BYD Seal electric sports sedan priced from under $50K

The 2023 BYD Seal has been officially launched in Australia, where a starting price of under $50,000 makes the all-new mid-size electric sedan something of a performance EV bargain.

On sale now both online and via a growing array of outlet and experience centres across the country, BYD (Build Your Dreams) Australia has confirmed a three-variant model range for its all-new Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 fighter, ranging in price from $49,888 to $68,798 plus on-road costs for the 390kW all-wheel drive flagship.

The sharp pricing means the BYD Seal undercuts its closest rivals – the Chinese-built Tesla Model 3 (from $61,900) and Polestar 2 (from $67,400) – by at least $12,000, as well as the Korean-made Hyundai IONIQ 6 sedan (from $74,000) by over $24K.

Marketed as a proper sports sedan with rear-wheel drive at base level, the battery-electric BYD Seal is also $10,000 more affordable than smaller, performance-focused EVs like the Cupra Born hatch (from $59,990).

But the Seal is also at least $10,000 more expensive than the cheapest Chinese electric hatchbacks including BYD’s own new Dolphin (from $38,890), the MG4 (from $38,990) and GWM Ora (from $39,990).

Three model grades are now available, including the entry-level 150kW/310Nm rear-mounted single-motor Seal Dynamic Standard Range that houses a 61.44kWh battery good for around 460km of range (WLTP), is claimed to hit 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.

For reference, almost all of those numbers fall short of the base Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, which has a 60kWh battery but is claimed to produce 194kW, hit 100km/h in 6.1sec and offer a 513km WLTP range.

Priced at $58,798 plus ORCs, the mid-spec Seal Premium Extended Range gets more firepower thanks to a 230kW/360Nm single-motor (RWD) powertrain and a larger 82.56kWh lithium-ion Blade battery that offers up to 570km on the European WLTP cycle.

Also rear-wheel drive but riding on larger 19-inch alloys, the Premium is claimed to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.9sec.

Meanwhile, the top-spec Seal Performance AWD ($68,798 plus ORCs) brings a 390kW/670Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain (160kW front, 230kW rear motors) and uses the same battery as the Premium, so the extra weight shortens its range to 520km.

The range-topping Seal is said to hit 100km/h from standstill in just 3.8sec, clipping more than half a second off the claimed 4.4sec time of the dual-motor Tesla Model 3 Long Range ($71,900) but falling short of its 331kW and 629km range.

All variants can be charged at up to 7kW on AC power, but the entry-level Dynamic can be DC fast-charged at up to 110kW – increasing to 150kW for both the Premium and Performance variant, which can take a 30-80 per cent charge in 26 minutes, says BYD.

However, all BYD Seal grades come standard with a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touch-screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite-navigation, over-the-air updates, FM/DAB+ radio and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, plus wireless phone charging for two devices, a panoramic glass roof and power tailgate.

Other range-wide standard equipment includes synthetic leather seat and steering wheel trim, eight-way driver and six-way passenger power-adjustable seats, heated and ventilated front seats, two USB-C and two USB-A ports, dual-zone automatic climate control with heat pump, rear air-vents, keyless entry/start and rear privacy glass.

Apart from 19-inch alloys, the Premium Extended Range adds a head-up display, auto-tilt exterior mirror with memory, leather interior trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and driver’s seat memory. In addition, the Performance AWD scores four-way lumbar adjustment, heated steering wheel and Frequency Selective Damping shock absorbers.

The BYD Seal is yet to be safety-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, but all vehicles come with nine airbags, front and rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, lane centring assist, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, blind-spot monitoring, front/rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree camera, reversing camera, door exit warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic high-beam, front/rear parking sensors, auto wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Bigger in all directions than the Model 3 at 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and 1460mm tall on a 2920mm wheelbase, the BYD Seal has a 402-litre boot plus a 53-litre ‘frunk’. Kerb weight is 1922kg for the Dynamic, 2055kg for the Premium and 2185kg for the Performance.

Ocean Blue interior upholstery will be offered exclusively for Australia alongside Thaumas Black, while exterior paint colours include Polar White, Cosmos Black, Arctic Blue, Atlantis Grey and Shark Grey (Performance AWD only).

Pricing for the Seal was announced to media at the BYD Megastore in Alexandria (Sydney) this evening by Luke Todd, the CEO of BYD’s Australian importer EVDirect, who this week touted the event as “possibly the biggest moment in Australian automotive history” in a post on LinkedIn and tonight said all of the brand’s models would ‘easily’ sell for double their price tags.

The Seal becomes the third vehicle in BYD Australia’s expanding (currently all-electric) model portfolio alongside the Atto 3 small SUV that went on sale last year and is currently Australia’s third most popular EV behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, and the Dolphin hatch that recently pinched the title of Australia’s cheapest EV from the MG4 by just $100.

The BYD Seal is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. Servicing intervals are 12 months or 20,000km and the first eight services are priced at $189, $370, $189, $447, $189, $370, $189 and $447 respectively.

First customer deliveries of the Dolphin are set to begin this month, followed by the Seal in early December and an unnamed dual-cab hybrid ute in 2024, with an all-electric version due here by 2025.

BYD Australia will open its first flagship Megastore in Brisbane this Friday (October 20).

* Prices exclude on-road costs

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