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    BYD Seal 2024 review: Performance

    Stephen Ottley
    Stephen Ottley
    Contributing Journalist
    20 Dec 2023 • 17 min read
    • DrivetrainDual electric motors
    • Battery capacity82.5kWh
    • Battery typeLithium-iron phosphate
    • Range520km (WLTP)
    • Plug TypeType 2 and CCS 2
    • DC charge rate150kW
    • AC charge rate7kW
    • Motor output390kW/670Nm
    • Efficiency14.2kWh/100km
    Complete Guide to BYD Seal

    I know what you’re thinking - here comes another car review talking up some would be ‘Tesla fighter’ that will ultimately sell a tiny fraction of the cars the American electric juggernaut manages.

    And certainly you’d have good reason to think that. Plenty of big name car brands have launched electric vehicles in recent years, and yet still Tesla claims more than half of all EV sales with only the Model Y and Model 3.

    Tesla has sold more than 40,000 Model Y and more than 16,000 Model 3 in the first 11 months of 2023, with the next best all-electric model managing just over 10,000 - quite a way behind. 

    Read more about BYD Seal

    The thing is, that third best-selling EV is the BYD Atto 3, the Chinese brand’s small SUV that has become a near-instant hit with Australian car buyers.

    Which is why the arrival of the new BYD Seal cannot be underestimated. The brand has clearly found a place in the local market and will have learnt lessons from the launch of the Atto 3 and the affordable Dolphin small hatch. 

    The Seal isn’t meant to be a ‘cut price’ alternative to the Model 3, even if it is cheaper, rather a genuine and direct rival.

    But to be taken seriously it will need to compete on every level with the Model 3 - performance, efficiency, range, style, practicality and dynamics.

    With all that in mind, it does lend at least some credence to the idea that the BYD Seal could be the first true challenger to Tesla’s Australian EV dominance.

    Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

    As mentioned earlier, BYD isn’t pushing the Seal with the same ‘value’ focus as the Atto 3 and Dolphin. No car company ever likes to call their cars ‘cheap’ but there’s no denying the first two BYD models came with very sharp pricing, with the Dolphin arriving with the lowest price for an EV in Australia today.

    BYD Australia is offering three variants of the Seal - Dynamic, Premium and Performance. The first two are single-motor, rear-wheel drive, while the latter gets a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain.

    The Dynamic is the entry-level model in the range and will be priced from $49,888 (all prices exclude on-road costs), the Premium starts at $58,798 and the Performance tops the range at $68,748.

    The Performance grade gets a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Performance grade gets a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    BYD has been fairly generous with the standard specification, all three variants have LED headlights, LED tail-lights, glass roof, keyless entry and ignition, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system and a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with built-in navigation and Spotify music streaming, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

    The key elements the Dynamic misses out on are the genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel (it has artificial leather), a head-up display, memory driver’s seat and gets a smaller battery and less powerful motor (which we’ll detail later). 

    The Premium adds a genuine leather steering wheel, the head-up display and driver’s seat with memory positions as well as the powertrain differences.

    The Performance grade wears a price tag of $68,748. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Performance grade wears a price tag of $68,748. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    The extra elements for the Performance, aside from the powertrain, are the heated steering wheel and 19-inch alloy wheels; instead of the 18s on the Dynamic and Premium. There are also some notable powertrain and chassis changes we’ll drive into later.

    For comparison purposes, the 2024 Tesla Model 3 is priced at $61,900 for the RWD version and $71,900 for the AWD variants, so BYD has managed to undercut its US rival with each member of the Seal family.

    Also, despite the focus on quality over cutting prices, BYD has cut pricing, making the Seal Performance model $50 cheaper than it originally announced in order to meet the threshold for New South Wales and South Australian government EV rebates.

    Design - Is there anything interesting about its design?

    Design can be a challenge for both established carmakers and newer car brands because electric cars are so dependent on aerodynamics they can tend to look either too plain or too awkward. 

    For example, the new-for-2024 Tesla Model 3 has deliberately gone down a minimalist-to-the-point-of-generic design that it’s almost devoid of any design flair.

    While something like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a case study in what happens when aerodynamicists get the upper hand on the designers.

    There’s also been a largely deserved criticism of some Chinese car makers for ‘borrowing’ design elements from other brands. But BYD cannot be accused of that, instead it has immediately set out its own design language for the cars it’s offering in Australia.

    Upfront is a massive 15.6-inch media touchscreen. (Image: Dean McCartney) Upfront is a massive 15.6-inch media touchscreen. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    The Seal manages to thread the needle between aerodynamic needs and aesthetics, looking both sleek and stylish. So much so that we were stopped multiple times during our time test driving the Seal and asked about it because people were so immediately struck by its appearance.

    And it’s not just the exterior, inside BYD has done a nice job of giving the Seal some character. As Tesla strips even the indicator stalks from the Model 3, BYD has produced an interior design with plenty of details that make it look and feel premium.

    There’s a nice diversity of trims and materials that lend an air of quality and premiumness to the Seal Performance we tested.

    The seats are a highlight, not only are they comfortable and supportive but they’re trimmed in soft, diamond-quilted leather that feels, here’s that word again, premium. 

    The Seal manages to thread the needle between aerodynamic needs and aesthetics. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Seal manages to thread the needle between aerodynamic needs and aesthetics. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    Naturally, there’s also plenty of technology and you can’t miss the massive 15.6-inch media touchscreen, that’s effectively just a tablet integrated into the car.

    It runs a fairly intuitive and clever system that allows you to control all the various functions, and it can even rotate 90 degrees, depending on whether portrait or landscape is more convenient for you.

    Although, we found in the portrait setting our polarised sunglasses meant we couldn’t see anything on the screen. And it also gets more in the way of the two wireless smartphone charging pads that sit beneath it. There’s also a 10.2-inch digital instrument display and some key physical switchgear, including a starter button, volume control for the stereo and drive mode selector.

    Disappointingly, the physical controls that are missing are for the air-conditioning controls, as you need to use those via the touchscreen - which is neither the most convenient nor the safest option, at least in this author’s opinion. 

    Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

    The thoughtfulness to the design carries over into some great practicality in the cabin, too.

    There’s the aforementioned dual smartphone charging pads, a large shelf space underneath, a pair of cupholders and a lidded console box, all integrated nicely into this centre console for loads of small item storage space.

    The seats are comfortable and there’s good adjustment so you should be able to find your ideal spot. Importantly, given BYD’s sporty pitch for the Seal Performance, the seats offer good lateral support when cornering vigorously.

    The Performance grade receives a heated steering wheel. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Performance grade receives a heated steering wheel. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    There’s also plenty of space throughout the cabin. In the back seats, even behind my own 183cm (six-foot) driving position there’s plenty of legroom and the seats feel nice and wide.

    The only issue is headroom for taller people, as thanks to the tapered roofline and the glass roof (which comes with unusual and awkward manually removable shades) there’s a lack of headroom for anyone over about 180cm.

    The rear occupants get access to air-con vents, a pair of cupholders in the fold down armrest and bottle holders in the door pockets, as well as USB-C and USB-A ports.

    In the rear, there is plenty of legroom and the seats feel nice and wide. (Image: Dean McCartney) In the rear, there is plenty of legroom and the seats feel nice and wide. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    There are also three ISOFIX points, but the width of the Seal would make fitting three seats across the back challenging.

    Despite the sweeping roofline, the Seal is a sedan and not a liftback. As such, it has a relatively small opening to what is a respectable 400-litre boot.

    One element worthy of praise is BYD’s ability to create a special underfloor storage space for the charging cable, rather than have it in a loose bag that sits on the floor.

    The Seal has a boot capacity of 400-litre. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Seal has a boot capacity of 400-litre. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    There’s also a small storage space (50L) underneath the bonnet, which could hold the cable too, or just a few smaller bags.

    On the downside, BYD Australia is only offering the Seal with a tyre repair kit, not a spare or any kind.

    Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor?

    As mentioned earlier, across the three models there are three different powertrain choices. The Dynamic and Premium are rear-wheel drive only, while the Performance gets an all-wheel drive layout.

    BYD claims the Seal Dynamic makes 150kW/310Nm from its single motor, while the Premium ups those figures to 230kW/360Nm. The dual-motor Performance, unsurprisingly, packs a more impressive punch, with 390kW/670Nm on tap. 

    Naturally, the three different powertrains return three different 0-100km/h times - the benchmark for EVs for so many people.

    The Dynamic takes a fairly sedate 7.5 seconds, the Premium drops it to a zippy 5.9 seconds while the Performance lives up to its name and takes just 3.8 seconds.

    BYD claims the Seal Performance makes 390kW/670Nm. (Image: Dean McCartney) BYD claims the Seal Performance makes 390kW/670Nm. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time?

    BYD originally made a name for itself making batteries and that remains the Chinese industrial giant’s true field of expertise.

    The company’s ‘Blade’ battery is the centrepiece of all of its electrified models and is well-respected across the motoring industry. So much so that even Toyota has partnered with BYD to use the technology.

    The compact design of the Blade battery saves space, which allows for the low-slung Seal sedan shape, but still provides plenty of driving range.

    The Dynamic gets a 61.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery and has a claimed driving range (on the WLTP rating) of 460km.

    The Premium and Performance have a larger 82.5kWh LFP battery and therefore more driving range, BYD claims 570km for the Premium and 520km for the Performance.

    The Performance has a 82.5kWh LFP battery and a driving range of 520km. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Performance has a 82.5kWh LFP battery and a driving range of 520km. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    Driving – What's it like to drive?

    The short answer to that question is, surprisingly well. 

    I say ‘surprising’ not as a diss to BYD but simply because it is still such a new brand in Australia so it’s yet to earn a complete reputation.

    The Seal is only its third model here, so we’re still learning what it can offer, but so far reports on both the Atto 3 and Dolphin have been positive. 

    We were only able to drive the Seal Performance, so we’ll have to reserve judgement on the rest of the range until a later date. But the range-topping model does live up to its name, feeling quick off the mark and powerful when you keep your foot down.

    The Seal's steering is very quick and direct. (Image: Dean McCartney) The Seal's steering is very quick and direct. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    Importantly, unlike the other two models, the Performance is fitted with 'Frequency Selective Damping', with these adaptive dampers working in conjunction with the 'Intelligence Torque Adaption Control' (a form of torque vectoring) to provide sharp handling and a compliant ride. 

    It sounds like technical mumbo jumbo or marketing spin but whatever’s going on underneath the Seal Performance is doing its job because it really does impress when cornering.

    The steering is very quick and direct, and while it lacks the subtle precision of something like say a BMW M3, this is a heck of a lot less money than a conventional sports sedan.

    The other benefit of this advanced suspension system is it does a nice job of soaking up the bumps at low speed too, making for a quiet and serene driving experience in the urban setting.

    Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

    The good news is the Seal range comes equipped with a comprehensive safety package that includes nine airbags as well as a raft of active safety aids. These include autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, speed sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, predictive collision warning, front and rear cross-traffic alerts and more.

    But…

    While all those systems are included, the reality is these systems don’t feel properly calibrated and set-up. Based on our experience they are far too sensitive and repeatedly trigger when they shouldn’t, especially the speed sign recognition which displayed the wrong speed throughout our test drive and beeped accordingly.

    ANCAP has awarded the entire Seal range its maximum five star score. (Image: Dean McCartney) ANCAP has awarded the entire Seal range its maximum five star score. (Image: Dean McCartney)

    Which would only be an annoyance if it was just the seemingly endless warning chimes that make you feel like you’re in a 1980s computer game or the opening scene of Back to the Future.

    But it’s not just as simple as an irritating noise. The lane keeping assist in particular feels unnerving, almost to the point of feeling dangerous, as it will forcibly tug the wheel in your hands even if you’re driving straight and true in the lane. 

    These types of potentially life-saving systems are fantastic and a worthy addition to all modern cars, but if they are calibrated so badly that you find yourself turning them off every time you drive, what’s the point of having them in the first place?

    Despite my personal concerns, it must be pointed out that ANCAP has awarded the entire Seal range its maximum five star score.

    Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

    The Seal is backed by a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty as well as an extra eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery.

    Servicing is required every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first, and while there are limited BYD locations at present, to make life easier for owners BYD Australia has partnered with the mycar chain of workshops, so you can get your Seal serviced there if needed.

    According to BYD the first eight services cost $189, $370, $189, $447, $189, $370, $189, and $447 - a total of $2390 over that period.

    The biggest question mark hanging over BYD is arguably its long-term prospects. Quite simply, the brand is still too new to know how well it will perform on the used car market.

    We also can’t tell you how it will hold up from a reliability point-of-view. We’re not suggesting there’s any doubt over its quality, but each car brand must prove itself reliable and dependable over time, and BYD hasn’t had that time yet.

    • DrivetrainDual electric motors
    • Battery capacity82.5kWh
    • Battery typeLithium-iron phosphate
    • Range520km (WLTP)
    • Plug TypeType 2 and CCS 2
    • DC charge rate150kW
    • AC charge rate7kW
    • Motor output390kW/670Nm
    • Efficiency14.2kWh/100km
    Complete Guide to BYD Seal
    Insurance Quote
    Verdict

    The idea of a ‘Tesla beater’ has become something of a mad pursuit in the modern car industry, so much so that it’s hard to judge any electric car on its own merits.

    Taken in isolation the BYD Seal is a very good car and whether or not it proves more popular than the Tesla Model 3 won’t change that.

    Having said that, there’s no reason not to consider the Seal. BYD has put together a very impressive machine that ticks a lot of boxes for those looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle.

    While obviously you could make the case that the BYD is potentially a better choice than the Tesla because it’s cheaper, that would only be part of the argument. 

    Aside from its frustrating safety systems, the Seal Performance is quick, quiet, comfortable, dynamic and stylish. All the elements that make it such a compelling vehicle at this time.

    $68,748

    Based on new car retail price

    VIEW PRICING & SPECS

    Score

    3.8/5
    0 Comments
    Price Guide

    $68,748

    Based on new car retail price

    See pricing and specification for 2024 BYD Seal pricing & specs
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