BYD Seal India Review: BYD is on a roll worldwide with a whole range of EVs along with giving everyone else a tough time but in India, its product range has been small with only the Atto 3 SUV being the sole product along with the commercial e6 MPV. However, BYD now intends to cover the Indian market with a bigger range starting with a premium product.
Hence, meet the BYD Seal, which was earlier shown at the Auto Expo, has finally been launched in India. There are three versions of this premium EV sedan launched including a more powerful dual motor version which is priced at Rs 53 lakh. We drove the mid spec 45 lakh single motor Premium version. The entry model is the Dynamic single motor which is 41 lakh.
It looks neat though and while it may not look so, it is quite long at roughly 4.8m in length which means it has a nice stance but the detailing is different. It is quite sleek with flush door handles along with 'ocean' inspired design cues plus those 19 inch aero efficient wheels are also quite cool. It is more of a coupe sedan with a sloping roofline and the sleek detailing grabs attention. Our Cosmos Black test car also looked distinctive while there are three other colour options.
Inside, at this price, expectations are high in terms of quality and here the BYD Seal delivers. It feels premium and has good quality while not being as quirky as the Atto 3. The massive 15.6-inch touchscreen in typical BYD fashion rotates and that is cool as well but again AC controls are buried inside, hence, we would have liked more physical controls along with a simpler layout for the touchscreen. That said, there is a physical crystal toggle switch below for drive modes etc.
The feature list is generous with twin wireless charging pads, 8-way electronically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, heated and cooled front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leatherette upholstery, dual-zone climate control, ADAS, 360 degree camera, 10 airbags plus a 5-star crash test safety rating from Euro NCAP. The seats are superb in comfort but the rear seats require some effort in terms of egress/ingress along with a slight knees-up position. The cabin also gets hot in summer with the glass roof. The Seal comes with a handy frunk as well as a 400l boot.
The version we tested had the highest range at 650km per charge being the larger battery pack with the single motor. The dual motor has a crazy supercar like performance with upwards of 530 bhp but the single motor version also has a healthy 313hp with a large 82.56 kWh battery pack. Like all BYDs, it uses the Blade battery which uses thinner cells when compared to traditional prismatic Lithium-ion cells. Power delivery is quick but linear with a nice progression which is unlike any other EVs. It is not about just putting your foot down as the throttle response is tuned with the drive modes to be more linear. Best part? It feels like an ICE car and it is not about being on or off which is in most EVs. It is not explosive but quick enough to be entertaining.
The suspension is not too soft and a bit on the stiffer side but it is fun to drive while its lower 145mm ground clearance is not that bad in the real world while you would not touch most speed-breakers. However, you need to be cautious about the big ones due to the low slung stance.
The Seal is a heavy car but feels planted and fun with a stable cornering ability. Hence, as a product the Seal is arguably the most impressive BYD right now and does take the fight to its premium rivals while being priced well too. Despite being an import, the Seal offers good value for its looks, quality, performance and the high range so for a different EV experience, this car deserves a look.
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