2024 BYD Seal U electric SUV debuts

BYD has doubled down on its Seal nameplate and debuted a new high-riding U-badged SUV version of the upcoming electric sedan at Munich’s IAA Mobility show, revealing what could be one of the biggest threats to the Tesla Model Y alongside the Polestar 4.

Sharing the same ‘e-platform 3.0’ architecture as the smaller BYD Dolphin hatch and Seal sedan, the 2023 BYD Seal U will be offered in Europe at least in two distinct guises, and each will be powered by a different drivetrain.

The entry-level Comfort features a 71.8kW Blade battery and will cover up to 420km on a single charge, while the more lavish Design sports a bigger 87kWh unit making it good for up to 500km.

Both initial variants are powered by a single-motor drivetrain outputting 168kW, but there’s little doubt a more potent dual-motor version will materialise at some point down the line – as per the Seal sedan, even if the two body styles rely on different sized batteries.

The easiest way to describe the Seal U would be as a vertically stretched Seal sedan with a taller rear-end and altered front bumper inserts.

The whole package measures 4785mm long, 1890mmm wide, 1660mm tall and rides on a 2765 wheelbase, which would make it one of the bigger mid-size electric SUVs if and when it comes to Australia, making it an almost perfect match for the Model Y (it’s longer and taller but the Tesla is wider).

We say when because we already know the Seal sedan is coming to the Australian market and BYD’s local division has already promised two more models beyond its local introduction: an as-yet unseen electric pick-up and some sort of SUV positioned above the established Atto 3 compact SUV.

Early speculation had the ‘F-Brand’ off-road wagon being developed in tandem with the ute as the prime candidate, but we can’t imagine BYD will pass up to opportunity to take a swipe at Australia’s booming medium SUV sector.

The Model Y is the best-selling medium SUV in the market right now, outselling even the Toyota RAV4 with 19,646 deliveries to August this year – less than 1000 units short of the nation’s most popular SUV so far in 2023, the MG ZS.

Polestar is keen to get in on the action with its upcoming Polestar 4, which is due on sale here in the third quarter of 2024, and odds are the Seal U – if it’s confirmed for Australia – will also arrive sometime next year.