2023 BYD Seal Premium new car review
A sleek new electric car has landed in Australia and it smashes the rival Tesla Model 3 on multiple fronts. See the full details.
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This sharply styled sedan could be the car that knocks Tesla off its perch. The Seal, the third electric car launched by Chinese giant BYD in the past twelve months, is an appealing blend of value, performance and good looks.
Prices for the three-tier range start at just $51,000 drive-away for the Seal Dynamic, about $14,000 cheaper than the base Model 3.
Subsidies of thousands of dollars in some states, combined with FBT exemptions for cars leased through work, make the Seal even more attractive. The Dynamic has a single rear electric motor that makes 150kW and 310Nm, fed by a 61kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 460km.
The mid-range Seal Premium starts at $60,000 drive-away.
It comes with an 82.5kWh battery that boosts driving range to 570km and an uprated electric motor that pumps out a potent 230kW and 360Nm.
Those outputs are good enough to propel the Seal to 100km/h from a standstill in 5.9 seconds, compared with 7.5 seconds in the base version.
A $70,000 Performance variant adds a second motor upfront to raise outputs to 390kW and 670Nm. It drops the driving range to 520km and the 0-100km/h time to a rapid 3.8 seconds. Pricier versions also increase DC charging speed from 110kW to 150kW and all have a vehicle to load function, which can power household appliances from the car.
A six-year/150,000km warranty creates peace of mind, while servicing is cheap at $1400 over five years.
The Seal is a handsome car with a sharp front end and a slippery silhouette.
Step inside and you’re greeted by a cabin that is brimming with luxe and tech features.
The base version has faux-leather seats, while the Premium and Performance variants have full leather. All are power adjustable, heated and ventilated and the more expensive versions store driver’s seat settings for different users. A full-length panoramic sunroof adds some wow factor and has a dark tint to help block out the heat.
A shade insert can be manually attached for extra protection.
The giant 15.6-inch central touchscreen can swivel from a horizontal to vertical layout and there is a 10.25-inch digital display in front of the driver.
More expensive versions have a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as is a 12-speaker Dynaudio stereo. Dual wireless device charging pads are paired with numerous USB charging ports.
The cabin looks and feels up-market, with soft-touch premium materials adorning most surfaces. The cabin is roomy, with plenty of leg room for rear passengers, who have their own aircon vents.
A decent-sized cargo area has a one-touch open and close power boot lid.
On the road, the Seal doesn’t quite match the finesse of the Model 3. The suspension is softly sprung, which translates to a smooth, comfortable ride around town, but at speed, it can become a little floaty over bigger bumps.
There is some body roll through corners but the Continental tyres on the Premium and Performance models do an excellent job of keeping things composed.
Steering is well weighted but not as sharp as the rival Model 3.
From a standstill, the Seal doesn’t deliver the neck-snapping thrust of the Tesla but there is more than ample shove once underway. Overtaking manoeuvres are ridiculously easy.
It’s not all positive news, though.
The Seal’s lane-keeping assistance intervenes early and aggressively, tugging hard at the steering wheel to keep you centred in the lane.
A speed-sign warning beeps loudly if you stray over the speed limit and often misreads road signs.
The tech can be turned off but resets to “on” every time you start the car. It’s not a deal breaker, but a software update is needed.
VERDICT 4.5/5
The Seal is good looking, well priced, packed with equipment and fun to drive.
BYD SEAL PREMIUM
PRICE: About $60,000 drive-away
MOTOR: Single electric motor, 230kW and 360Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICING: Six years/150,000km, $1384 for five years
SAFETY: Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep and blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, rear seat occupant alert and radar cruise control
RANGE: 570km
SPARE: Repair kit
LUGGAGE: 450 litres
Originally published as 2023 BYD Seal Premium new car review
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