I have reviewed a significant range of BYD vehicles: first the Atto 3 (the compact SUV that is a great competitor to the MG ZS and now S5), and the Dolphin (the compact family hatchback with a very competitive price.
Now is it time to look at the other end of the market: the premium sedan. It is a wide market, including the high volume Tesla Model 3, as well as vehicles such as the BMW i4.
So, when the BYD Seal came up in a conversation, of course I would give it a go and see if it’s really something to compete against vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3, and the BMW i4. Let’s find out!
Specification
At a Glance:
| Total Battery Capacity (kWh) | 82.5 |
| Available Battery Capacity (As Tested – kWh) | 77.5 |
| CCS Max Charge Speed (kW) | 150 |
| WLTP Combined Range (Miles / km) | 323 / 520 |
The BYD Seal in the UK (July 2025 as of writing) comes with an 82.5kWh Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) battery pack, with both Design and Excellence coming with the same pack.
WLTP range is 323 and 354 miles from the Excellence AWD and Design respectively. It is very comparable to the BMW i4 (with the longer range i4 getting slightly more) but on comparable performance is very similar.
However, compared to the Tesla Model 3 Facelift, it is down on range slightly (421 on the Long Range, RWD). As a sidenote, I find it amazing I’m increasingly showcasing EVs that have 350+ miles of range!
As mentioned in the video, it would be interesting to see if the removal of the front motor makes a significant difference to the range.
CCS charging speed is pretty reasonable too. It will pull 150 kW (on my short testing, it can pull even more – 152 kW) up to around 50-55% charge, and then it will throttle. Still however, it will be around 25 minutes from 0-55% charge, or around 180 miles, which is plenty for a lot of people.
FYI: I did test the available capacity on the range test video:
There are vehicles in the price range that will charge a lot faster (Kia EV6 is around 230kW max, and Polestar 2 is around 200+ kW), but it is certainly not a deal breaker for most people.
What’s It Like to Drive?
This is the BYD Seal’s forte. Because the battery is so low down in the chassis, it handles exceptionally well, and the all wheel drive system really keeps the car glued to the road.
Overall noise refinement is bliss too: exterior noises are well isolated and road noise is mostly dulled and removed. The seats are exceptionally comfortable as well. Slightly hugging, but an advantage as you will like to chuck the Seal round corners and watch it stick!
Even riding on 19 inch alloy wheels doesn’t seem to unsettle the very comfortable ride. However, although it technically has semi-adaptive shock absorbers, it barely makes a perceived difference to the ride quality.
Interior quality is a huge step up over even something like the facelift Tesla Model 3. Everything in the cabin seems a lot less hollow and ‘cheap’ feeling compared to a Model 3, and the BMW i4 from my perspective does feel slightly cheaper compared to the materials in the Seal.
I think you really need to sit inside a Seal to believe it, but the instant that you do, I think you’ll be surprised indeed!
Room For Improvement?
Firstly, the localisation (like other BYD vehicles) could certainly be better. The best way to explain is that a lot of the features on the screen are not labelled in the way you would expect. For example, Accumulated total (mileage) is labelled as “Accumulated AEC” which doesn’t mean anything obvious!
Also, the way that it delivers efficiency statistics is accumulated (from the first start up of the car – as in when it was brand new!) and in the last 50 miles. Both of which I would not consider very useful at all. This is a problem on the Atto3 and Dolphin, so it is really a BYD problem. BYD if you are reading this, fix it via a software update please!
Another key point to consider is that this vehicle exceeds the £40,000 VED threshold. This means you’ll likely incur an additional £2,500 in VED over a five-year ownership period from new. In comparison, the base model Tesla Model 3 (around £39,990, especially with the solid colour) avoids this additional charge.
However, adding any options, such as a different paint colour, pushes the Tesla over the threshold, making it subject to the same extra VED.
If BYD were to introduce a smaller battery, rear-wheel-drive model priced under £40,000, this would deliver a UK market vehicle to compete directly with the Model 3.
Note: whether you’re buying outright or leasing, this additional VED will apply. Even buying the vehicle used within that 5 year period also subjects you to the additional VED, so it really matters!
So, Do I Recommend the BYD Seal?
While I’ve always admired Tesla, particularly the Model 3, my experience driving the BYD Seal has completely shifted my preference. As an all-around premium sedan, the Seal surpasses the Model 3 in handling, road noise refinement, and overall package.
Although the Tesla Model 3 might have a slight edge in efficiency, the Seal’s efficiency is more than reasonable. The only notable advantage the Model 3 holds is its Supercharger network. Cheap charging (a lot of chargers under 40p/kWh), and fully accessible.
However, the UK’s charging infrastructure has increased significantly, making this less of a concern, especially with the Seal’s impressive 300-mile range and the availability of home or destination charging. Even something like CoCharger will mean a lot of chargers around owners.
I’m genuinely concerned for European manufacturers because the BYD Seal is an exceptionally competent all-rounder. When compared to vehicles like the BMW i4, the Seal significantly undercuts its price by over £20,000 for a similar specification.
In my honest opinion, BYD has built one of the best vehicles I’ve tested on this channel. While it might not be the absolute best value proposition (some smaller, upcoming vehicles might claim that title – see the Leapmotor T03!)The BYD Seal is truly excellent.
If you’re considering a BMW i4 or a Tesla Model 3, I strongly urge you to consider the BYD Seal; I believe you’ll be thoroughly impressed. I’m incredibly impressed with this vehicle.
FYI: Make sure you watch the review video as well, hopefully gives more of an idea of the car itself!
Also, if you do purchase a BYD Seal, let them know KC Talks EV brought you there!
I’ve not driven the Seal, but have sat in one and it’s impressively refined on first impressions. It’s the car that prompted me to tell people that Chinese cars are now better than German. Equally high quality and less severely corporate styling.