Is this the biggest threat yet to the Tesla Model 3? BYD is set to shake up the Aussie market with a price-leading but sophisticated all-electric mid-size sedan.
The 2022 BYD Seal is the latest model from the Chinese car-maker’s new electric-only ‘Ocean’ series, built on a dedicated EV platform, boasting advanced EV technology and standing as the first car from the brand to feature cell-to-body technology. The sedan takes direct aim at the Tesla Model 3 and pulls no punches in terms of performance, specifications and, importantly, price. It probably won’t be called the Seal when it arrives in Australia next year, but the sleek and high-tech BYD mid-size passenger car is definitely one to watch out for.
How much does the BYD Seal cost?
BYD recently celebrated the production of its three-millionth NEV (new energy vehicle), which refers to both full-electric and plug-in hybrid cars in China. What’s striking is that the milestone was achieved in just six months – and was underpinned by the battery-electric 2022 BYD Seal.
Previewed by the BYD Ocean-X concept last year, the 2022 BYD Seal is the latest model to spring from the company’s e-Platform 3.0 that includes an 800V electric architecture supporting super-fast charging.
The platform also underpins the BYD Atto 3 now available in Australia, as well as the brand’s incoming small hatch known as the BYD Dolphin overseas.
With the BYD Seal belly-flopping into Tesla Model 3 waters in China, where the NIO ET5 is also making a splash, the newcomer is posing a significant threat.
In Australia, BYD’s all-new mid-size sedan – which is not expected to be called the Seal here, or the Atto 4 as was previously flagged – is due to arrive in the first half of next year, offering a more affordable alternative to the made-in-China Model 3.
There’s no word yet on local pricing, specification or powertrain line-up, but we expect it to open from around $50,000 at the entry level.
We’ve driven the Chinese-spec long-range version of the single-motor BYD Seal, which will likely be the best seller. It’s priced from RMB272,274 ($A57,250) in China, serving as a mid-series model in a range that starts at RMB222,274 ($A46,750) and is topped out by the dual-motor/all-wheel drive performance version at RMB298,140 ($A62,750).
What equipment comes with the BYD Seal?
As we’ve found with the BYD Atto 3, Australian versions of the 2022 BYD Seal are certain to come with a high level of equipment for the money.
Perhaps the biggest surprise given the price point in China is the head-up display fitted standard on the long-range model you see here (as well as the dual-motor AWD flagship). Together with readouts like the speed, it also gives navigation prompts.
There is also an electric-opening boot, and all versions get a handy-sized frunk complete with lid. Wheels are up an inch on lower-spec versions at 19 inches.
The long-range 2022 BYD Seal gains leather upholstery, while the front seats have both heating and cooling functions.
Being a BYD, the Seal also comes with a rotating centre touch-screen, which in China is a 15.6-inch unit on all versions.
Our test car also came with a karaoke microphone which links via a rather aftermarket-looking white USB dongle. So passengers can get the full experience, a Dynaudio sound system with 12 speakers is included.
Helping eke out more range is an efficient heat pump for the climate control system, which includes a PM2.5 filtration system to get rid of particulate air pollution in the cabin – a welcome feature in China’s heavily congested cities.
In its home market, the Seal carries a six-year/150,000km warranty – the same coverage offered by BYD in Australia for its first model, the Atto 3 – and the electric drivetrain gets a lifetime guarantee for the first purchaser.
There’s no such coverage for the latter in Australia, however the battery should be covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty in our market.
How safe is the BYD Seal?
BYD at its Shenzhen base has one of the largest and most advanced crash test facilities in China covering 20,000 square metres.
As yet there is no ANCAP or Euro NCAP rating, but the 2022 BYD Seal is expected to follow the Atto 3 in receiving a maximum five-star result.
One reassuring sign in the wake of the local Atto 3 launch, which saw its safety rating held back until child seat arrangements were fully compliant with Australian regulations, is the BYD Seal does come with three ISOFIX attachment points.
On the active safety side there’s a variety of systems fitted standard across the range, spanning autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure and blind spot warnings and even door opening warnings.
There’s also lane keeping assistance, intelligent cruise control and traffic jam assist.
On the passive side there are 11 airbags, including front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbag protection.
An evening drive showed us that the automatic high beam worked much better than the systems of some other Chinese cars we’ve driven this year, and didn’t require me to manually override it during the test drive.
What technology does the BYD Seal feature?
While the overall equipment level is high in the 2022 BYD Seal, technology is not quite up to the standard seen in the Chinese start-ups such as Nio and XPeng.
Nonetheless, the Seal does feature voice control which seems to work reasonably well.
Similarly, DiPilot does a good job on highways of driving the Seal within its lane and taking into account other traffic using the intelligent cruise control.
Many Chinese cars now come with a separate screen for front passenger entertainment. The Seal tries to get away with using just the one central screen, allowing a split-screen arrangement to try to minimise driver distraction. It works, too, up to a point.
In a clear announcement of the company’s intentions to export the Seal, the system is already capable of switching into English, although some of the English labelling could be improved.
In the rear compartment of the long-range model tested here is a mains power outlet for vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing laptops and other appliances to be plugged in, while standard USB-A and USB-C outlets are found across the cabin.
Up front, the USB ports are positioned under the floating dashboard, which is topped off with twin wireless phone charging pads.
What powers the BYD Seal?
The long-range version of the 2022 BYD Seal is the most powerful rear-wheel drive model and features a 230kW single-motor powertrain.
That’s an increase of 80kW compared to lower-spec versions, and with 360Nm of torque also on tap, the Seal is good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds.
On the 390kW all-wheel drive version, the time is brought down to 3.8sec thanks to the addition of a 160kW motor on the front axle.
Unless you really have a need for speed, the long-range model has more than enough performance to excite even a keen driver.
How far can the BYD Seal go on a charge?
The 2022 BYD Seal features the Chinese car-maker’s much-vaunted Blade battery, which tightly packs in the lithium-ion cells to give better energy density while providing higher levels of safety than batteries with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, according to the company.
BYD treated us to a demonstration of the nail penetration test in which the Blade stayed thermally stable while the NMC battery burst into flames.
The Seal is also the first BYD model to use cell-to-body (CTB) technology. In most EVs, the battery pack is slung from the body whereas with CTB it forms a structural component – the top of the battery pack is effectively the vehicle flooring – imparting higher strength to the lower chassis.
The headline driving range figure for the long-range version of the BYD Seal is 700km from its 82.5kWh battery, but that’s under China’s generous CLTC standard. (The dual-motor Seal has a claimed 650km range.)
Real-world driving is likely to give a range more in the region of 500km at best.
With fast charging, the battery can power up from 30 to 80 per cent in half an hour, according to BYD.
Lower-spec cars have a smaller 61.4kWh battery pack that enables a range of up to 550km, again based on the Chinese CLTC cycle.
What is the BYD Seal like to drive?
Few mainstream, budget-oriented electric cars are this good to drive and the 2022 BYD Seal took us by surprise.
First off, the Seal has a sporty set-up with its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension.
The car really holds the road well on twisting mountain roads. Add in the Sport setting on the steering (selectable via the centre touch-screen) and the car is really fun to drive.
There is also a Comfort setting for the steering, but this gives a looser and vague feeling, whereas in Sport there is both good feel and responsiveness.
There are three drive modes selectable by a toggle wheel near the drive selector. There seems to be little difference between Normal and Sport mode, but Eco is noticeably weaker.
Braking regeneration is also selectable through the centre screen, simply marked as Standard and Larger. We found neither to be particularly strong, meaning one-pedal driving is certainly not possible.
On mountain roads I found I had to use the brakes more than I would have expected on an EV.
Overall, though, the Seal is a very responsive car in terms of dynamic performance, and while the suspension settings aren’t as soft as some other Chinese cars, the ride quality is still geared up for comfort and proves to be compliant over bumps.
There is a 50:50 weight distribution, and thanks to CTB (described in the previous section) the torsional rigidity is very high, with BYD claiming it’s on par with luxury vehicles.
The BYD Seal is also slippery with a drag coefficient of just 0.219Cd.
What is the BYD Seal like inside?
With the panoramic roof fitted, the 2022 BYD Seal feels light and airy. And despite its relatively compact size – measuring 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and 1460mm tall – the mid-size sedan’s generous 2920mm wheelbase helps create plenty of space inside.
You shouldn’t get any complaints about headroom from rear passengers up to at least 1.85m tall, and legroom is equally more than adequate.
The Seal is part of what BYD refers to as the Ocean series, and in keeping with the nautical feel the interior carries soft blue and white highlights.
These go well with the arctic blue exterior of our test car, which seems to be the signature colour of the Seal – and is in fact the only colour we’ve seen one in yet.
Overall, the material quality is good, with our test car brimming with soft-touch plastics and leather and microfibre trim.
That said, there is some cost-cutting evident, which is probably to be expected given how much you are getting for the price.
The door handles, for example, look as if they’re metal but are actually plastic.
The front seats are a one-piece design rather than with separate adjustable head restraints, but they are electrically adjustable and comfortable enough.
The centre console cubbyhole lid is on the stiff side, and while the floor of the boot is sturdy and has a secret compartment, the side trim is a bit flimsy.
Should I buy a BYD Seal?
There is a lot going for the 2022 BYD Seal. It drives well and offers great value for the price – in China, at least, but we’re expecting a similar formula in Australia.
Not only is the Seal bigger than the Tesla Model 3, but it has more equipment such as the head-up display and a dedicated instrument panel which will likely make it appeal more to traditional motorists.
The way the car is set up also makes the Seal a much easier vehicle to transition to for those used to combustion-engined cars.
Although the Seal does have flamboyant elements to its design, it pares these back compared to the Atto 3 small SUV and Dolphin hatch, looking all the better for it.
While the profile is similar to the Model 3, most likely dictated by aerodynamics, the Seal is a more interesting design overall, and unlike the Model 3 it actually looks like a sedan rather than a liftback.
Ultimately, success in Australia will be dictated by price, but the BYD Seal can compete on more than price alone and ticks all the right boxes when it comes to design, performance, dynamics and specifications.
2022 BYD Seal Long Range at a glance:
Price: $58,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: First half 2023
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 230kW/360Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 82.5kWh lithium-ion
Range: 700km (CLTC)
Energy consumption: 11.8kWh/100km (CLTC)
Safety rating: Not tested
Source - Carsales
The 2022 BYD Seal is the latest model from the Chinese car-maker’s new electric-only ‘Ocean’ series, built on a dedicated EV platform, boasting advanced EV technology and standing as the first car from the brand to feature cell-to-body technology. The sedan takes direct aim at the Tesla Model 3 and pulls no punches in terms of performance, specifications and, importantly, price. It probably won’t be called the Seal when it arrives in Australia next year, but the sleek and high-tech BYD mid-size passenger car is definitely one to watch out for.
How much does the BYD Seal cost?
BYD recently celebrated the production of its three-millionth NEV (new energy vehicle), which refers to both full-electric and plug-in hybrid cars in China. What’s striking is that the milestone was achieved in just six months – and was underpinned by the battery-electric 2022 BYD Seal.
Previewed by the BYD Ocean-X concept last year, the 2022 BYD Seal is the latest model to spring from the company’s e-Platform 3.0 that includes an 800V electric architecture supporting super-fast charging.
The platform also underpins the BYD Atto 3 now available in Australia, as well as the brand’s incoming small hatch known as the BYD Dolphin overseas.
With the BYD Seal belly-flopping into Tesla Model 3 waters in China, where the NIO ET5 is also making a splash, the newcomer is posing a significant threat.
In Australia, BYD’s all-new mid-size sedan – which is not expected to be called the Seal here, or the Atto 4 as was previously flagged – is due to arrive in the first half of next year, offering a more affordable alternative to the made-in-China Model 3.
There’s no word yet on local pricing, specification or powertrain line-up, but we expect it to open from around $50,000 at the entry level.
We’ve driven the Chinese-spec long-range version of the single-motor BYD Seal, which will likely be the best seller. It’s priced from RMB272,274 ($A57,250) in China, serving as a mid-series model in a range that starts at RMB222,274 ($A46,750) and is topped out by the dual-motor/all-wheel drive performance version at RMB298,140 ($A62,750).
What equipment comes with the BYD Seal?
As we’ve found with the BYD Atto 3, Australian versions of the 2022 BYD Seal are certain to come with a high level of equipment for the money.
Perhaps the biggest surprise given the price point in China is the head-up display fitted standard on the long-range model you see here (as well as the dual-motor AWD flagship). Together with readouts like the speed, it also gives navigation prompts.
There is also an electric-opening boot, and all versions get a handy-sized frunk complete with lid. Wheels are up an inch on lower-spec versions at 19 inches.
The long-range 2022 BYD Seal gains leather upholstery, while the front seats have both heating and cooling functions.
Being a BYD, the Seal also comes with a rotating centre touch-screen, which in China is a 15.6-inch unit on all versions.
Our test car also came with a karaoke microphone which links via a rather aftermarket-looking white USB dongle. So passengers can get the full experience, a Dynaudio sound system with 12 speakers is included.
Helping eke out more range is an efficient heat pump for the climate control system, which includes a PM2.5 filtration system to get rid of particulate air pollution in the cabin – a welcome feature in China’s heavily congested cities.
In its home market, the Seal carries a six-year/150,000km warranty – the same coverage offered by BYD in Australia for its first model, the Atto 3 – and the electric drivetrain gets a lifetime guarantee for the first purchaser.
There’s no such coverage for the latter in Australia, however the battery should be covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty in our market.
How safe is the BYD Seal?
BYD at its Shenzhen base has one of the largest and most advanced crash test facilities in China covering 20,000 square metres.
As yet there is no ANCAP or Euro NCAP rating, but the 2022 BYD Seal is expected to follow the Atto 3 in receiving a maximum five-star result.
One reassuring sign in the wake of the local Atto 3 launch, which saw its safety rating held back until child seat arrangements were fully compliant with Australian regulations, is the BYD Seal does come with three ISOFIX attachment points.
On the active safety side there’s a variety of systems fitted standard across the range, spanning autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure and blind spot warnings and even door opening warnings.
There’s also lane keeping assistance, intelligent cruise control and traffic jam assist.
On the passive side there are 11 airbags, including front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbag protection.
An evening drive showed us that the automatic high beam worked much better than the systems of some other Chinese cars we’ve driven this year, and didn’t require me to manually override it during the test drive.
What technology does the BYD Seal feature?
While the overall equipment level is high in the 2022 BYD Seal, technology is not quite up to the standard seen in the Chinese start-ups such as Nio and XPeng.
Nonetheless, the Seal does feature voice control which seems to work reasonably well.
Similarly, DiPilot does a good job on highways of driving the Seal within its lane and taking into account other traffic using the intelligent cruise control.
Many Chinese cars now come with a separate screen for front passenger entertainment. The Seal tries to get away with using just the one central screen, allowing a split-screen arrangement to try to minimise driver distraction. It works, too, up to a point.
In a clear announcement of the company’s intentions to export the Seal, the system is already capable of switching into English, although some of the English labelling could be improved.
In the rear compartment of the long-range model tested here is a mains power outlet for vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing laptops and other appliances to be plugged in, while standard USB-A and USB-C outlets are found across the cabin.
Up front, the USB ports are positioned under the floating dashboard, which is topped off with twin wireless phone charging pads.
What powers the BYD Seal?
The long-range version of the 2022 BYD Seal is the most powerful rear-wheel drive model and features a 230kW single-motor powertrain.
That’s an increase of 80kW compared to lower-spec versions, and with 360Nm of torque also on tap, the Seal is good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds.
On the 390kW all-wheel drive version, the time is brought down to 3.8sec thanks to the addition of a 160kW motor on the front axle.
Unless you really have a need for speed, the long-range model has more than enough performance to excite even a keen driver.
How far can the BYD Seal go on a charge?
The 2022 BYD Seal features the Chinese car-maker’s much-vaunted Blade battery, which tightly packs in the lithium-ion cells to give better energy density while providing higher levels of safety than batteries with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, according to the company.
BYD treated us to a demonstration of the nail penetration test in which the Blade stayed thermally stable while the NMC battery burst into flames.
The Seal is also the first BYD model to use cell-to-body (CTB) technology. In most EVs, the battery pack is slung from the body whereas with CTB it forms a structural component – the top of the battery pack is effectively the vehicle flooring – imparting higher strength to the lower chassis.
The headline driving range figure for the long-range version of the BYD Seal is 700km from its 82.5kWh battery, but that’s under China’s generous CLTC standard. (The dual-motor Seal has a claimed 650km range.)
Real-world driving is likely to give a range more in the region of 500km at best.
With fast charging, the battery can power up from 30 to 80 per cent in half an hour, according to BYD.
Lower-spec cars have a smaller 61.4kWh battery pack that enables a range of up to 550km, again based on the Chinese CLTC cycle.
What is the BYD Seal like to drive?
Few mainstream, budget-oriented electric cars are this good to drive and the 2022 BYD Seal took us by surprise.
First off, the Seal has a sporty set-up with its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension.
The car really holds the road well on twisting mountain roads. Add in the Sport setting on the steering (selectable via the centre touch-screen) and the car is really fun to drive.
There is also a Comfort setting for the steering, but this gives a looser and vague feeling, whereas in Sport there is both good feel and responsiveness.
There are three drive modes selectable by a toggle wheel near the drive selector. There seems to be little difference between Normal and Sport mode, but Eco is noticeably weaker.
Braking regeneration is also selectable through the centre screen, simply marked as Standard and Larger. We found neither to be particularly strong, meaning one-pedal driving is certainly not possible.
On mountain roads I found I had to use the brakes more than I would have expected on an EV.
Overall, though, the Seal is a very responsive car in terms of dynamic performance, and while the suspension settings aren’t as soft as some other Chinese cars, the ride quality is still geared up for comfort and proves to be compliant over bumps.
There is a 50:50 weight distribution, and thanks to CTB (described in the previous section) the torsional rigidity is very high, with BYD claiming it’s on par with luxury vehicles.
The BYD Seal is also slippery with a drag coefficient of just 0.219Cd.
What is the BYD Seal like inside?
With the panoramic roof fitted, the 2022 BYD Seal feels light and airy. And despite its relatively compact size – measuring 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and 1460mm tall – the mid-size sedan’s generous 2920mm wheelbase helps create plenty of space inside.
You shouldn’t get any complaints about headroom from rear passengers up to at least 1.85m tall, and legroom is equally more than adequate.
The Seal is part of what BYD refers to as the Ocean series, and in keeping with the nautical feel the interior carries soft blue and white highlights.
These go well with the arctic blue exterior of our test car, which seems to be the signature colour of the Seal – and is in fact the only colour we’ve seen one in yet.
Overall, the material quality is good, with our test car brimming with soft-touch plastics and leather and microfibre trim.
That said, there is some cost-cutting evident, which is probably to be expected given how much you are getting for the price.
The door handles, for example, look as if they’re metal but are actually plastic.
The front seats are a one-piece design rather than with separate adjustable head restraints, but they are electrically adjustable and comfortable enough.
The centre console cubbyhole lid is on the stiff side, and while the floor of the boot is sturdy and has a secret compartment, the side trim is a bit flimsy.
Should I buy a BYD Seal?
There is a lot going for the 2022 BYD Seal. It drives well and offers great value for the price – in China, at least, but we’re expecting a similar formula in Australia.
Not only is the Seal bigger than the Tesla Model 3, but it has more equipment such as the head-up display and a dedicated instrument panel which will likely make it appeal more to traditional motorists.
The way the car is set up also makes the Seal a much easier vehicle to transition to for those used to combustion-engined cars.
Although the Seal does have flamboyant elements to its design, it pares these back compared to the Atto 3 small SUV and Dolphin hatch, looking all the better for it.
While the profile is similar to the Model 3, most likely dictated by aerodynamics, the Seal is a more interesting design overall, and unlike the Model 3 it actually looks like a sedan rather than a liftback.
Ultimately, success in Australia will be dictated by price, but the BYD Seal can compete on more than price alone and ticks all the right boxes when it comes to design, performance, dynamics and specifications.
2022 BYD Seal Long Range at a glance:
Price: $58,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: First half 2023
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 230kW/360Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 82.5kWh lithium-ion
Range: 700km (CLTC)
Energy consumption: 11.8kWh/100km (CLTC)
Safety rating: Not tested
Source - Carsales