BYD is already setting the Seal up as a Tesla Model 3 rival in China but we could see it in Australia soon too.
Chinese electric car brand BYD has shown-off a new Tesla Model 3 rival at the 2022 Paris Motor Show and we will be seeing the Seal alongside the Atto 3 in Australia in 2023.
Update: We have now driven and reviewed the BYD Seal in its home market China.
The BYD Seal is a compact sedan on sale in China priced from just over the equivalent of $48,000. BYD has already revealed ambitious plans for expansion into other markets and has said that the Seal can be built in right-hand drive form, making an appearance in Australia likely.
The Seal is the production version of BYD’s Ocean X, a concept car unveiled in 2021. It’s an electric four-door with a sporty design flavour that’s underlined by the long curving roofline, sculpted front end and pronounced rear diffuser. Across the tailgate, the Build Your Dreams (BYD) brand name is spelt out in full.
The car is 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and 1460mm tall with a wheelbase of 2920mm. That’s longer and taller than a Tesla Model 3 but smaller than a Hyundai Ioniq 6 on both counts.
Under the skin is BYD’s ‘e-Platform 3.0’ hardware which sees the battery used as an integral part of the car’s structure to enhance rigidity and, in turn, driving dynamics. A choice of either 61.4kWh or 82.5kWh battery units is offered and these supply power to a 150kW single motor powering the rear wheels or a motor on each axle for 390kW and all-wheel drive – depending on your preference.
Charging can be done at speeds of up to 150kW while Chinese efficiency tests have indicated a range of up to 550km for the BYD Seal with the smaller battery. The larger battery cars are rated at 700km.
The BYD Atto 3 is already on sale in Australia and the Seal will be positioned above the Atto 3 in terms of size, potentially called the Atto 4.
Steve Walker