This article in short:

• Model: BYD Seal Excellence AWD, electric sedan with 530 hp.
• Range: Up to 520 kilometers (WLTP) thanks to 82.5 kWh battery.
• Pros: Improved energy consumption, high-quality interior, strong touring car.
• Negatives: Semi-autonomous systems do not function optimally, steering precision at high speed could be better.
• Price: From 45,995 euros for the Design RWD, Excellence AWD costs just under 51,000 euros.

First field test

Because yes, the first practical test in the Netherlands with the BYD Seal did not go entirely smoothly. At the time, it was one of the very first copies in the Netherlands. Executed as Excellence AWD with 530 hp of power thanks to the presence of two electric motors. The numbers 3.8 on the tailgate indicate the time needed to reach 100 km/h from a standstill.

Design and build quality

The BYD Seal impresses with its sleek design from Wolfgang Egger, who previously worked on models such as Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Porsches, and even Lamborghini. The sedan is aerodynamically designed (CW value 0.219) and comes standard with a panoramic roof, LED lighting all around,d, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The interior is stylishly finished with high-quality materials such as leather and suede-like fabrics. Even a press demo with 25,000 kilometers on the counter remained free of wear and unwanted noises.

Comfort and space

Inside, the lavish equipment is immediately noticeable. Think of leather upholstery with a diamond pattern, seat and steering wheel heating, seat ventilation, separate climate control, and a twelve-speaker audio system from Dynaudio.

Think leather seats with ventilation and heating, a heated steering wheel, and a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen with, for example, Spotify integration. Although the navigation software did not fully function in this test, the system offers various useful functions such as Spotify integration. If it does work, it should be able to independently map out a route via fast chargers. Live updates on traffic and the status of the charging stations do the rest.

Quiet cabin

The seats are comfortable, the entire seating position can be adjusted and adjusted excellently and the excellent sound insulation of the cabin is a strong point. Also on the back seat, where there is more than enough space for three adults. The climate control also works better now. Initially, it lost control after a while, but now it maintains the set temperature well, although you have to turn the temperature up a bit (and that applies to many Chinese cars).

Range and charging

The Seal is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 with an 82.5 kWh LFP battery. This means an innovative base, in this case, even in combination with cell-to-body technology. In this way, the battery is part of the platform. This is good for stiffness and also saves centimeters in the interior because the battery at the bottom is just a little bit thinner.

And that battery is an LFP Blade Battery. Free of nickel and cobalt. This is 82.5kWh and should bring the Seal in combination with rear-wheel drive a maximum of 570 kilometers. The AWD has a higher consumption and therefore only comes 520 kilometers away.

Consumption during this test was 21 kWh/100 km, an improvement on previous experiences. Charging can be done up to 150 kW, resulting in a charging time of 10-80 percent in around 35 minutes. Although competing models charge faster, the Seal performed well thanks to an efficient charging curve and standard heat pump.

Fast charging could be better

The BYD Seal can charge at a maximum of 11 kW and fast charge up to 150 kW. During a trip to Frankfurt, the charging curve proved efficient, with a charge time of 10 to 80% in around 35 minutes. Although the car has no active battery heater before charging, the battery warms up quickly, allowing a peak of 145 kW within a few minutes. A heat pump is fitted as standard to heat both the interior and the battery. However, the charging speed could be better, with competitors staying under 30 minutes.

Economical car?

The BYD Seal AWD’s energy consumption has improved significantly in practice compared to a year ago. At the time, the car was not very economical, but thanks to updates, consumption is now an average of 21 kWh/100 km. Although this is not extremely efficient, the score is good considering the long distances and the conditions, such as driving in the Netherlands after 19:00 or on highways such as the Autobahn and Péage.

Semi-autonomous not a dream

The operation of the BYD Seal AWD’s semi-autonomous systems leaves room for improvement. The adaptive cruise control sometimes reacted slowly and the steering assistant could cause unexpected movements. The cruise control also had difficulty maintaining a constant speed when driving over uneven surfaces. In terms of driving behavior, the car offers a good balance thanks to the adaptive dampers, which effectively control body movements. This makes the Seal a comfortable traveling companion, without feeling too stiff or too soft.

Inaccurate at high speed

At higher speeds, the BYD Seal’s steering shows some imprecision. The car can be affected by ruts or a sloping road, which sometimes causes unrest. Adjusting the steering response via Comfort or Sport mode did not provide a noticeable improvement.

The price makes up for everything

The BYD Seal impresses with improvements such as more efficient energy consumption, an updated infotainment system, and more stable climate control. These strengths, combined with its well-equipped Excellence AWD variant, make it an attractive choice. With a starting price of 45,995 euros for the Design RWD and 50,995 euros for the top version, the Seal offers great value for money. Small shortcomings are therefore quickly forgiven, which contributes to the positive overall picture of this versatile electric sedan.