Tested: BYD Seal – Three things you won’t like

A feature of car testing in Germany is that there is a speed sign with a slash over it on some sections of the motorway.

According to the manufacturer, the maximum speed of the BYD seal should be 180 km / h, and when the opportunity arises with straight asphalt, free speed and low traffic, the accelerator pedal meets the carpet.

The two electric motors with a total power of 390 kW, i.e. 523 hp, ensure four-wheel drive and send the two-ton electric car to top speed without any special effort. Noise isolation is so good that both occupants in the car must be alerted that they are moving at a speed of three kilometers per minute.

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Holds nails

BYD 3.8S is written on the back of the car just below the model name. They didn’t put a 3.8-liter engine under the hood, but they did release some information for those driving behind them that the BYD Seal accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

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The battery is BYD’s self-developed “Blade Battery”, which according to it should withstand being punctured by a nail without catching fire. The gross capacity is 82.5 kWh, but the net figure is not stated. It is supposed to last for a distance of 520 kilometers within the WLTP test in the test car with the “Excellence” equipment level, which is the highest.

If you choose ‘Design’, the range increases to 570km, but it’s rear-wheel drive only.

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150 kW

Chinese manufacturers haven’t been as good as the Germans at increasing charging power, but 150 kW on a fast charger isn’t too bad.

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Under ideal conditions, a 30 to 80 percent charge should take 26 minutes.

The onboard charger has a power of 11 kW, and a heat pump is included as standard. The trailer hitch is something the Norwegian importer is working on installing, and the same goes for the roof rack.

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The driver environment in the BYD Seal is clear, where you’d expect to find most things. The crystal gearshift lever is clearly Volvo-inspired, but it actually looks better here. The two front charging pads were able to penetrate the cover and the bank card. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/FinanceVision

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Aimed at Tesla

The BYD Seal is 4.8 meters long and has a 2.9 meter wheelbase, which contributes to a high degree of comfort. Double wishbones at the front axle and multi-link rear axle also help give the feeling that this is a luxury car.

It’s resistant to ruts and precise, but the suspension ensures there’s no noticeable feel when crossing a level. During the presentation, it is no secret that they targeted the Tesla Model 3 as the main competitor.

The price is supposed to fall between the less expensive versions of the Tesla and Polestar 2, so suggestions of NOK 420,000 might be relevant with a cautious smile and a ‘we’ll see’.

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BYD Seal is a model in the manufacturer’s “Ocean-theme” series, and is equipped with gills. As you know, the calendar has lungs, but the details decorate the car and make it stand out from the crowd. Photo: BYD

Minus in the margin

BYD uses the Blade’s battery as part of the construction, and the top of the battery box is the floor of the car. It offers significantly better space than many competitors, where the floor is sometimes too high to sit comfortably.

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For those of us who shop for clothing in an XXL size or larger, the seats are often made at least for cars from the eastern part of the world. The BYD Seal driver’s seat has a high enough back and good width, but there is a minus in the fringe of the seat cushion, which lacks extendable support under the thighs. In the plus column, the front seats are electric, with cold and hot air as standard.

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The BYD stamp has many cool details, such as the LED lights on the front. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/FinanceVision

Rotating screen

Both wireless charging pads are able to send power via bank cards on the back of the phone, and there’s built-in support for Apple CarPlay and Android.

The screen on the dashboard is 15.6 inches and can be rotated to portrait or landscape mode with the push of a button. It has good contrast, and the menus are relatively easy to navigate.

In the back seat there is enough space for two adults, with both legs and head. The seats are comfortable, and the large glass roof lets in plenty of light. The rear seatback can be split 40/60, but there is no ski slot.

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If you’re wondering how fast the BYD Seal accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h, they’ve written it on the back, under the model name. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/FinanceVision

Unknown hits

To demonstrate the audio system offered by Dynaudio, the manufacturer has connected a USB drive with a selection of Chinese songs. Although the songs are somewhat unknown, the transcription is very positive with clear treble, full midrange and good bass.

But there are quite a few other sounds disturbing the quiet atmosphere at BYD Seal.

New electric cars must warn pedestrians and other road users at low speeds, which is a good thing. But in BYD’s seal, the tweeter is mounted so that the sound is heard at least as much inside the car as it is outside.

The problem is that you have to choose between a high-frequency scream that sounds like your neighbor is cleaning a thin-walled building, or something that makes you think the ice cream truck is chasing you. The sound is fixed and the volume cannot be changed.

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BYD Seal has a number of alerts and systems that monitor how you drive, and shake the steering wheel if you’re not in the middle of the lane. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/FinanceVision

IKEA Customer Radio

When you start the car, all driver assistance systems are also activated, each with its own sound. It makes a very loud sound if you barely exceed the speed limit, and in addition comes a squeaky sound with a warning.

A completely different beep intervenes if the car thinks you’re out of position in the middle of the lane, and you’re reprimanded with a firm shake of the steering wheel.

The sound of the flashing light is reminiscent of an IKEA customer radio, and one would expect to hear about Today’s Deal on the napkins.

When mixed with the sound of a neighbor’s vacuum cleaner or an ice cream truck chasing you, it creates a mixture of howls and whistles, and becomes downright annoying when driving on city streets at low speed.

Fortunately, you can turn off most of them, but unfortunately you have to do so every time you start them.

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Due to the structure in which the top of the battery forms the floor, there is enough room in the back seat for a BYD Seal for two adults without having to fold down. picture: Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/FinanceVision

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Applies to harness

It must be said that the design is successful and refreshing. The BYD stamp looks strong with LEDs placed at angles at the front, and drop-shaped LEDs at the rear. There, BYD positioned the dots of light so that they create a 3D effect, which changes expression as the car passes.

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Along the canals they have placed a kind of gills, which may play a part in the seal’s name, although seals have lungs.

BYD has already launched a seven-seat Tang, but it’s supposed to be a nod to the Tang Dynasty and not a place to hide mussels and crabs.

The car in the photos will get a smaller battery and lower equipment level in 2024, in order to reduce the price. There is also an SUV model in the range, but it only gets two-wheel drive.

Overall, the BYD seal made a good first impression, and if the software team can tweak the synthesizer a bit, the Chinese seal is a very quiet and relaxing place to be. The importer expects to bring the cars into the country towards the end of 2023, at which point Norwegian prices will also be clear.

This article was first published in Finansavisen engine.