BYD Seal

The Seal is BYD's electric saloon, drawn for drivers who want a low, sporty car with real boot space and a screen-filled cabin. The four-wheel-drive version has a 390 kW motor and reaches 100 km/h from rest in 3.8 seconds. Euro NCAP rated the Seal five stars in 2023, and BYD notes that the design won an iF Design Award.

Drive and charging

The Seal was the first BYD to use cell-to-body construction, in which the Blade Battery becomes part of the car's structure. BYD gives a torsional rigidity of 40,500 N*m per degree for the body. An iTAC system, short for intelligent Torque Adaption Control, shifts drive torque between axles to limit skidding. DC charging at up to 150 kW takes the battery from 30 to 80 percent in 26 minutes, and an 11 kW AC option suits home charging. A heat pump is standard. The car sits on e-Platform 3.0 and uses an eight-in-one powertrain that folds the motor, transmission, charger and control units together to save space.

Design and storage

The front end follows an X-shaped design with a pronounced waistline. Double U-shaped headlight clusters are staggered for a stereo effect, and the tail-lights form a dot-matrix pattern across the whole rear. Storage is generous: 400 litres in the rear boot plus another 53 litres in a covered front trunk.

Inside the cabin

Integrated sport seats are heated and electrically adjustable at the front. The centre console carries a 15.6 inch multimedia touchscreen, and a panoramic sunroof lets light into the cabin. A Dynaudio premium audio system with 12 speakers is listed. Battery capacity and range figures differ by version, so confirm them for the trim you want.

Key facts

• Power: 390 kW, four-wheel drive, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds
• DC charging: up to 150 kW, 30 to 80 percent in 26 minutes
• Home charging: 11 kW AC option
• Storage: 400 litre boot plus 53 litre front trunk
• Safety: Euro NCAP, 5 stars (2023)
• Screen: 15.6 inch touchscreen