2025 BYD Seal freshens up with new tech

The 2025 BYD Seal has been unwrapped in China with the facelifted all-electric Tesla Model 3 rival getting an 800-volt electrical architecture, cutting-edge silicon carbide inverters and advanced LiDAR sensors for more sophisticated self-driving capabilities.

Set to arrive in Australia potentially as soon as the end of this year, the refreshed BYD Seal remains based on the current car's e-Platform 3.0 Evo but now comes with two battery options – a 61.4kWh and a new 80.6kWh power pack that replaces the old 82.5kWh battery.

BYD says despite packing more tech the Seal's Chinese CLTC range is now 510km (down from 550km) for the 61.4kWh battery and 650km (reduced from 700km) for the long-range 80.6kWh battery.

There's no word how the stricter WLTP figure has been affected but the Seal's driving range in Australia currently stands at 460km and 570km.

Thanks to its 800V electrics, that replace the old car's 400V architecture, the BYD is quicker to charge from 10-80 per cent (in just 25-minutes) – a huge improvement over the old car's 37-minute wait.

Base versions now get a single motor that produces 170kW/330Nm (+20kW/20Nm) and drives the rear wheels while the more expensive dual-motor version pumps out 230kW and 360Nm of torque.

At the top of the Seal tree a fast Model 3 Performance version is also available that musters 390kW and 670Nm of torque that provides for a rapid 0-100km/h dash of just 3.8 seconds.

New chassis tech designed to improve the way the Seal drives include incorporating BYD's Disus-C chassis tech that uses variable damping shock absorbers with electronically controlled valves for a better blend of ride and agility.

Within, there's been some substantial updates to the cabin which include a new four-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and an updated version of BYD's novel rotating infotainment system.

Featuring a more minimalist centre console with a limited number of physical buttons, there's hidden air conditioning vents, plus wireless charging pads.

There's now a wave graphic ahead of the driver and a new pattern on the seats while Coral Orange coloured seats becomes an option.

Boosting safety, BYD has equipped with the Seal with 13 air bags as standard, plus a new head-up display.

In China, the BYD Seal gets a new LiDAR sensor that is said to significantly improve its self-driving capability, adding a Level 2+ high-speed and urban driverless ability but falling short of a full Level 3 eyes off the road function.

Already on sale for Chinese consumers, the updated, faster, more sophisticated and advanced BYD Seal is cheaper than the car it replaces, costing 75,800 Yuan ($37,220) and topping out at 239,800 Yuan ($50,770), representing decreases of 4000 Yuan ($850) to 10,000 Yuan ($2120).

Back in Australia the BYD Seal is priced from $49,888 (plus on-road costs) for the most basic version, $55,798 (plus on-roads) for the mid-spec Seal Premium and $65,748 for the Seal Performance.

It's thought BYD is banking that the revised Seal will help Australia's third-best-selling EV close the gap between it and the Tesla Model 3.

In the first seven months of 2024 the BYD Seal found 4662 homes, compared to the 13,539 Tesla Model 3s that were delivered.

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