BYD Seal 2024 review: Performance | Is this new electric car better than the Tesla Model 3 EV?
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
- The 2024 BYD Seal electric car might be new to Australia, but there’s no mistaking its target: the Tesla Model 3. The American mid-size sedan has been the best seller in its segment for years now, but the Chinese newcomer is looking to flip the script with its intense focus on value for money.
Of course, the Seal isn’t the first EV to come for Tesla’s dominant market share, but it is looking to do so with a proposition that’s quite convincing on paper. Think low pricing and a long standard features list, including three different powertrain options, prioritising driving range or performance and everything in between.
In this expert review, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Stephen Ottley takes the Seal’s Performance flagship for a spin to find out just how it rises to the Model 3’s challenge. Spoiler alert: it’s so convincing, in fact, that it just might be able to mimic the success of its sibling, the Atto 3 mid-size SUV.
#BYD #Seal #Review
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00:00 Intro
00:37 Design
02:44 Practicality
05:07 Pricing and features
06:18 Under the bonnet
07:07 Efficiency
07:36 Driving
10:07 Safety
11:36 Ownership
12:08 Verdict
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Read Stephen's full review: bit.ly/3GMZO1W
Check out our BYD Seal hub: bit.ly/4709HnL
Find more sedans: bit.ly/3ysIYBl
Visit our EVGuide: bit.ly/3UHO9GT
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In Thailand, BYD has crushed Tesla since the beginning.
Also In Brazil!
Because of the lower price?
@@AlbertAlbert_ being popular doesn't mean better otherwise filthy rich with unlimited amount wealth will be driving Toyota Prius instead of Bugatti
Price is significantly different in Thailand the BYD Atto3 is 1100K Bht, the Model 3 RWD is 1600k Bht, the LR is 1900k Bht and a base Model Y is 1750k Bht.
Also in Thailand there’s only 1 tesla dealer in the whole country 🤣🤣
prices are so much cheaper there because of the trade agreement between the Thai and Chinese governments… but if I were in Thailand I’ll go with avatr, premium grade equivalent to 5 series/e class but price is cheaper then camry 🤣 so many EV choices over there
Great breakdown. At the end of the day a fundamentally good car with room for improvement, much of which should be ugh an OTA update. Is it hands down better than the benchmark? No, but is it another good option for people who don’t want the sterile minimalism of the Tesla? Absolutely. It’s great to have more options of high quality EVs on the market
ua-cam.com/video/IInTanHjnK0/v-deo.html check on consummer complains and feed back to BYD
I never use my climacontrol. I only adjust the temperature, which can be done by using the voicecontrol "Hey BYD - Set clima to 25c" .. It's pretty straight forward and doesn't take more than a few sec.
Hopefully they will bring the SUV version of this (Song L or Sea Lion 07) to Australia soon!
We get seal U/song+ first in ger/eu, already got enap rating.
@@Sensei_Sifu I know, got the seal for now. Can't see both of these cars coming here in 2024
@@Sensei_Sifu we only get rwd design and AWD excellence here with same battery. Got the rwd design after my dad helping us checking out some byds in china
I asked their sales person last weekend. There will be an SUV next year.
I’ve had my Seal Performance for 2wks now and I will say I agree that ELKA and ISLI are a must to turn off before each drive. Europe has already received an OTA to dial back to ELKA so hopefully we get that soon enough.
As someone who was between this and a Model 3 Highland for so long, it took me all of 10mins in the Tesla to know the Seal was the right choice.
Great video and echoes most of my thoughts to a tee.
When you say all of 10 minutes, what was it made your choice?
I'm in the same boat as you but I'm considering the opposite. I find Seals indicator noises infuriating, and having to switch settings at the start is super annoying. Also no 1 pedal driving was another factor.
Did you drive the Long range model 3 Highland?
@@freakybeast5068same boat. But I find the Seal inside and out appearance is horridly cluttered and love the tesla minimalism.
Everyone is raving about the improvements to Highland on the road. How did you view one then get a Seal so fast? BYD mustn’t have much of an order backlog they’re dealing with.
@@freakybeast5068just off the bat I will say that I always preferred the interior and exterior design of the Seal well before pricing was announced and if it was priced right, that would likely be my choice. With the Highland announcement, even with the removal of stalks I wasn’t put off by it but did have some concerns on driving in the real world without these.
After finally driving the Highlands within 10mins I noticed the suspension was much softer than the previous Model 3 (some people will prefer this) and with so many roundabouts in our area, no stalks wasn’t a dealbreaker but it certainly was a huge inconvenience and at times dangerous because you had to take your eyes off the road to hit the correct indicator.
No USS was another issue with Tesla Vision being way off in its estimations of my proximity to something, auto-gear selection got it wrong several times and phantom braking still plagues the Highland.
Overall, Tesla’s advantage in the charging network and in most cases, autopilot were not enough for me to overlook the things I mentioned above.
The Seal definitely isn’t perfect but an OTA update has already been pushed through in other markets to address some of those issues.
On the things you mentioned, you can change the indicator sound to something more normal and no OPD is a strange but in ACC the car can come to a complete stop.
@@54FLEX45 I already had an order in for the Seal when it was first announced, within minutes. The Highland is improved in almost every way on the road over the old model but there’s more to a car than just how it drives.
You note the lack of air system control ls and whether that is safe. You do know that you can speak to the BYD? It works very well.
Hi BYD, set air to 23. Set fan speed to 2. Works well. Don’t need separate controls.
Lovely review with concise points and well rounded approach. The Seal is by no means the best thing of all time but the hardware is all there it just needs a few software updates to get the best out of it.
BYD have pushed out an OTA update to "tame" the ADAS systems and make it easier to turn them off.
If they were setup right you wouldn't feel a need to turn them off.
@@leonkernan I know a lot of people who don't like using Lane Keep Assist.......no matter the brand of car.
@06younger I hate all forms of automated control. I have it all permanently turned off in my Corolla. If they won't allow them to be turned off permanently it would be nice to enable widgets on the home screen to disable them without needing to go into settings, just old Android phones did for data/wifi/gps.
Picked one up yesterday. great review.
Hope you do an owner review in the ensuing months
bot?
Thoughts on the lane keeping system?
I am planning to buy BYD Seal. I read an article from UK saying that when the car is passing rough surface road the driver can feel quite strong vibration on the steering wheel. Is that really the case, please kindly share your experience on this matter.
@@MHWibi I've had my seal for about 2 months, I would highly recommend the car. We also have a 2023 Range rover sport. In terms of the comfort, it's honestly not too far off from the Range Rover. I think the article you read may have been referring to the Driver assistance, such as lane keeping. It's not great at the moment, I turn it off every time I drive the car, but I believe there is a software update coming to rectify the issue.
I had a look at one in the BYD showroom a while back, and I must say that it impressed.
I am keen to see it compared to a Renault Megane E-tech which is very much on my radar for my first EV.
Tesla is like a crude and less refined product (both exterior and interior) in comparison to BYD
Its superiority is beneath the skin.
Great review - More of this guy please :)
Bought it, ❤ it.(premium)
Sooooooooo goooood. Completely agree about the calibration of the lane keep assist - jerking of the wheel
There is zero manual button not even gear shifter or signal turn stick on Tesla 3. The single screen is also distracting for driver to view speed, electricity consumption, not only have to take your eyes off road but it’s very difficult for who needs reading glasses.
Thank you for your honest review.
Why do you want physical buttons? You can directly say commands such as open the window, open the skylight, turn on the air conditioner, adjust the temperature to 20°, etc.
More of a sales threat to the Polestar 2 and Ioniq 6 I would have thought, as they are EVs with a more conventional interior. The biggest positives to me are the LFP battery and driver’s display. It’s a shame about the ADAS but that is a symptom caused by testing authorities, not car manufacturers. That includes having to disable those functions for every drive. I would like to see the settings saved as a driver profile, even if you have to acknowledge what has been turned off before you can drive it.
cheaper and better interior than the Model 3.
Was wondering when the AU journos were going to get to reviewing this. No mention of the HUD, charge speeds or included kit (home charge cable). On my test drive list.
Good review, and having the premium model myself, I do agree about the safety systems. Hoping a software update can sort them out soon.
What about the greater weight?
Great review, What colour is this seal?
Our test car colour is Ice Blue
Filmed in Breakfast Point! Love it :)
Thank you for information
Sukaaaa ama BYD Seal.. keren sih, yang ini pasti gw beli
You can use voice commands to adjust air con and other functions, no need to crash the car fiddling!
Yeah had the same thought. Seemed like a half arsed review to me...
When is it coming to the usa?!?! Unfortunately i dint see it hapoening
Ah, ask Biden to delete the 25% custom duty.
You're an inspiration to many.
That active lane keeping sounds annoying! Hope it gets sorted in a future update.
Good review
Can we fold the rear seat like model 3 and make flat like bed incase if we want to do so?
yes
the rear is missing a bumper. looks strange
The color is ice blue? Or is it atlantis grey?
That looks like the blue
I was quite surprise to learn that BYD were making electric cars, I remember my old Panasonic cordless phone came with BYD AA batteries for the handset, and that was back in 2003/2004.
Regarding the range of the Seal Pefromance, I have had this car for the past 3 months and I have brought it with me to upcountry twice. With average speed of 70-90 km/hr I could squeeze 450-460 km range from 90% battery easily. However, when I really step on the pedal a bit harder (120-150 km/hr for 20% of the driving) I can only get around 380-420 km range. It is surprising how fast the battery is depleted with just 40-50km of heavy speeding toward the end of my journey.
The laws of physics my friend. Stick to 110 and see a huge improvement.
@@martinloney6322 I didnt say I dont know about that. I was just mentioning that it is deleting faster than I thought it would be. I knew it was gonna be faster than normal at that speed.
I am planning to buy BYD Seal. I read an article from UK saying that when the car is passing rough surface road the driver can feel quite strong vibration on the steering wheel. Is that really the case, please kindly share your experience on this matter.
@@MHWibiYes if you drive a bit faster you will feel the slight vibration like over 80-100km/hr when you really drive through uneven road but I do not find this to be any different compare to the other cars I have driven before. At normal speed I find it quite smooth overall.
Hard to see the screens when it’s sunny
I am sure when there's more of them on the roads there will be OTA updates that improves the assistance
Never gpind to buy an electric vehicle, but curious as to what extent choice for BYD was a choice against Tesla/Elon.
I test drove one very smooth ride nice power band
It looks fantastic as BYD poached a well known German designer.
Beautiful neighborhood. Clean and new
I guess they will solve the safety system by OTA, the hardwares look good
Great car !!!!
This car looks vastly better than the similarly priced Tesla.
How so !?
I love it
Velgnya keren
Pity your road footage was only suburban roads with speed humps.
BYD, is still tied to dealership model, it’s not as safe, not as fast. Not as efficient, not as connected and a significant amount heavier. Has a shorter warranty, Still uses a key fob and doesn’t have auto pilot. The model 3 has global success due to some incredible engineering and features, but people don’t understand that just because the Tesla has a minimal interior, it by no means lacks substance. But no, it doesn’t have a heads up display.
ខ្ញុំចង់ចេះបើកឡាន
this car looks way better than m3
The Breakfast Pointring Circuit.
Tesla does not have V2L (Vehicle to Load) this is a must have if the power grid goes down. Basically the BYD can become a massive battery (around 6 x larger than a power wall) that can run your home if you stick to the 3KW limit. If you have an off grid system already then you could use the BYD to charge your house batteries for long periods of bad weather that cut solar production. Tesla need to wake up and offer V2L like all BYD and many others.
the cybertruck does - not sure if existing models ever will
@@andrewjohnston359 yah, but the cybertruck is not affordable for me at least
@@jeremytineit’s for essentials in an emergency mate I.e. fridge so your food doesn’t spoil and microwave or portable cooktop if needed
@@Clove_Parma which can be done better with a small $500 generator gas or solar one. in an emergency I'm going to want all the range in an ev for ya know, emergencies 😂. Only use case I see for this is limited camping and that is too niche to be a deciding factor in a 40k-50k purchase.
Really?? How does that work? I didn’t think it was legal in Australia. Or do you have to have a grid disconnect switch (or whatever it’s called).
They put the steering wheel on the wrong side !🤣🤣🤣🤣
How much of a loss are they making with every EV sold ??
Seems to be a common theme on all the Chinese brands, the safety systems aren't setup for Australian conditions at all.
mind you your ANCAP is giving it a 5 star safety score.
At first glance this car looks american designed and the Tesla looks chinese lol. But I really love this car, especially the interior, you feel something ! Tesla interior is a joke. Cybertuck is another mega joke lol
Why is so cheap in australia compared to europe?
RCEP协定
Who do you people always review the top model without any regards to the average consumers? Just frustrating!
Yes, it IS better!.
The design is not that attractive but I would certainly test drive it to compare with my Tesla
Youd be a fool buying this over the model 3
Is it not far cheaper, you would be a fool to buy a EV in Australia as they only work on the eastern seaboard
I agree. I honestly feel Tesla is worth the price, and BYD is not.
Yeah if you do long distance drivng but i havent driven futher than 250kms in a single trip in my lifetime so I think id be ok@@JJ-vy2rh
The interior alone is 10 times better
I'm waiting to see the battery replacement horror stories that tesla and hyaundi customers are facing. But yeah I've been very interested in this car to purchase.
For me, a good safety system is important. I am not buying as long as it is annoying for someone 😊
Does look nicer than TESLA? But is that really the only difference?
Those safety functions are to save some reckless drivers’ life, doesn’t it worth beeping more? and they are way quieter and less irritating than Toyota’s. Hahahahaha
BYD will beat Tesal easily.
It’s going to be like all products eventually. Build up a customer base and then slowly go cheaper with the interior.
BEFORE you decide - try BOTH the BYD Seal in an AWD version as well as a Tesla 3 Long Range Highland. I did so (Europe) last week. Even if the Seal comes with a lot of quality it still feels like a version 1 car and I will definitely recommend to wait for a version 2, for the following 4 reasons: 1) In the Tesla you get a much more firm and direct driving experience. You feel it especially while steering and while accelerating. 2) Car efficiency measured as kW to milage is lower in the Seal, probably because of the higher weight (´+ 300 kilo) and poor brake regen. 3) In the Seal the Software UI as well as the functionality feel like a generation or two older. Old school menues, different menues to control driving set-up, lot of scrolling up and down etc. Besides that parts of the SW didn't really work while I tested the car a week ago - especially the parts where assisted driving is involved. 4) DC charging is quite slower in the Seal (150 kW) than the Tesla (250 kW) which will leave you wating a lot at the charging stations. An overall conclusion is that the BYD Seal feels a bit like old school car compared to the Tesla.
You see, Seal is intentionally made to feel more like a traditional car, not everyone likes a robot on wheels. Many like me who are 35+ prefer more buttons to control different features. I personally don't understand a car without a driver display, HUD and indicator stalk...
Also it's the same about direct steering and suspension, we like a more soft and relaxed driving experience.
Another thing is the design, to me, Seal design is more existing than M3.
And don't forget the BYD LFP battery tech, which is safer, ages better than NMC, and you can charge it to 100% every time. And you know that 250kw charging speed is the PEAK and it drops below 200kw rapidly, so practically it takes M3 about 20 minutes and 35 minutes for the Seal to charge from 10 to 80%.
So, you see the target customer for Seal is cleverly chosen differently than Tesla..
LR still has NMC battery and that alone i won't look at 3 LR...
@jameschalkwig787 I'm genuinely surprised with those who value charge speed than safety and longevity of the battery.... as if they are absolutely ok to replace the most expensive part of the EV
And there is nothing wrong with being older school kind of car. I personally feel that the feels and driving experience are akin to the conventional combustion engine car and this is not a bad thing. Afterall, many people look for something they are familiar with while getting the luxury of great performance for the price.
Looks like a Chinese copy of model 3. I guess it's good for the tesla haters or those looking for a cheaper alternative
????
What you get in a M3H is basically a few quirks like maybe better software and a better bootspace
and a few refinements as well.
But this is a 2022 BYD seal
you need to be fair and wait for 2024 Seal to come out because BYD updates their models every 2 years so lets keep stuff fair ok?
You get more than what you pay for and yet you have grievances? Haha no way.
Imagine spending $70k on a Tesla a few years ago when you can get a BYD instead lol. I really dislike the way manufacturers are ditching physical buttons in their cars though. It just adds unneccessary distraction when you want to do something as simple as turn off air recirculation. Absolutely poor design.
Better than Tesla in a lot of ways
Drop the service requirement and I might consider switching from Tesla
Wow, is that really the only thing holding you back ? 😳
@@RyanCowan yeah, pretty major part of vehicle ownership
Just bought a Seal performance, the safety features can be turned off permanently
Tesla is a $10k car seating on a $60k battery.
A very minor 1st world issue, but SO glad that BYD removed that ridiculous Build Your Dreams badging from the rear of this car! So nonsensical and unnecessary.
BYD cars are stylish, good looking cars, but are utter rubbish.
nah, that is good
if you put a Mercedes logo on it, it would be around 250k
HYBRID = OK
With the battery replacement cost way above our pockets, who's going to buy second hand ev? No matter how "affordable" they are when new, the second hand ones probably are going to depreciate way beyond ice vehicles.
Throw away junk
that's why china is selling new evs without selling batteries the idea of is to save the time/space charing, but the ev driver just can drive into a battery swap station and a fully charged battery will be replaced in just 3 mins. brilliant solutions.
What needs servicing on an electric car!? What's a con!
Tesla still wins for me personally at this point in time. Service costs, less maintenance. Check BYD service cost break down on their website. What are they servicing exactly per visit? The fact that the model 3 has been in the Australian market for a while and has addressed a lot of the quality issues + teslas style, minimal interior, power and range. Still give credit to BYD though for this car.
Thanks fanboy.
@@reginald7214 no probs
@reginald7214 why do you have to be a fan boy to have a preference? Are you a Seal fan boy and have hurt feelings if everyone doesn't agree with you?
@@freakybeast5068 this is a byd video. Why are you here spamming about Tesla? Are you unable to contain yourself?
@@reginald7214 spamming about Tesla? Do you understand the word spam or is the English language out of your area of comprehension? Come on Reggie who from Tesla hurt you big fella... someone left a comment, you made a dumb one that made you look like a fool, then you got called out. I'm considering getting a BYD or a Tesla both are great cars. Your redundant comment "thanks fanboy" was stupidity, I just like to call out stupidity, which I'd say is of abundance when you join into things 😄😄.
Tesla is better.....
So is this guy paid by BYD?
The electronic systems calibration has already been updated and it’s not the cars problem. You should guess that if you’re making reviews. Also Tesla has calibration big problems at lane assist and the deadly auto pilot. Finally teslas suspension is stiff and unbearable in comparison to BYDs suspension. Finally you,forgot to mention that SEAL has blade batteries and Tesla is now buying batteries from BYD. BYDs are much better EVS than Tesla and you’ll figure that out in a year or two. Check Tesla recalls and you’ll lose all your hair 🙂
I wonder why there not aloud in chinese citys is it because there poorly built and a bad fire risk.
Fake news, over 100k units sold in China in 2023
Tesla is cheaply built.
What colour is your Rolls Royce?
@@borinvlogs smart people do not buy brands.
@@universallife681 that's what poor people say so that they can feel good about themselves.
What absolute rubbish you write.
@@borinvlogs most so called rich people drive flashy cars on loans.
BYD? The dumbest name in the world! If I bought one and drive it I’m clearly not Building My Dreams but rather Driving My Dreams or something to that effect. Talk about blowing your own horn, for that reason alone I wouldn’t buy one . The owner is clearly narcissistic.
Quality is just not reliable.
Choice between supporting musks Twitter or the CCP, not much between them these days.
That’s a groundless comparison .
Under $50,000
$45000 with Queensland $6000 rebate!!