mReview: BYD Seal Premium – Still Standing Strong
The BYD Seal has been in Singapore for a few years now, but is it still able to hold its own against the tidal wave of newer EVs?
It’s been a hot minute since we last took a look at the BYD Seal. We last checked it out in late 2024 in Cat A-friendly “Dynamic” guise, and a year before that, we first gave it a whirl in its super-fast “Performance” spec. Two years on from its original release, the Performance spec has been discontinued, leaving just the Dynamic and the car in the spotlight today, the Seal Premium.
Still a looker.
Since the Performance variant of the Seal has been culled, this leaves the Premium spec as the top dog (or seal?) in the model lineup. The exterior of the Seal is the same as it was when it was first released, meaning it still carries that flowy, ocean-inspired, sedan design that I rather enjoy.
The Seal's low-slung profile and driving position are a welcome change from the SUV onslaught.
Despite the very many EVs on sale nowadays, compared to SUVs, electric sedans are actually fairly hard to come by, especially in the price range that the Seal plays in. One of its competitors is even BYD’s own Seal 6, not a confusing naming choice at all.
So even though the Seal is now a little older, it still stands its ground in the looks department and doesn’t look passe at all. On the interior, however, some bits of trim and parts of the UI are starting to look a little dated when compared to the young’uns.
Loads of headroom despite the Seal's svelte lines.
That’s not to say the Seal has lost any of its capabilities, quite the contrary in fact. The Seal Premium still sports a single electric motor on the rear axle that pushes out 230kW (308hp) and 360Nm of torque, enough to get from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds. It might not be the rapid 3.2-second launch of the fabled Seal Performance, but 5.9 seconds is hardly being a slouch.
It also features a large 82.56kWh BYD Blade battery, which, when combined with the Seal’s aerodynamic shape, allows for up to 570km of driving on a full charge, over 100km more than in the Cat A-friendly Seal Dynamic.
The interior is as well-specced as any newcomer, too, with a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-speaker DYNAUDIO sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, RGB ambient lighting, and much more all included as standard equipment.
Some might think that buying an older EV makes no sense when there are newer, fresher models available. But the Seal has proved that doing things well the first time can pay dividends further down the road.
| BYD Seal Premium | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price (at time of publishing): $212,888 including COE | VES Band: A1 | |
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous motor |
Charging Rate: 150 kW DC, 7 kW AC |
Power & Torque: 230 kW (308 hp) & 360 Nm |
Transmission: Single-speed |
Driven Wheels: Rear |
Consumption & Range: 16.6 kWh/100km & 570 km (WLTP combined cycle) |
0-100 km/h: 5.9 seconds |
Top Speed: 180 km/h |
Battery Capacity: 82.56 kWh |
|
Dimensions (L x W x H):
4,800 mm x 1,875 mm
x 1,460 mm |
Wheelbase: 2,920 mm
|
Cargo Capacity: 400 litres |
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