BYDSeal

The Seal is BYD’s electric executive saloon and the brand’s answer to the Tesla Model 3. The 2026 model-year car is sold in two versions: rear-wheel-drive Design from £45,730 and all-wheel-drive Excellence from £48,730. Both share an 82.5 kWh Blade battery built into the car’s structure using cell-to-body construction.

## Battery, range and charging

Design is rated at 354 miles WLTP and Excellence at 323 miles; in town the figures rise to 428 and 372 miles. DC charging peaks at 150 kW, giving 30–80% in 26 minutes and 10–80% in 37. The 11 kW on-board charger fills the battery from empty in about 8.6 hours, and a heat pump is standard.

## Performance and driving

Design has a single 312 PS rear motor and reaches 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. Excellence adds a front motor for a combined 530 PS (390 kW), cutting that to 3.8 seconds; both top out at 111 mph. The AWD car uses frequency-selective dampers and BYD’s iTAC torque-control system, and can tow 1,500 kg braked (1,000 kg for Design).

## Interior and space

The Seal is 4,800 mm long with a long 2,920 mm wheelbase, so rear legroom is generous, though the sloping roof eats into headroom. The rear boot holds 485 litres and there is a 72-litre front boot for cables. A panoramic glass roof, heated electric front seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio system are standard.

## Technology and safety

A 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen sits in the centre of the dashboard with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and over-the-air updates. Excellence adds a head-up display. A full suite of driver aids, a 360-degree camera and Vehicle-to-Load are fitted, and the Seal earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

## Who is it for?

Company-car drivers and private buyers who want a long-range, fast electric saloon with lots of standard kit. Main rivals are the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6; the Design offers the best range, while Excellence is the performance pick.