Chinese EV given ‘seal’ of approval
Doctor on the Road: BYD Seal
The ‘biggest car manufacturer you have never heard of’ has launched a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3. Independent Practitioner Today’s motoring correspondent Dr Tony Rimmer says it’s worth a look.
In the world of cars, it has been the big companies that have survived and made the most profits. The smaller independent car makers cannot compete and are a rare and dying breed.
Now electrification has come along and even the huge companies have been caught out. They have had to outsource the battery and control technologies to others while they play technological catch-up.
This has put them at the mercy of uncontrollable supply issues among other things. And most of these supplying companies who have had great experience in electronic and battery technology over many years are Chinese.
So it is no surprise that these companies are now offering their own finished products on the UK market and each new model is more impressive than the last.
I recently reviewed the Golf-sized Atto 3 from BYD, the biggest car manufacturer you have never heard of, and they have now launched the Seal.
Tesla competitor
This four-door saloon is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Polestar 2, so has a tough job ahead of it to steal sales in this lucrative market.
It is available in two versions, both with a 82.5kWh battery.
The £45,695 rear-wheel-drive Design version has a 308bhp electric motor and a potential range of 354 miles.
The faster all-wheel-drive Excellence version has two electric motors producing a combined 523bhp, a range of 323 miles and costs £48,695. The Excellence model has other suspension tweaks to help with the extra performance, which allows the 0 to 62mph sprint to take just 3.8 seconds. It was this version that I drove on test.
The Seal is a smart-looking car with European-flavoured styling. There are enough external design features to make it interesting without being over the top. The interior feels premium, with comfortable faux-leather upholstery and good-quality plastics.
The centre console has, in BYD-speak, ‘a dynamic and powerful shape, resembling a seal emerging from the sea’. Hmm, I am not sure about that, but it looks clear and functional to me.
The large 15.6” infotainment screen is very like that in a Tesla and unfortunately some of the ventilation controls and sound systems are difficult to find in submenus, particularly while on the move.
Passenger space is above average, as it benefits from BYD’s advanced battery construction called ‘blade technology’. Their batteries are completely Cobalt-free and use lithium iron-phosphate as the cathode.
The physical battery is honeycomb in construction and forms a strong structural element to the whole car. It is thinner than other batteries and also has a protective element in collision safety performance.
Rear-seat passengers get more headroom than competitors, but practicality is let down, like the Tesla Model 3, by the lack of a hatchback.
Tesla buyers had to wait for the Model Y SUV, and BYD will be bringing their SUV version of the Seal to market in the future.
Initial impressions
I can usually tell within a couple of miles of driving any test car how it feels from behind the wheel and my initial impressions are rarely altered over time. As a keen driver, I was impressed by the Seal within the first mile or two.
The steering is direct and well weighted, the performance sports-car quick and the ride is tight, composed and comfortable on most surfaces. I did have some fun tackling a few challenging twisty B-roads.
The only comparable electric vehicle that drives as well is the BMW i4, so hats off to BYD for getting the chassis so right. The car feels solid and well-built with a real premium feel – another unexpected bonus.
There are some negatives, of course. Wind noise could be a little more suppressed and the infotainment tech is really not as user-friendly as it should be.
With only its third model to hit UK roads within a year or so, BYD has seriously ruffled the feathers of Tesla and the European brands.
This is, of course, good news for us medics as consumers. More competition means better deals to be had. The default choice in this sector of the EV market has, for a long time, been the Tesla model 3.
But if you want something a bit different and that entertains the driver a lot more, you would do well to take a look at the Seal.
Dr Tony Rimmer (right) is a former NHS GP practising in Guildford, Surrey