This is the third BYD model in India after the e6 and Atto3.
This is the third BYD model in India after the e6 and Atto3.
After showcasing it first at the 2023 Auto Expo, Chinese EV manufacturer BYD has now finally launched the Seal EV in India starting from ₹ 41 lakh. Bookings had already commenced earlier at ₹1.25 lakh.
With the Seal, BYD now retail three EVs in India that also includes the the e6 MPV and Atto3 crossover SUV. Although a major rival to the Tesla Model 3 in the US market, the BYD Seal will compete against the likes of Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and the BMW i4 in India.
The BYD Seal is available in three variants: Dynamic, Premium, and Performance. The base variant is priced at ₹41 lakh, the mid variant is priced at ₹45.55 lakh and the top variant is priced at ₹53 lakh. While the base and mid variant will be available with rear-wheel drivetrain, the top variant will be available with all-wheel drivetrain.
The BYD Seal carries forward the brand’s Ocean design that is evident on the front fascia. Slotted neatly on two extremes of the front bumper are the signature LED DRLs and the subtly aggressive headlight along with another positioning light above forms part of the cluster. The overall silhouette of the Seal is low-slung and since it is based on the same e-platform 3.0 that also underpins the Atto 3 crossover SUV that launched in India in 2022. It benefits from a really long wheelbase with short overhangs, and a low body with aerodynamic drag coefficiency of 0.21cd. Furthermore, the BYD Seal not just boasts of a 400-litre trunk it also gets an additional 53-litre frunk (storage space under the bonnet).
Some of the standout design details on the exterior of the BYD Seal includes glass panoramic roof, retracting door handles and a sleek, full-length rear light cluster with the badge 3.8S (indicating its acceleration time). To know more about how the BYD Seal looks in person, check our in-depth review here.
Like the other two BYD models, the Seal also benefits from the brand’s Blade battery technology that the company claims has the qualities of being ‘Ultra Safe’, ‘Ultra Strength’, ‘Ultra Driving Range’, ‘Ultra Long Lifespan’, and finally ‘Ultra High-Charging and Discharge capacity’.
Unlike the foreign spec models, the BYD Seal is available with the 84 kWh lithium-ion battery only. This unit is good for 460 km of range on a single charge in the Dynamic variant. In the Premium variant it can do 570 km of range, whereas in the Performance variant the same is good for 520 km of range on a single charge.
The rear mounted motor available with the Seal produces 230 bhp and 360 Nm, which BYD claims helps the performance sedan accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds.
BYD describes the interior of the Seal as 'luxurious sporty and spacious'. Aside from the fact that the cabin is available in the Thaumas Black colour scheme as standard, in a typical BYD fashion, there is no dearth of technology here.
Some of the noteworthy features includes the 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition to that, it also gets a wireless charging, 360-degree camera, automated climate control, heads-up display, voice command and electrically adjustable AC vents.
The bolstered sport seats get heating and ventillation option, electric adjustment with memory functions, and the driver's seat gets 8-way power and a 4-way lumbar adjustability options as standard. But the cherry on top of the cake here is the crystal gearshift that the brand is calling 'Heart of the Ocean'.
BYD Seal boasts 5-star rating both from Euro NCAP and Australia NCAP crash tests. It comes fitted with 9 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, and ADAS functionalities like emergency braking, lane assist system, and fatigue/distraction detection.
The BYD Seal is available with four distinct colour options: Arctic Blue, Atlantis Gray, Aurora White and Cosmos Black.
The BYD Seal is available with three warranty programs applicable to the battery, electric motor and electric control assemble. The battery is warranted for 8 years/ 160,000 km, the electric motor is warranted for 8 years/150,000 km, and the electric control assemble is warranted for 6 years/ 150,000 km.
