New BYD Seal electric saloon coming to the UK this autumn: everything you need to know
September 05, 2023 by Jamie Edkins
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This is the new BYD Seal, and it’s a new alternative to electric saloons such as the Tesla Model 3 which will go on sale in the UK this autumn. Read on for all you need to know.
- New BYD seal coming to the UK this autumn
- Prices start from £44,990
- Alternative to more mainstream electric saloons
- Up to 530hp and 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds
- 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 354 miles of range
It’s been a few months since BYD launched the Atto 3 in the UK, and now it’s coming out with an all-new electric saloon to provide a left-field alternative to the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.
The BYD Seal will go on sale in the UK in the next couple of months, with prices starting from £44,990 for a rear-wheel-drive version, rising to £47,990 for the dual-motor model.
How much will the new BYD Seal cost?
There will be two versions of the BYD Seal available from launch this autumn: the Design and the Excellence-AWD. Full equipment specs are yet to be announced, however the Design gets a single motor and costs £44,990, while the Excellence-AWD gets dual-motors and wears a £47,990 price tag. That makes it slightly less expensive than the BMW i4, however the equivalent Tesla Model 3 does undercut it on price.
New BYD Seal design
The BYD Seal is the first saloon from the Chinese brand to make it to the UK, and it’s around the same size as something like a Tesla Model 3 or BMW i4.
There are slim triangular LED headlights up front and a pointy-looking nose, all part of BYD’s so-called ‘Dragon face’ design. The C-shaped daytime running lights lift things as well, as do the black bits of trim in the bumper.
The Seal has your typical three-box saloon shape, with a swoopy sloping roofline to make it look more athletic. You have flush-fitting door handles for some added cool-factor, as well as some sporty side skirts.
At the rear you have a slim LED light bar and there are the words Build Your Dreams spelled out across the boot. The lower bumper also has a diffuser-esque design to make it look more aggressive.
New BYD Seal interior and infotainment
The interior of the new BYD Seal isn’t quite as whacky as the Atto 3’s cabin. That’s not to say it’s in any way dull, it just has a more classy and premium look to it, which you’d expect from an executive saloon such as this.
The multi-layered dashboard appears to be covered in soft-touch material, while the full-width air vent adds visual appeal. You also have some body-hugging sports seats, and they’re available with heating and ventilation as an option.
The centrepiece of this cabin is the 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s the same screen as you have on higher-spec versions of the BYD Atto 3, meaning it can rotate from landscape to portrait electrically. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android auto built in, and you can use voice commands as well.
Elsewhere there’s a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, which is considerably bigger than the screen you get in the Atto 3, and the Seal gets a full-length panoramic glass roof as standard.
New BYD Seal motors and performance
The BYD seal will be available with two motor options from launch: either a single motor powering the rear wheels or dual motors and all-wheel drive.
Go for the rear-wheel drive car and you’ll get 313hp and a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds. That’s not quite as fast as the equivalent BMW i4, however it is slightly faster than the Polestar 2 Long Range.
As for the dual-motor version of the Seal, it has 530hp and will do 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds. Not quite as fast as the Tesla Model 3 Performance, but it is a touch quicker than the 530hp Porsche Taycan 4S.
New BYD Seal batteries and range
The BYD Seal uses a larger battery pack than the 60kWh one you get in the Atto 3 SUV, getting 82kWh of capacity instead. If range is your top priority, the single-motor car will do 354 miles on a charge. The dual-motor version gets slightly less range at 323 miles.
See what Mat makes of the BYD Atto 3
All models come with 11kW AC charging and 150kW DC fast charging capabilities. This means you can top up from 30-80% in just 26 minutes if you can find the right charging station.
You also get vehicle-to-load charging as standard. This means you can use your Seal to power things like coolers when you’re out camping, or an espresso machine while you’re waiting in the corporate car park.
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