BYD Seagull: hits and misses

Small yet enticing EV unit with loads of features

BYD Seagull: hits and misses

The BYD Seagull entered the Philippine market as an attractive option for folks who are looking to get a small but capable electric vehicle (EV). 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • What is the price of the BYD Seagull in the Philippines?

    In the Philippines, the BYD Seagull is priced at P898,000.
  • What is the cruising range of the BYD Seagull?

    The BYD Seagull has a cruising range of 300 kilometers.
  • Due to its size, it is the ideal car for in-city driving. Plus, its relatively diminutive dimensions are pretty easy to park as well. It is also affordable with its P898,000-starting price. As such, there’s no doubt that many are eyeing the Seagull for their next car purchase. 

    But does the BYD Seagull have any particular strengths and weaknesses? Let’s find out here to help the subcompact EV’s prospective adopters. 

    Pros

    Brimming with technologies, features

    Despite being one of BYD Cars Philippines’ smallest offerings, the Seagull is brimming with tech. 

    BYD Seagull Photo by Juan Paulo Papa

    For starters, its dashboard houses a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Like many of the Seagull’s stable mates, the said screen comes with a rotating function, which switches its orientation from portrait to landscape and vice versa with a simple push of a button. 

    Other key tech features of the small BYD car include the following: 

    • 4G connectivity
    • BYD Cloud service
    • Over-the-air software updates
    • Voice assistant
    • Wireless smartphone charging pad
    • Seven-inch digital gauge cluster

    Additionally, the car offers a lot of creature comforts in the form of leather-wrapped seats, automatic climate controls, and a lot of bottle/cup holders. The driver of the Seagull, on the other hand, has access to a push-to-start button, a keyless entry system, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. 

    BYD Seagull touchscreen Photo by Cesar Guiderone Miguel

    Safety for the tiny ride is also nothing to scoff at. Like any modern nameplate, it comes standard with four airbags, ISOFIX, anti-lock braking, stability control, traction control, hill-start hold control, and electronic brake-force distribution. The aforementioned are reinforced by other safety-oriented systems, such as a tire-pressure monitor, a rear-view parking camera, and three rear parking sensors. 

    Attractive styling

    While tiny, the Seagull’s body is well-proportioned. Some describe it as cute, but it has some notably sporty details, particularly its detailed lower front bumper, its pair of sharp-looking headlamps, and its set of noticeable character lines. 

    BYD Seagull Photo by Juan Paulo Papa

    Other key exterior features of the Seagull are listed here: 

    • Power-adjustable side mirrors
    • Side mirror heated functionality
    • Automatic headlamp operation
    • LED taillights
    • Rear fog lamps

    The model also gets three color options in the Philippine market. It may come in Sprout Green, Delan Black, and Apricity White. It also sits on a set of 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 175/55 R16 tires. 

    Decent range and range

    On paper, the BYD Seagull offers its owners a decent amount of power and range. For reference, its permanent magnet synchronous electric motor can generate up to 73 horsepower (hp) and 135 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque

    The aforementioned output figures make it peppier than many internal combustion-powered hatchbacks currently on the market. The Toyota Wigo, for instance, can generate 66 hp and 89 Nm of torque, while the Suzuki Celerio can produce 65 hp and 89 Nm of torque. 

    BYD Seagull Photo by Juan Paulo Papa

    Concerning range, the Seagull can cover up to 300 kilometers, as estimated by the New European Driving Cycle. Plus, its battery levels can go from 30-80 percent in just 30 minutes. 

    Users can also access additional range optimization or performance from its economy, normal, and sport drive modes. Most notably, the model also uses BYD’s Blade Battery, which is touted for its safety, particularly its stability, even when exposed to extreme conditions such as heat and physical damage. 

    BYD Seagull Photo by Juan Paulo Papa

    Additional electric powertrain-related features available to the tiny hatch include a vehicle-to-load capability, which allows the car to be used as a mobile power bank. It also has a vehicle-to-load adapter as well. 

    Cons

    Middling trunk capacity

    When it comes to cargo capacity, the BYD Seagull can fit up to 230 liters with the rear seats up and up to 930 liters with the rear seats folded down. The said figures sound decent, but other hatchbacks in the market right now can fit more. 

    The Suzuki Celerio, for example, can store up to 313 liters without the luggage shelf and with the rear seats up. The Toyota Wigo also has a bit more compared to the BYD vehicle, at 276 liters of trunk space with the rear seats in use. 

    BYD Seagull rear cabin Photo by Cesar Guiderone Miguel

    On the flip side, the Seagull’s trunk has a wide opening with a relatively low door lip. Added versatility is also provided by a flat-folding rear seat, allowing the nameplate to fit objects of varying sizes. 

    Final thoughts

    In summary, the BYD Seagull is a good buy for anyone looking for an EV hatchback. It has a decent amount of creature comforts and loads of cruising range, and it is affordable as well. So, as we’ve mentioned above, it is an attractive prospect for folks wanting to jump into EVs.

    As we always say, however, take the time to test drive the vehicle first. It is a big purchase, and doing so will give you a better understanding of what you’re getting into. 

    BYD Seagull: specifications

    Model

    BYD Seagull

    Exterior

    Dimensions (L x W H, in mm)

    3,780 x 1,716 x 1,580

    Wheelbase (mm)

    2,500

    Ground clearance (mm)

    120

    Wheel size (in inches)

    16

    Lighting system

    LED

    Interior

    Material

    Leather

    Amenities

    • Four-way manual adjust front seats
    • Automatic climate control
    • Four-piece speaker set
    • BYD Cloud Service
    • 4G Connectivity
    • Voice assistant
    • USB charging ports
    • 12-volt accessory outlet
    • Wireless smartphone charger
    • Push-to-start button
    • Cruise control
    • Keyless entry

    Instrument cluster

    Seven-inch LCD digital gauge

    Infotainment system

    10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

    Seating capacity

    5

    Powertrain

    Motor

    Permanent magnet synchronous 

    Battery capacity (kWh)

    30

    Range

    300 kilometers

    Horsepower 

    73

    Torque

    135 Newton-meters

    Brakes

    Front and rear disc brakes

    Technologies 

    Safety

    • Traction control
    • Stability control
    • Dual front airbags
    • Side airbags
    • Anti-lock braking
    • Vehicle dynamic control
    • Hill start/hold control
    • Tire pressure monitoring
    • ISOFIX

    Security

    BYD electronic anti-theft system

    Pricing

    P898,000

    Also read: 

    BYD Seagull: sole variant on offer

    BYD Seagull: 3 distinct hues

    Check out the BYD Seagull's interior

    Cesar Miguel

    Cesar Miguel

    A car enthusiast who dreams to spread his love of automobiles through writing. If he isn’t penning stories about cars, he usually spends his time in the digital race tracks of Assetto Corsa.

    Read Full Bio

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