BYD Seal U: The key things you need to know
The Chinese firm’s mid-size SUV is its first model available with plug-in hybrid power, but what else do you need to know?
BYD is a rapidly growing Chinese car manufacturer here in the UK.
Ever since it launched its first model back in 2023, it has expanded its model line-up with hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs.
The Seal U is one of the latest offerings from the firm and is set to continue that trend of offering a lot of technology for a much smaller price tag.
So, if you’re thinking about purchasing a BYD Seal U, there are some key facts that you need to know.
It’s BYD’s first plug-in hybrid in the UK
The Seal U is the first model to wear the BYD badge that can be chosen with a petrol-electric drivetrain.
It combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to either an 18.3kWh battery pack or a larger 26.6kWh unit.
In other countries around the world, there is an EV variant that comes equipped with an 87kWh battery pack and electric motor that BYD claims can travel up to 311 miles between trips to the plug.
The larger plug-in hybrid setup has a claimed electric-only range of 78 miles
BYD claims that the 26.6kWh plug-in hybrid Seal U can achieve up to 78 miles of electric-only driving – making it one of the best-in-class when it comes to EV driving.
This benefits the car’s efficiency, and running costs and makes the whole vehicle easier to live with on a day-to-day basis. It also improves the car’s overall fuel economy, with BYD claiming the PHEV version of the Seal U achieves up to 314mpg and can travel up to 671 miles with a full tank and a fully charged battery.
The car represents great value for money
The Seal U is priced competitively against its Asian and European rivals.
There are three trim levels to choose from with the entry-level Boost coming in at £33,090 and bringing standard-fit LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof and a powered tailgate.
The flagship Design model comes in at £39,905 making it sit under the £40,000 mark – enabling the car to miss the Expensive Car Supplement, making it even more affordable to run.
It rivals the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage
The Seal U sits in one of the most competitive categories in the new car market.
The mid-size SUV class is crammed with an endless mix of offerings, but the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are the Seal U’s closest rivals as they all represent excellent value for money and offer an eclectic mix of different drivetrains, including mild, regular and plug-in hybrid models.
Futuristic and functional
The interior of the Seal U looks sleek and futuristic, with its floating centre console, rotatable touchscreen and crystal gear lever.
It features lots of interior space
The Seal U comes with a generous amount of space inside for its occupants.
Up front, the cabin features generous front door bins, two cup holders, a large glovebox and a centre armrest that doubles up as some more storage space.
Rear seat space is good with plenty of head and legroom for over average-sized adults – making the whole cabin feel a lot more spacious.
Open the boot, and you get a total of 425 litres of boot space. The opening is very square, making loading those bulkier items simpler. The rear seats fold down to increase the space further to 1,440 litres – giving more flexibility.
It has CO2 emissions as low as 15g/km
Whichever BYD Seal U model you go for, all models will be cheap to run and that’s thanks to their low emissions.
The smaller 18.3kWh battery pack model has CO2 emissions as low as 15g/km and the larger 26.6kWh emits just 37g/km – ideal for company car drivers who are looking for a practical SUV.
At UK Carline we have a great selection of offers on the BYD Seal U, to view these click here.
« « Wear It Pink For Breast Cancer | What is BYD? » »
