2024 BYD Seal: New kid on the block

It is possible you’ve never heard of BYD, let alone the Seal, the third of three curiously titled cars to be put on sale here – the others being the Dolphin and Atto 3. So here’s what you need to know: BYD – Build Your Dreams – is not some new start-up chancing it arm. It’s existed as a company for 20 years and last year sold 1.8 million cars, which isn’t far off Mercedes-Benz. Add in the buses, trucks and every other kind of vehicle it makes and that figure rises to 3.3m. It is the best-selling automotive brand in China.

So just because the names might sound silly, this is a company you need to take seriously, as the following facts about the Seal I’ve been driving will now demonstrate. It has 523bhp, four-wheel drive, twin electric motors and is quicker to 62mph than a Porsche Taycan 4S.

There are elements of it which need refining: the ride is adequate, the chassis inert (though no more so than many other EVs), there’s limited space in the back, the infotainment system is needlessy complex, the range is not the longest and its charging speed not the fastest. But none of these are deal breakers and even combined cannot dent the impression that this is an impressive and capable new entrant, so far as cars in this class are concerned. Yes I’d prefer a Tesla Model 3, a BMW i4 or Polestar 2, but by nothing like the margin you’d imagine. And if this is BYD’s first attempt at cracking this market, just think how good the next one could be. AF

BYD SEAL

• Price £48,695
• Engine Front and rear electric motors, 82 kWh battery
• Power 523bhp
• Torque 494lb ft
• Weight 2210kg
• Power to weight 237bhp per tonne
• Transmission Single-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
• 0-60mph 3.8sec
• Top speed 112mph
• Range 323 miles (WLTP)
• Charging speed 150 kW
• Verdict New name, silly name, but good