BYD Seal Expert Review

Globally a rival to the Tesla Model 3, the Seal’s 4,800mm length and 2,920mm wheelbase are close to a BMW 3 Series LWB. Ground clearance at 145mm is low and requires caution. Its 0.219 drag coefficient aids range, while the ‘ocean-inspired’ design features ripple-like LED DRLs, tight wheel arches, 19-inch alloys, and a sleek roofline ending in a stylish rear diffuser. It’s available in four colours: Atlantis Grey, Aurora White, Cosmos Black and Arctic Blue.

The Seal’s cabin balances sophistication with quality. Leatherette trim, piano black, and metallic accents elevate the experience, while clever storage solutions impress. The standout is the 15.6-inch touchscreen, which rotates between landscape and portrait. Though the AC controls buried in menus frustrate, physical toggles for key functions and intuitive steering controls help.

The ventilated, heated front seats are plush, though lumbar support is lacking. Rear seat comfort is excellent despite a knees-up position. Legroom is vast, headroom generous thanks to a tinted glass roof (now with a powered roller blind for 2025). Boot space is 400 litres, plus a 50-litre frunk, though there’s no spare tyre.

Three powertrains are offered, ranging from a 204hp RWD to a 530hp AWD. The 313hp Premium tested here feels like the sweet spot and delivers progressive, ICE-like power delivery with sub-6-second 0-100kph runs and three drive modes with adjustable regen.

Ranges vary from 510km for the 61.44kWh Dynamic, to 650km (NEDC) for the 82.5kWh Premium variant, with 150kW DC fast charging available on the larger battery. AC charging tops out at a slow 7kW. The blade-cell LFP battery is integrated into the chassis for added safety and rigidity.

Independent suspension and a stiff chassis rear-drive setup give it a European feel — firm yet composed. Handling is sharp too and this feels like a true RWD sports sedan. The 2025 variants improve further with DiSus-C suspension on the top variant for enhanced dynamics.

The Seal’s feature list is vast, including a brilliant 360-degree camera, wireless phone integration, an excellent sounding Dynaudio audio system, heads-up display and NFC card key. Safety kit includes 10 airbags, ADAS, parking sensors and driver attention monitoring.

Priced between Rs 41 lakh and Rs 53.15 lakh, with no real rival, it undercuts the Rs 72.50 lakh BMW i4. CBU duties hurt pricing, but for what it offers, the Seal is a tech-laden, attractively priced disruptor. It’s BYD’s best shot at making a lasting mark in India.