Test Drive Report BYD Seal U: The Next Wave

The BYD Seal U takes the stage among electric SUVs with a clear goal: to offer families a spacious, comfortable vehicle at an affordable price. At 4.79 meters in length, the vehicle is positioned in the mid-range class, and the base version "Comfort" starts at an attractive €41,990 gross with a 72 kWh battery. Even in the simpler equipment line, BYD surprises with electrically adjustable faux leather seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a 360-degree camera.

The second version "Design" for €44,990 features an 87-kWh battery, a head-up display, an Infinity sound system with ten speakers, and wireless charging pads for smartphones. BYD emphasizes that no compromises have been made in quality; fine details like the fabric-lined trunk and carefully designed faux leather seats testify to the developers' efforts. The workmanship need not hide behind Mercedes, BMW, and the like.

Typical BYD: Screen, Spin!

The interior of the Seal U is dominated by a rotating XXL screen that measures between 12.8 to 15.6 inches, depending on the version. BYD aims for a distinctly noble atmosphere with ambient lighting in the doors and cockpit, including playful gimmicks: Adjusting the heating cooler briefly illuminates the dashboard blue – making it warmer briefly lights it up red. Despite the dominant central screen, some functions can still thankfully be controlled via buttons on the center console – and the gear selector even shimmers BMW 7-series-like!

Light and Shadow in Infotainment

The infotainment system seems a bit too playful and sometimes not entirely logically structured. One will get used to the menus, and some of the somewhat puzzling translations ("intensity of energy feedback" instead of simply "regeneration"?) will surely be fixed in the next update. We failed at trying to turn off the warning for minor speeding. Despite deactivating the safety option, the Seal U did not cease.

“Hi BYD” activates the voice assistant. When asked, "How's the weather?" we received a detailed weather overview, but vehicle operation options like "Turn off the traffic sign display!" were not always immediately understood. Pairing the smartphone was very quick and easy, but we then failed to be able to call up a music playlist on the phone.

Comfortable Glide: The Seal U is Unfamiliar with Hectic

In terms of driving comfort and space, the BYD Seal U proves to be a solid family car. With a wheelbase of 2.75 meters, it offers more than enough space, and the reclining backrests increase comfort in the second row. The trunk holds 552 liters and can be expanded up to 1,440 liters.

The driving characteristics of the Seal U are clearly designed for comfortable travel. With a 160 kW (218-HP) electric front motor, the SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in 9.3 to 9.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 175 km/h. However, the Seal U feels significantly faster than on paper. Nonetheless, you are not really sporty in the "family seal": the suspension is soft, the steering is not very direct, and driving is pleasantly quiet.

However, what BYD was thinking with the regeneration switch remains a mystery. It is commendable to include tactile switches, especially since they are also nicely designed. However, the difference between the switch positions Normal and High is only noticeable with a lot of sensitivity – BYD should fine-tune this. During the test drives, we achieved indicated consumptions between 14.7 kWh with a lot of country road driving and 21.6 kWh with a high highway share.

DC Charging up to 140 kWh

The Blade batteries developed by BYD are the pride of their developers and are intended to improve safety and cost efficiency. The cells are not round or prismatic but structured like thin blades – "Blades". The batteries are offered in the Seal U in two configurations: with 72 or 87 kWh for 430 and 500 kilometers range according to WLTP.

However, there are some limitations in charging, especially at fast chargers. On alternating current, the maximum is 11 kW, and at fast chargers, there is only 115 (base) to 140 kW depending on the version – here the competition is partly significantly better.