BYD Seal review | Dual motored and insane power!

[@Roen265]

Update just out now provides wireless Apple CarPlay. Great video, delighted you covered it

[@kimcorell7786]

Here in Australia BYD is rapidly gaining foothold, April sales shows the Seal is only 100 units behind the Model 3. Getting my Performance (Excellence) very soon!

[@almac9203]

Curious as to why you chose the BYD over the Tesla. Aren't they similar in price?

[@kimcorell7786]

@@almac9203 actually the Model 3 is now cheaper, at least for the RWD. I had a Model 3 4 years ago and I don't like to get the same twice. The M3 is brilliant, don't get me wrong, but it's now a 9 year old car with a facelift and I find it a bit dated.

[@biggwong6912]

Test drive the Tesla, I don't like it at all. It doesn't have drive display and HUD. I have to keep looking to center display for info. Kind of unsafe. Also, it doesn't have front camera in front of the hood, cannot see the line. These alone makes me avoid Tesla.

[@jimgraham6722]

I have driven an Atto3 for eighteen months, the best vehicle I have had after fifty years of driving ICE including all major brands.

[@niallerc1969]

I would agree Jim and that's including the S320 L I owned for 6 years.

[@zes7215]

wr

[@fatdoi003]

the updated Atto 3 even better...

[@niallerc1969]

@@fatdoi003 what’s updated from the 23 model

[@fatdoi003]

@@niallerc1969 cheaper, Conti tyres, bigger screen,

[@UgglemannenFTW]

They released update in Sweden now that improves the AWD system.

[@FiFoC2000]

Excellent review as usual. By far the best looking EV out there. Great addition to the market for competition too.

[@budawang77]

"You'll lose your licence". That just about sums up the wisdom of buying such a powerful car.

[@fatdoi003]

i drive a C63 over 2 years and still have a clean licence

[@JIMMY-nz1ld]

In fairness BYD seal did reached one of my car dream is an affordable car that has a super car 0-60 performance.

[@peterduffy3152]

I really hope Europe doesn’t put a tariff on these. We need this competition.

[@mlann2333]

Nice car but it's not fair competition when it's Chinese govt subsidised and will undercut Euro brands to the point where they'll go out of business.

[@zaneverovati]

@@mlann2333 maybe they should get the EU to subsidise them as well... oh wait

[@mlann2333]

​@@zaneverovatiI'd rather support euro but whatever you like

[@Quagmire925]

Yeah to compete the Euro manufacturers will have to pay 50 cents and hr and make their employees live in the factory like BYD! But hey why not, so you can get a cheap car you unethical muPpet!

[@Quagmire925]

Never take any comment into consideration if its poster is a Duffy! They all support S L A v £ labour!

[@Audios81]

Great review! Have a Seal Performance AWD purchased in April and it has 15k kms currently and it's been nothing but a great little car. Well not little, the back seat is truly massive and comfortable. Not a squeak, rattle or noise with build quality the same as it was at day one. Reliability has been perfect as well. Hitting 500kms on a charge in the city and about 450kms highway range. Fastest charging was at 157kw at a super fast 350kw charger. Price was 77k AUD before it's price drop mid year. The ADAS has been significantly improved through OTA updates from BYD. The only downfall is wish it were a bit lighter to make more use of the 523hp and not concerned but I'm sure brake wear isn't going to be nil with its weight and fast driving, as the regen isn't strong at all. Still hitting 100kmh (62mph) in 3.7-3.9 seconds, gps verified. But overall extremely impressed for it's cheap price, with not much coming even close to 523hp for the price. It's been reliable, quiet, rattle and squeak free. The only real issue has been the passenger side floor mat, with the back not having deep enough spikes, it often slides forward. Not bad for a cheap EV made in China. Not bad at all😊

[@akhilleusz15]

The manufacturing plant in Hungary is not yet operational, in fact there are almost no buildings standing in the area. its going to be a couple years until cars roll out from there.

[@NiallC]

Have a BYD RWD on order. Indicator is on the LHS

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

I would like BYD to come to Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, and many central Eastern European countries.

[@LittleBoobsLover]

They are starting selling in june in Poland ;] Wondering how prices will look like. Too bad BYD Seagull will not be avaible in europe this year. Also we don';t know if blade battery V2 will be in these cars, propably no.

[@fatdoi003]

when Hungary plant up and running, you guys will be getting them for sure

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

@@fatdoi003 Or the Hungary plant could be the gateway to expansion to other European markets.

[@fatdoi003]

@@DaveDVideoMaker of course... when one plant reaches the max, they'll open another one.... i bet there'll be a few plants in EU in the next few years.. plus other brands too

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

@@fatdoi003 I heard MG could open up a plant in Spain, Czechia or Hungary (the decision to where the new plant will be located at will be confirmed in September), but the plant will not open before 2027. MG is in most European countries now; they’re just absent in Bulgaria and the Baltic states, which are pretty small markets.

[@smithallan100]

Great review Mark. As nice as it would be to have the extra HP and grip over the RWD Seal I think it would cost you a lot more than the €5,800 price difference (penalty points and fines) but even still I would pick this over the Tesla M3P which is around €9k more expensive. BYD seem to have the ruffled the feathers of the European brands and that will be good for the consumer long term. Isn't the ADAS speed sign bing bong thing a requirement on all new passenger vehicles sold in Europe regardless of powertrain.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Yep, it’s going into all new cars, some brands just make it easier to shut it off. Tesla and Mercedes being two of the best for it.

[@onceafiend]

Can you turn it off with voice control?

[@chrisduffill5248]

Nice one from Ireland ….. … I will be getting an Irish passport soon as well hopefully I am a European at heart as well

[@uweballmann6692]

Just have bought one here in Thailand, incredible Car. And price appr. USD 42.000 only including several adds like 8 years free Service, Registration, ABB Wallbox Charger etc.

[@podge5555]

My work colleague collected his last week and they’ve switched the indicator stalk over to the left side

[@NobbyOnCars]

Great to hear. I keep putting the wipers on.

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Shame. The indicator on the right is how it should be for RHD cars.

[@dalepurton8118]

@@Nickbaldeagle02 Correct! Europeans are too used to LHD manufacturers moving the entire steering column to the correct side but not changing the stalks over. Remember driving a manual you could indicate with your right fingers whilst changing gears with the left.

[@thtupid]

BYD stands for Biyadi. Everybody seems to get it wrong! Build Your Dreams is a backronym created by the company as a slogan. The Biyadi name came from the company's original name, Yadi Electronics. According to Wiki, the B itself was added on so at trade shows it would be near the front and not the end alphabetically. Otherwise, great review! Thanks!

[@NobbyOnCars]

You must send an email to their marketing team so… I’ll go what the on brand message is, thanks.

[@thtupid]

@@NobbyOnCars Sorry I didnt mean to offend you. But you proved exactly what I mean. For some reason, they have a perfectly fine name in Biyadi but choose to use that slogan instead as their "official" name.

[@kimarefall]

Very nice looking car. I would for sure want one

[@connclissmann6514]

That delivery charge appears to be a deceitful ripoff! Deceitful in that it lowers the list price while you still end up paying the real cost. Thanks for the review.

[@chriswatson9700]

Great review…one of the few I’ve seen where the reviewer hasn’t felt the need to defend the Model 3 lol.

[@brianiswrong]

On our 2024 kona ev I turn off the driver attention camera, speed warning (as you say it still keeps the speed limit signs, but just flashes rather than a bloody bong/ bong/ bong aswell) and i turn of the lane assist. Takes 15 seconds to do (on the kona you have a ☆ button on the wheel and 1 on the dash that can be a short cut to these features. Takes about the same time as starting an ice car, letting it idle while you buckle up and select 1st gear.

[@CThienV]

If your typical day consists of at least 8 short trips, that repetitive sequence would take the shine off my ownership of a byd. Hmm

[@Safety1stDrivingSchoolDublin]

What's the level of Regenerative Brakes? Standard and High? I have the BYD Atto 3. Any issues with speed limit recognition like in the Atto 3?

[@NobbyOnCars]

Two levels, selected in the screen like Tesla

[@Audios81]

There's comfort (low) and sport (high). I know weird terms for it. But neither do that much tbh. Def will have brake wear on our with 523hp and well over 2 tonnes.

[@ic2433]

It’s a tough sell and a bit like less common mobile phones from China. They are good products but they just don’t have the “name” required to hold value later on. I think it will take time before BYD are accepted and will probably need to go through what Kia and Hyundai did over the years.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Serious marketing campaign going on but I agree, people will need to see more around to have faith.

[@ic2433]

@@NobbyOnCars Looked like fun, lots of power 😁

[@awacs888]

Just like the “name” of Audi and BMW associated with unreliability

[@CThienV]

Byd is exporting decent cars from the get go. The Korean brands exported crap at first. Byd will reach market maturity much sooner than the Korean brands did. Imo.

[@ThePetrolhead94]

I work for a leasing company and have done quite a few Seals, most are apprehensive until they drive the car, so many people have come back to me to remark on the quality

[@johnnycos2211]

Great review as always. Car looks fantastic from the outside, interior isn’t great though and dare I say the performance is disappointing for a quoted 530hp

[@petershorney7504]

Great review Nobby. I may buy two!

[@JackKing12.]

Should really make hatchback version.

[@MosesKaldor]

They updated the ambient lighting to act as disco lights. Time to buy the karaoke microphone.

[@lluow]

Correct me if I am wrong but I heard somewhere France is in talks with BYD about the second plant.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Well Stellantis currently use BYD batteries in the new e3008 and e5008 as their own new factory in France isn’t at capacity so it could make sense alright!

[@fatdoi003]

Meloni just flew to China to beg for EV plant....

[@damnedifyoudont]

Do seals have gills?

[@NobbyOnCars]

You better ask the designer of the car

[@davidrooney6173]

Great video

[@NobbyOnCars]

Thanks!

[@oldskoolclassic]

Wat you think of nio

[@NobbyOnCars]

Haven’t seen in the flesh yet

[@Irishwrestletalk]

Cracking review as always 👍

[@NobbyOnCars]

Thanks 👍

[@DenisNolan]

They should have disabling the speed warning like in the Tesla.

[@stevesaunders5980]

They do now

[@niallerc1969]

Unfortunately my knees didn't appreciate how low it was.

[@x01e03]

Didn't V1.2 software bring wireless carplay?

[@NobbyOnCars]

Apparently so but it wasn’t on this car obviously

[@fatdoi003]

here @ AU some months ago....

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Why don't they make a twin motor 300hp car? All the benefits of 4 wheel drive and you might actually be able to afford the insurance.

[@dazt66]

They had an update Apple play is wireless now

[@sammoksud5372]

Thank god !!!

[@doylealand]

The indicator is on the left, I got the shadow green 4th and it is a great drive, yes turn off the traffic sign warning each start up, acceleration is insane.

[@doylealand]

4wd

[@NobbyOnCars]

On the car I reviewed, the indicator is on the right. I can only review what is put in front of me.

[@dingbatt]

The biggest thing BYD should NOT have taken inspiration from the Model 3 for is the boot. If it was a hatch instead, it would be better. By the way, the stalks being that way round was the case in the UK, Ireland and most RHD markets, until you became Europe’s bitch. Other manufacturers get around the speed sign warning by having the symbol pulse rather than having an audio warning. That way NCAPs insistence on restoring warnings every time the car is started wouldn’t matter. I have delayed my Seal order until I see if it is going to the “Blade 2.0” battery with a potential WLTP range of 700km for the single motor variant. Why the Seal (currently a Model 3 owner)? It has a driver’s display and HUD, parking sensors, a 360 camera and an LFP long range battery. Plus I hardly use Tesla Superchargers so they aren’t a factor.

[@stormlands]

In Norway BYD have 200.000km or 8 years waranty on battery (what ever comes first of that) ho else have that ? tesla have 8 years or 160.000 km and many tesla's have BYD batteries also. :)

[@thomastcrapper4100]

The rear is from Peugeot.

[@jpataca5598]

When the excellence is just 1000€ difference to the design, why not go for the excellence awd.

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Insurance costs.

[@johncrosbarry]

It’s ok looking outside but the interior is just messy / fussy looking and the range for such a large battery isn’t great. I’d agree with you the standard car would be a better option but the efficiency of that isn’t the best either from other reviews I’ve seen. Still a good non suv option

[@NobbyOnCars]

I think the thing that people need to get their heads around is cars with 340bhp are not easy on juice, doesn’t matter what the fuel source is. An E46 M3 has similar power and that’s thirsty as hell and people are ok with that as it’s more of a known entity.

[@Mancozeb100]

@@NobbyOnCarsVery good point, Nobby.

[@johncrosbarry]

@@NobbyOnCars yeah that’s true the second motor will use more juice, but it’s around 400kg heavier than a model 3 performance too which doesn’t help I’d say. I reckon they could optimise the manufacture of the car to reduce the weight. But they will if you remember any of the first cars from unknown brands they were way crappier than the seal and look at the Kia’s of the world now!

[@zaneverovati]

you seem to have some contact at BYD Nobby, did anyone explain whats the big idea with 800V tech but max speed of 150kW DC charging? Cant get around that one cause Xpeng seems to be chugging out 200-300kW charging speed cars like its nothing and then BYD who apparently make the bloody batteries keep it at max speed which was the biggest thing ever some 3 years ago.

[@NobbyOnCars]

It’s a good question. Is it something that they foresee being an OTA, are they doing it to stand over the claim of 5,000 full charges (roughly 2,000,000kms!!)… does seem low for 800 V

[@Quagmire925]

But you can only go 0-60 on the public roads as fast as the day dreamer in front of you!

[@LjubicaServaas]

BYD is still expensive in Australia 😭😭

[@CThienV]

For what you get I think it's great value.

[@LaowaiDaveJCP]

It's cheaper in NZ.

[@paulwaites6551]

So doing the maths 20kw for 60miles 82kw battery = 246miles not bad but not brilliant.

[@chrismcerlain1664]

where the hell do you get parts for these things. you wont be able to go into halfords and order them

[@NobbyOnCars]

What parts do you need?! Wiper blades?

[@mickdaly6537]

They said same about MG when arrived and yet it turned out you could get parts faster then you could for any other major car maker

[@chrismcerlain1664]

@@mickdaly6537 that's good.im thinking about the second gand market. It looks very nice. Especially like the interior

[@mamba101]

I think the only reason to buy this is you don’t for some wave handy reason don’t want a model 3. In my biased opinion model 3 is the more complete car.

[@DashcamsTasmania]

head up display, drivers screen, indicators, actual gear shifter. I test drove a model 3H 3 times and simply hated the minimalism. Have had my Seal Performance (Excellence) for nearly 4 months. When i get in my boss's Model Y it still feels like stuff is missing. So in my biased opinion the Seal is the more complete car.

[@mamba101]

@@DashcamsTasmania Hence the hand waving.

[@gilleek2]

Would be great if, instead of beeping at you when you enter a new speed zone, it would just slow down to that speed limit

[@kenbradley5032]

Love to buy one but it’s Chinese but politics got in the way. I can’t bring myself to buy one

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

The Chinese have never caused a world war ...unlike Volkswagen, Mercedes- Benz,Toyota & Mitsubishi.

[@EmmetTKenny-e1j]

How did you post this comment ken?

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Did you type that comment on your Chinese made phone?

[@kenbradley5032]

@@Nickbaldeagle02 and there lies the problem

[@mad4tar77]

20kwh/100km at 17 degrees outside. Oh dear, that is a very inefficient car.

[@NobbyOnCars]

It has over 520bhp?!

[@trevorkeyes7035]

To bloody expensive

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Too

[@SparkyWright]

The Volvo EX30 can do 0 - 60 mph or 100km in 3.6secs and in my personal opinion looks better 😊

[@neildewhurst9441]

Completely different segment though?

[@NobbyOnCars]

I've driven it and this weirdly feels faster

[@L1LM4N]

indeed but its a smaller car....with a lighter battery....good luck tying to fit a normal adult behind the driver for a longer trip. Also it recieved the "tesla treatment" ....no display behind the wheel, no instrument cluster. Last but not least....the battery chemistry...in my humble opinion that should be the 1st thing you look at in an EV.

[@UgglemannenFTW]

Its a big misconception that the EX30 is light. It weigh as much as a tesla model Y but is tiny. And unless the volvo EX30 is the absolute minimum specc its more expensive than tesla m3P or Seal AWD or even a ioniq 5. So basicly you buy a tiny cramped car that is almost as heavy as a model Y. Bad warranties aswell on the Volvo. Only 3 year vs 6 year on the BYD.

[@royyoung3104]

No thank you....bit concerned that with all the control manufacturers are getting over what their ev's can do with ota updates don't really want China to be in charge of that on my car..........

[@NobbyOnCars]

it's in the t&c on their website that they can and could...

[@DanRyzESPUK]

Long live the Popular Republic of 🇨🇳!!!!

[@mauricemaffeo8080]

Piano black centre console 👎

[@gporourke627]

It seems quite irresponsible to me that safety features should be turned off , just because they are annoying. If drivers drive within the speed limit then that's the problem solved. At least leave the sign recognition on so as to advise what the speed limit is. I mean these safety features are in cars now for a good reason. And you will get use to them.

[@NobbyOnCars]

You can still leave the sign on but no matter how safe a driver you are, your foot is going to deviate 1km/h over the limit time and time again. It’s the equivalent of an alarm clock going off every 15 seconds potentially. There’s is no discretionary window whatsoever.

[@06younger]

@@NobbyOnCars someone will eventually come up with an OBD gadget that allows you to fiddle (code out) these settings. Think OBDeleven or Carly dongle/apps

[@CThienV]

It will bong when you're driving 59kmph in a 60kmph zone because the system detected a 5kmph sign in a carpark.