BYD Seagull: Better than Dacia Spring?

After the Spring now the Seagull: It is set to be BVD's entry-level offer in Europe in the future and could start at under 16,000 euros in its basic version, just below Dacia's recently facelifted Spring, which comes from Dongfeng. Remarkably: even upon opening and closing the door, the Seagull gives a more solid impression.

The seating space in the back is slightly better than in the Spring, but the trunk is smaller

Let's quickly go over the dimensions again: it is 3.78 meters long, 1.72 meters wide, and 1.54 meters high. The wheelbase is a respectable 2.50 meters. The interior does not give off as many emissions as the larger Dolphin, from which we were somewhat disappointed during the first test drives. On the other hand, the Seagull feels cohesive, you immediately find a suitable seating position, and if, as a tall driver, you move a bit forward like in the Spring, you can comfortably accommodate four 1.9-meter passengers for a short trip to the sea or mountains. The seating in the back is even a bit better than in the Spring. The trunk, however, is smaller.

Operation and infotainment feel high-quality – you immediately get accustomed to the system, and compared to the facelifted Spring, it's clear: the Seagull is the more modern car. It’s also the more powerful: the current Seagull produces 55 kW (75 PS). That’s enough to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 13 seconds, and it is limited to 130 km/h. The model costs around 10,200 euros in China.

38-kWh Blade battery for reasonable ranges and DC charging: but not for under 20,000 euros!

In China, BYD offers two batteries: the larger Blade battery with 38 kWh is supposed to offer up to 405 kilometers of range according to the Chinese driving cycle CLTC and uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. Cross-checking the car at the show: the range indicator showed 357 km at 98% battery charge, realistically around 300 plus or minus x – significantly more than the Spring. DC charging from 30 to 80 percent is supposed to take 29 minutes. But: with this battery and the high show equipment, the 16,000-euro mark cannot be maintained – we are heading towards 20,000 euros plus x.

For those looking to save money or who can manage with less range, BYD also offers a 30-kWh battery with a CLTC range of 305 kilometers, realistically around 200 plus or minus x. Savings are also made in manufacturing: the sodium-ion battery comes without cobalt, nickel, and lithium and therefore has cost advantages, requiring no mined rare earth elements.

In summary, BYD could have a sharp weapon in hand to shake up the entry-level electric segment in Europe, but they are still hesitating. According to the latest statements from our colleagues at AutoExpress, the Seagull is supposed to come to Europe as the BYD Mini – in a completely new, larger version, also because BYD is adapting its crash structure for the Euro NCAP safety test.