BYD Seal

The BYD Seal is built on an EV-specific platform known as e-platform 3.0, showcasing the brand's "Ocean Aesthetics" design philosophy.

Its sleek and aerodynamic fastback styling, combined with a low-slung body, makes it visually striking. The dimensions of the Seal are 4,800 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,460 mm in height, with a substantial wheelbase of 2,920 mm, contributing to its impressive road presence.

Key exterior features include Double-U LED headlights, LED DRLs, connected LED tail lamps, flush door handles, 19-inch alloy wheels, and unique water drop-shaped ORVMs. 

Available in four colors—Arctic Blue, Aurora White, Atlantis Gray, and Cosmos Black—the Seal's design exudes modernity and elegance.

The BYD Seal is equipped with a 61.4 kWh battery pack, delivering a range of up to 440 miles (708 km) on a single charge, based on the WLTP test cycle.

This range drops to about 250 miles (402 km) under real-world conditions, which is still sufficient for daily driving needs. The Seal supports fast charging, enabling a charge from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes using a 150 kW DC charger, making long-distance travel more convenient. 

For home charging, a 7 kW charger is included, taking 12-16 hours for a full charge, while a 150 kW DC charger can add 200 km of range in just 15 minutes.

The BYD Seal offers a luxurious and feature-packed interior, particularly impressive for its price point. Unique features include the Vehicle-to-Load mobile power supply function, allowing the car to serve as a power bank, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen that can switch between landscape and portrait orientations at the press of a button.

The interior also boasts dynamic ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, soundproof double-glazed glass, ventilated and heated front seats, and a head-up display. 

The dual-zone climate control system performed admirably even in the heat of Gurgaon, and the 12-speaker DYNAUDIO sound system, though bass-heavy, offers an immersive audio experience. While wireless Android Auto is supported, Apple CarPlay requires a wired connection. 

Safety is a priority for the BYD Seal, which comes equipped with 9 airbags, a 360-degree camera, TPMS, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, and a suite of Level 2 ADAS features such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure prevention.

The interior, while spacious, features an all-black design that might feel a bit enclosed despite the large panoramic sunroof. The front seats are upholstered in genuine leather with contrast stitching, offering good comfort but lacking in under-thigh support. 

Getting in and out of the low-slung sedan requires some effort, but once inside, the cabin feels well-designed and ergonomic.

The double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspensions of the BYD Seal determine its ride and handling properties.

Although the suspension works softly, the low-speed ride is stiff and most road imperfections appear inside the cabin. It may not be as entertaining as some of its rivals, but the car feels steady and collected at high speeds, with seamless handling and controlled body roll on twisting roads.

While it weighs well on highways and is lightweight and easy to operate at low speeds, the electric power steering system might use some improvement in feedback. The brake system, which has drilled and ventilated discs, offers powerful stopping power, although the absence of sensation in the brake pedal takes some getting used to.