BYD Seal: strengths and weaknesses

BYD Cars Philippines has been on track to expand its model lineup in the Philippine market. One of its latest products for the local market is the Seal all-electric sedan - a mid-sized ride touted for its good balance between performance and luxury. 

With the kind of comfort and performance it can provide, the BYD Seal may be the sedan to get for folks who are looking for a cushy but peppy electric vehicle (EV). Plus, it is relatively accessible for many buyers due to its suggested retail price of P2.548 million. 

But does the Seal have any strengths and weaknesses? Let’s find out here for the benefit of the aforementioned BYD EV sedan’s would-be adopters. 

BYD Seal: Pros

Awesomely quick

Straight from the factory, the BYD Seal offers its owners a sports car level of performance. For reference, its duo of electric motors can produce a total of 521 horsepower and 670 Newton-meters of torque. 

With that kind of power, BYD says the sedan can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour (km/h) in just 3.8 seconds. To put it into perspective, the Seal has a similar zero to 100 km/h time as the BMW M4 Coupe Competition. 

Additionally, the Seal comes with all-wheel-drive for optimum traction and on-road stability. More versatility can also be squeezed out of its dual motor setup, thanks to its normal, economy, and sport drive modes. 

Long legged range

Apart from its penchant for straight line acceleration, the BYD Seal also boasts a decent amount of range. Thanks to its 82.6 kilowatt-hour Blade battery, it can cover up to 580 kilometers, as per the New European Driving Cycle. 

Topping up the BYD-made sedan is likewise done quickly, as it comes with a maximum charging rate of 150 kilowatts if performed with a compatible direct current (DC) device. Specifically, the Chinese marque says its DC charging can increase its battery’s state of change from 30 percent to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.  

The sedan nameplate also has equipment that provides added practicality and ease of use for its EV system. For starters, it comes packaged with a vehicle-to-load capability, which allows users to power electronic devices using the car’s stored energy. The vehicle is also packaged with a portable charging cable, a wall-mounted charger, and a vehicle-to-load adapter. 

Loads of creature comforts

As expected of a car model in its price range, the Seal offers its occupants a lot of creature comforts. 

For starters, its seats are clad in supple leather and feature ventilation, heating, and electronic adjustability, at least for the ones in the front cabin. 

When Zigwheels Philippines received an opportunity to get up close and personal with the model prior to its local launch, we also found out that its seats had an ample amount of supportive bolstering despite being wide enough to fit a variety of body types. 

Everyone inside the vehicle, meanwhile, is kept cool and comfortable by a dual-zone automatic climate control system with rear vents. The aforementioned air-conditioning system also has a particulate matter filter, a negative ion purifier, and a CN95 filter to ensure the utmost air quality. 

The model also boasts a roof entirely made out of glass, which functions as a wide sunroof. Otherwise, the glass ceiling can be turned opaque to block out light. 

Other notable interior features of the BYD Seal include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Front and rear center armrests
• Flat-bottom leather steering wheel
• Glass-decorated gear selector
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Ambient lighting
• Acoustic glass
• Keyless entry

Generous tech kit

Another key strength of the BYD Seal is its sheer amount of on-board technologies. 

For its infotainment system, the sedan was kitted out with a sizable 15.6-inch display equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is linked to a 12-piece Dynaudio speaker system, and it also goes along with several USB ports and two wireless smartphone charging pads. 

Like on many other BYD models, the central display of the Seal can be rotated to a portrait mode and a landscape mode. It sounds gimmicky, but it may be helpful for specific drivers who use a variety of apps while on the road. 

Other notable tech features of the Seal include over-the-air updates, 4G internet connectivity, a voice assistant, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, and access to the BYD Cloud Service. 

To note, the BYD Cloud Service is a companion software of the BYD App. The said app allows the car to store pertinent data regarding the status of its batteries, its maintenance schedules, and many other parameters. Additionally, the app can be used to track the car’s location remotely. 

Concerning advanced driver-assist systems, the Seal also gets plenty, as well. Here’s a list of all the ADAS features available to the sedan model:

• 360-degree view monitor
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keep assist
• Lane change assist
• Lane departure warning
• Intelligent speed limit control
• Front cross traffic alert and braking
• Rear cross traffic alert and braking
• Traffic sign recognition
• Blind-spot detection

BYD Seal: Cons

The BYD Seal comes with a good-looking exterior design, which doesn’t depart too much from the traditional silhouette of four-door sedans. However, the Philippine-spec model is offered with a limited quantity of color options, which is a shame considering how stylish the vehicle looks. 

Per BYD Cars Philippines’ official website, it may come in Arctic Blue, Aurora White, Cosmos Black, and Atlantis Grey. All of the aforementioned hues look good, but the model could become more enticing to a broader demographic if it had brighter, livier options. 

Final thoughts

Overall, the BYD Seal is a good sedan for the money. On paper, it offers a good mix of performance, comfort, and technologies. But while it sounds great on paper, those seriously considering the model should give it a test drive first. Doing so, after all, will result in a more informed purchase in the end.

BYD Seal: spec sheet

Model	BYD Seal Performance
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,800x1,875x1,460
Wheelbase (mm)	2,920
Ground clearance (mm)	120
Wheel size	19-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Front and rear center armrests Flat-bottom leather steering wheel Glass-decorated gear selector Tilt and telescopic steering column Auto-dimming rearview mirror Ambient lighting Acoustic glass Keyless entry Glass roof Dual wireless charging pads USB ports Power-adjust seats with ventilation/heating Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning 12-piece Dynaudio speaker system Electronic parking brake Drive mode selector
Instrument cluster	10.25-inch LDC
Infotainment system	15.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Motor	Front and rear asynchronous electric motors
Range	580 Km
Horsepower	521
Torque	670 Nm
Brakes	Front and rear disc brakes
Technology
ADAS	360-degree view monitor Adaptive cruise control Automatic emergency braking Lane keep assist Lane change assist Lane departure warning Intelligent speed limit control Front cross traffic alert and braking Rear cross traffic alert and braking Traffic sign recognition Blind-spot detection
Safety	Nine airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Traction control system Electronic stability control Electronic brake-force distribution
Security	Electronic anti-theft system
Price	P2.548 million

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