BYD Seal U

06/11/2024 - Car of The year

In just a few months, BYD has built up an already rather complete range of no less than 6 models in Europe. One of them is the Seal U, an SUV designed for Europe, which is aimed at the Tesla Model Y. Initially offered as a 100% electric vehicle, the Seal U is now available as a plug-in hybrid.

The look and dimensions of the BYD Seal U

Given that it shares its name with its sister the Seal sedan, it's no surprise that there are styling elements that are common to both models. A family resemblance particularly visible at the front with almond-shaped headlamps highlighted by a small filament, daytime running lights, as well as a plunging bonnet. At the rear, the SUV is distinguished by its light strip carved into the tailgate joining the two lights. In terms of size, the Seal U is 4.78 m long, 1.89 m wide and 1.67 m high.

Inside, the manufacturer has nothing to be ashamed of in the face of its competitors in terms of the quality of finish. The presentation of the dashboard is neat, where we find the large rotating touch screen of 12.8 or 15.6 inches depending on the trim. In terms of volume, the trunk accepts 552 dm3 of cargo.

BYD Seal U

Vehicle: BYD Seal U
Length: 4.78 m
Width: 1.89 m
Height: 1.67 m
Wheelbase: 2.77 m
Trunk: 552 dm³

The plug-in hybrid powertrains of the BYD Seal U

Aware of the current era in the electric market in Europe, BYD has launched a plug-in hybrid version of its SUV called Seal U D-MI. The latter offers a choice of two power levels: 218 hp and 323 hp. While the former makes do with a single electric motor at the front, the latter adds a turbo to its four-cylinder engine cubing at 1.5 and has an additional block at the rear, thus allowing for four-wheel drive. The range in 100% electric mode is announced between 70 and 80 km depending on the WLTP cycle.

BYD Seal U D-MI Boost

Motorization: D-MI Boost
Energy: PHEV
Battery Capacity: 18.3 kWh
Electric Range: 80 km
No. of Cylinders/Cylinder Capacity: 4/1,498 cm³
Power: 218 hp at 6,000 rpm
Torque: 300 Nm at 4,000 rpm
Max Speed: 170 km/h
0 to 100 km/h: 8.9 sec

BYD Seal U D-MI Design

Motorization: D-MI Design
Energy: PHEV
Battery Capacity: 18.3 kWh
Electric Range: 70 km
No. of Cylinders/Cylinder Capacity: 4/1,498 cm³
Power: 323 hp at 5,200 rpm
Torque: 550 Nm at 1,500 rpm
Max Speed: 180 km/h
0 to 100 km/h: 5.9 sec

The electric motors of the BYD Seal U

In the electric version, the BYD Seal U can rely on 71.8 kWh (Comfort) or 87 kWh (Design) batteries for a single power level: 218 hp. As far as range is concerned, the SUV can travel between 420 and 500 km depending on the version. Direct current (DC) charging takes 42 minutes to go from 10 to 80% on the Comfort version and 1 minute more on the Design model. Filling up with electrons from scratch in alternating current (AC) takes 7.5 hours and a little over 9 hours respectively.