If the letters B, Y, D don’t instantly ring a bell with you, that’s okay. They stand for Build Your Dreams and are the identify of a Chinese car model whose India presence has been restricted at greatest. But what if we informed you that for a time final yr, they offered extra EVs than Tesla, and that for those who mix EVs and PHEVs, they’re primary on the planet? Moreover, their blade cell LFP batteries are regarded to be the very best round, and are utilized by quite a few different carmakers, together with, very quickly, Mahindra.

But again to India, and progress has not been brisk. The E6 was a forgettable MPV that till lately was solely accessible as a taxi, whereas the much more succesful Atto 3, sadly, will get misplaced in a sea of similar-sized electrical crossovers. This new providing, the Seal, is perhaps the one to make you sit up and take discover, nonetheless. It’s a premium govt sedan with a very engaging price ticket and no direct rivals in India for the second, which implies it has a slice of the market all to itself. But as you’ll quickly learn, that’s not the one motive it has immense potential.

BYD Seal exterior design

It might not have rivals right here, however globally, the Seal is a challenger to the Tesla Model 3, and it is simple to see that in its related dimensions and look. For higher context, its 4,800mm size and a couple of,920mm wheelbase are close to similar to these of the long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series, and that ought to provide you with an concept of the consumers it’s aimed toward.

The Seal will get ‘ocean-inspired’ design aesthetics.

Its 145mm of floor clearance may sound like trigger for concern, and whereas you need to be cautious over larger pace breakers, in our day of testing it didn’t make contact even as soon as. And what electrical sedans lack in floor clearance, they make up for with aerodynamic effectivity, which has a huge effect on an EV’s vary. With its smooth form and flush door handles, the Seal has a 0.219 coefficient of drag (a Mercedes EQS, the second-slipperiest car on the planet, is 0.202).

BYD says the LED DRLs resemble ripples in water.

Its give attention to aero hasn’t come at the price of design, nonetheless, as this ‘ocean inspired’ sedan has a variety of attention-grabbing options. The LED DRLs within the black panels on the entrance bumper are supposed to resemble ripples in water, and there are discreet traces throughout the bonnet and sides, sensible 19-inch aero-efficient alloys, and black-ridged facet skirts underneath the doorways. The curved roofline ends in a excessive boot deck, with natural linked LED tail-lamps and a surprisingly sporty rear diffuser. The tight gaps within the wheel arches assist give it a purposeful stance, and although considerably understated, it’s a really elegant form. It’s accessible in 4 colors – Atlantis Grey, Aurora White, Cosmos Black and Arctic Blue.

BYD Seal inside design

Where the E6’s inside was too primary and the Atto 3’s went overboard with polarising styling parts, the Seal strikes a neat steadiness that appears fairly subtle. More than the flowing design, nonetheless, it’s the standard that’s a nice shock, and an enormous step up from even the Atto 3. Leatherette surfaces abound, with wealthy feeling piano-black plastic and metallic trim. Switchgear feels stable and nicely damped, and there’s intelligent use of area – just like the open area underneath the centre console, the 2 huge rubberised wi-fi cellphone chargers and the deep lined storage bin.

Material high quality is very nice and it is nicely put-together.

Dominating the expertise is the 15.6-inch touchscreen that comes with BYD’s signature particular transfer – the power to motor-rotate between panorama and portrait orientation. It’s a disgrace the AC controls are all buried in a sub-menu of this display although, as a result of there are an amazing many capabilities.

That apart, there are bodily controls for quantity, drive modes, and some different automobile capabilities, whereas drive state choice is by way of a wise crystalline toggle. The steering wheel too homes an intuitive set of context-sensitive buttons, and the ten.25 digital dials behind it does put the related data entrance and centre.

High-resolution touchscreen has nice responses, irrespective of the app.
 

BYD Seal area and luxury

The quilted, heated and ventilated entrance seats are huge and plush, and although largely comfy, do really feel quick on lumbar assist. It’s the again seat that’s of higher curiosity although. You need to decrease your self underneath the roof and onto the bench, which is sort of near the battery-pack flooring, however as soon as in place, consolation is super. It ought to be a knees-up seating place, however with a protracted seat squab and closely reclined backrest, you by no means really feel it.

Space and luxury is beneficiant within the second row.

Leg room is immense, though the excessive flooring means foot room underneath the entrance seats is restricted, and due to the fastened glass roof that extends manner again, head room is nice too. That mentioned, although the glass is closely tinted, the cabin will get fairly scorching after a protracted spell of driving underneath the solar, however you should buy an inside shade as an adjunct.

As for baggage, you get a usable 50-litre frunk and an affordable 400-litre boot with an extra lined area beneath. However, what in all probability received’t go down so nicely is the shortage of a spare tyre; you solely get a puncture restore equipment.

400-litre boot has further lined area beneath. 
 

BYD Seal options and security

The BYD Seal’s options checklist is huge, and impressively, most of it’s normal throughout the three accessible variants. Many of those are managed by way of the touchscreen, which is actually spectacular, and actually makes use of its show actual property. The graphics are extremely fluid and excessive in decision, with nice responsiveness, irrespective of the app. A spotlight needs to be the 360-degree digital camera feed, which seems to be nice, and may even be stored on display whilst you’re driving. A lowlight is the aforementioned HVAC controls, which incorporates the seat temperature, and also you regulate the vents like within the Porsche Taycan. A enjoyable manner round that is the ‘swing’ operate, which consistently strikes the circulation of air round like a desk fan.

HVAC controls packed into the touchscreen are an irritant.

There’s a mixture of USB A and C ports, Android Auto is wi-fi (although CarPlay is wired), the voice assistant recognises the Indian accent nicely, and the Dynaudio music system is actually good. Other characteristic highlights are a powered tailgate, informative heads-up show, negative-ion air air purifier and the choice to make use of an NFC card key. On the security entrance, too, the checklist is lengthy, with 10 airbags, entrance and rear parking sensors, driver consideration monitor, digital parking brake with auto maintain and a complete suite of radar and camera-based ADAS options.

BYD Seal battery, vary and efficiency

There are three powertrain combos on supply for the BYD Seal in India. Dynamic will get you a 61.44kWh (web) battery with a single, rear-mounted motor and 204hp, Premium switches as much as a bigger 82.56kWh battery with a 313hp motor, whereas Performance additional provides a entrance motor for AWD and a sportscar-like 530hp output. The Dynamic, expectedly will get the bottom vary of 510km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), whereas the twin-motor Performance is rated at 580km. The mid-range Premium we’re driving at this time has the very best vary of 650km.

It builds pace progressively, in an nearly ICE-like manner.

The bigger battery may be charged at as much as 150kW on a DC quick charger (a claimed 0-80 p.c in simply 45 minutes), whereas the smaller one does 110kW. On an AC charger, nonetheless, all fashions max out at a disappointingly sluggish 7kW. Another point out has to go to BYD’s blade-cell LFP battery pack, which, within the Seal, is built-in into the chassis for higher security and rigidity.

Limited, 145mm floor clearance requires exercising warning.

More than the outright efficiency of this 313hp, 360Nm BYD Seal Premium (the onboard telemetry confirmed us a sub-6-second 0-100kph time), it’s the character of the facility supply that impresses. Unlike the on/off acceleration of most EVs, torque within the Seal rolls in progressively, in an nearly ICE-like manner, and it does so with out robbing you of that addictive punch you count on from an EV. So despite the fact that energy may be meted out gently do you have to need, press extra urgently and also you’ll get the complete dose. It transforms the driving expertise, and admittedly makes another EV powertrains really feel downright rudimentary.

It has the addictive punch you’d count on from an EV.

There are three drive modes, however all can really feel sturdy for those who press the correct pedal arduous sufficient, because of this intelligent programming of the facility supply. The actual distinction lies within the power of the regen, which although you may set it manually from throughout the touchscreen, varies significantly between modes.

BYD Seal journey consolation and dealing with

The BYD Seal rides on impartial coil-spring suspension all spherical, which together with the stiff chassis, offers it a mature and complex journey high quality. In truth, it appears like a European car, stable and hefty (the car does weigh 2,055kg), if additionally erring on the agency facet. It offers with ruts and potholes rather well, albeit with a slight thunk because of these 19-inch wheels, although the actual profit is its rock-solid high-speed stability.

The Seal has stable high-speed stability. 

This can be helped by a steering that feels weighty and reassuring, however to not the purpose of being effortful at low pace. That’s as a result of, like the facility supply, there’s a fluidity to it that feels satisfying, regardless of this not being the quickest, sharpest or most feelsome steering round. What’s extra, the stiff chassis, low centre of gravity, well-judged suspension and rear-drive structure give it a balanced, impartial dynamic that’s actually enjoyable round a twisty street.

BYD Seal worth and verdict

And then you definitely get to the worth – Rs 41 lakh for the Dynamic, Rs 45.55 lakh for the Premium and Rs 53 lakh for the Performance (all ex-showroom). As we talked about up entrance, it has no direct rivals, the closest sedan being the Rs 72.50 lakh BMW i4. The worth is on par with our 2024 Car of the Year, the spectacular Hyundai Ioniq 5, which does supply higher practicality. But that car has the tax good thing about being domestically assembled, whereas the Seal is a CBU import that pays full obligation.

It is an attractively priced EV that’s surprisingly well-rounded.

However, you’re feeling in regards to the Chinese, you must hand it to them for delivering a knockout product-to-price ratio, particularly with regards to EVs. And what a product it’s this time! Appealing from each the motive force’s seat and the rear, it’s huge on tech, excessive on high quality, disruptively nicely priced and, to those eyes, moderately engaging too. If nothing else, it’s certain to provide luxurious sedan consumers one thing to consider. It’s uniquely positioned too, and if BYD hasn’t managed to make a robust sufficient dent in our market up to now, they need to put all their efforts behind the Seal, as a result of it has the potential to do exactly that.