineup and, as such, has some external nods to its ocean concept. Water droplets on the front 3/4 panel and in the LED taillight group, as well as some gill-like designs.
Interior Features
BYD interiors have never followed the minimalistic interior design pattern seen in EVs.
And, while BYD interiors are a source of contention for some, the BYD Seal’s interior is the nicest yet. With an ocean motif in mind, the design laps around the interior like tides.
That’s not to say it’s perfect; it’s still cluttered in some places, such as the buttons surrounding the gear selector. However, it has a decent interior.
The materials are also improved; microsuede is used effectively, and quilted leather is used on the door cards and seats. By the way, the front seats look stunning and provide excellent support when cornering.
The BYD Seal’s rear bench is made of quilted leather, which continues the high quality of materials. The slightly angled back rear seats make it a comfy place to sit.
The BYD Seal’s wheelbase is 45mm longer than the Tesla Model 3, which benefits rear legroom. The headroom in the back is more than sufficient for this segment.
The rear passengers have a pair of USB ports and a 220V socket with a power output of 2.2kW.
The BYD Seal has 320 L of trunk space with the rear seats up. There is no official measurement of the room with the rear seats folded.
Battery, Charging, and Range
The BYD Seal is powered by BYD’s e-platform 3.0, which includes an 800V structure and an LFP Blade battery system.
Cell-to-body technology, in which the battery is a structural component of the chassis, is the big news for the BYD Seal. CTB enables weight reduction and increased rigidity.
Furthermore, the LFP cells inside the blade battery system are hexagonal instead of cylindrical, allowing more cells to fit within the same space.
The BYD Seal comes with two battery types. The two lower trims use a 61.4kWh pack with a claimed range of 550km.
| BYD Seal | |
| Engine Power | 530 HP (389kW) |
| Torque | 670 Nm |
| Maximum Speed | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/s | 3.8 s |
| Number of Engines | Dual Motor |
| Driving System | AWD |
| Engine type | Permanent Magnet Synchronous |
The long-range and performance models receive a larger 82.5kWh battery pack with capacities of 700km and 650km, respectively (650 km is for 4WD).
Because all ranges are on the CTLC, the actual figure will be lower. Unexpectedly, the performance model only has 50km little capacity than the extended-range model version.
The base model with 550 km CLTC costs 209,800* yuan ($30,000), while the top trim Performance AWD with 650 km CLTC costs 286,800* yuan ($41,000).
DC fast charging times are reasonably standard, taking about 30 minutes to charge 20-80%.
| BYD Seal | |
| Battery | 82.5 kWh |
| Range | 650 km (403 miles) |
| DC Charge Rate | 150 kW |
| AC Charge rate | 11 kW |
| DC Charge Time | 25 minutes |
| AC Charge Time | 7.5 hours |
| Urban Consumption | kWh/100 km |
| Suburban Consumption | kWh/100 km |
| Average Consumption | 14.6 kWh/100 km |
| Average MPGe | 0 |
Technical characteristics
The BYD Seal, as a smart Chinese EV, has all the essentials, including a 5G network, an installed dash cam, and Bluetooth microphones for KTV. It has a 15.6-inch movable central touchscreen that can switch from landscape to portrait mode with the push of a button.
The long-range test model also has a 10.25-inch OLED panel and a HUD.
The BYD Seal comes standard with a 775kW Dynaudio 12-speaker Surround Audio system on all models except the most basic. And, while it isn’t the most sophisticated system available, it sounds good.
Except for the base model, all models come standard with heated and ventilated front seats.
The driver has an 8-way adjustment with a 4-way lumbar, and the passenger has a 6-way adjustment. However, unlike the Tesla Model 3, there is no rear seat heating.
Driving features
Driving the BYD Seal up or down a mountain was an immense pleasure, thanks to the double wishbone up front and direct & concise steering with a hint of feedback.
The crisp turn-in, the four-piston calipers, the progressive brake pedal, and the Continental sport contact seven tires that provided plenty of grips crafted it all come together as it lashed around edges with me behind the wheel, grinning from ear to ear.
| BYD Seal | |
| Motor | 150 kW310 Nm |
| Acceleration | 0-100 kph in 7.5 sec |
| Drage Coefficient | 0.219 Cd |
When you get out, double-take to see if you just moved out of a BYD. Because it is a Chinese EV, the steering and pedal components are lighter than those of a Tesla. And the BYD Seal’s brake regen was nowhere similar as aggressive, with no sense of one-pedal driving. However, light inputs are more likely to appeal to Chinese buyers.
