BYD Seal
Specs, engines and history
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By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor
- Built
- 2022–present
- Top power
- 390 kW (530 PS)
Which Seal to choose
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
- For the longest range: the rear-wheel-drive Design with 82.5 kWh and up to 570 km WLTP.
- For performance: the all-wheel-drive Excellence with 390 kW and about 3.8 seconds to 100 km/h.
- For the lowest price: the Standard with the 61.4 kWh battery, where offered; 460 km WLTP.
- For long trips: any version with 150 kW DC charging; 26 minutes from 30 to 80 percent.
The history of the maker is told in our article on BYD. The smaller BYD Dolphin was the first Ocean series model, and the BYD Sealion 7 is the SUV-coupé version of the same idea. The car it is most often compared with is the Tesla Model 3.
The BYD Seal is an electric four-door saloon in the D segment, sold in China since 2022 and in Europe since 2023. It was the second model of BYD's Ocean series after the Dolphin and was previewed by the Ocean-X concept in September 2021. The Seal uses BYD's e-Platform 3.0 with an 800-volt architecture and an LFP Blade battery that is part of the body structure. Reviewers often measure it against the Tesla Model 3; in 2024 it was among the three finalists for World Car of the Year.
In short
- Announced in China in May 2022, deliveries from August 2022; Europe from September 2023 (deliveries from November 2023).
- Batteries: 61.4 kWh or 82.5 kWh LFP Blade; drag coefficient 0.219.
- Outputs: 150 kW (204 PS), 230 kW (313 PS) with rear-wheel drive, 390 kW (530 PS) with all-wheel drive.
- WLTP range from 460 to 570 km; German financing example from €47,990 for the Seal Comfort (BYD Germany, offer valid to 31 December 2026).
Size at a glance
| Dimensions | BYD Seal EK |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,800 mm189.0 in |
| Width | 1,875 mm73.8 in |
| Height | 1,460 mm57.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm115.0 in |
| Boot | 400 L14.1 cu ft |
Specs by version
Engines
| Version | Engine | Power | Torque | Drive | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 61.4 kWh | Electric | 150 kW 204 PS201 hp | 310 Nm229 lb-ft | Rear-wheel drive | 2022 |
| Design 82.5 kWh RWD | Electric | 230 kW 313 PS308 hp | 360 Nm266 lb-ft | Rear-wheel drive | 2022 |
| Excellence AWD 82.5 kWh | Electric | 390 kW 530 PS523 hp | 670 Nm494 lb-ft | All-wheel drive | 2022 |
Performance
Show all 3 versions
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 61.4 kWh | 7.5 s 0–62 mph | 180 km/h112 mph | 460 km286 mi |
| Design 82.5 kWh RWD | 5.9 s 0–62 mph | 180 km/h112 mph | 570 km354 mi |
| Excellence AWD 82.5 kWh | 3.8 s 0–62 mph | 180 km/h112 mph | 520 km323 mi |
Dimensions and weight
Show all 3 versions
| Version | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Boot | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 61.4 kWh | 4,800 mm189.0 in | 1,875 mm73.8 in | 1,460 mm57.5 in | 2,920 mm115.0 in | 400 l14.1 cu ft | 61 kWh |
| Design 82.5 kWh RWD | 4,800 mm189.0 in | 1,875 mm73.8 in | 1,460 mm57.5 in | 2,920 mm115.0 in | 400 l14.1 cu ft | 83 kWh |
| Excellence AWD 82.5 kWh | 4,800 mm189.0 in | 1,875 mm73.8 in | 1,460 mm57.5 in | 2,920 mm115.0 in | 400 l14.1 cu ft | 83 kWh |
Verified Manufacturer and type-approval data from our catalog · Sources and methodology
BYD Seal at a glance
| Specification | BYD Seal (EK) |
|---|---|
| Production | since 2022; Changzhou and Xi'an (China) |
| Platform | e-Platform 3.0, 800-volt architecture |
| Body | four-door saloon (D segment) |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (two motors) |
| Battery | 61.4 kWh or 82.5 kWh LFP Blade |
| Power | 150 to 390 kW (204 to 530 PS) |
| Length / width / height | 4,800 / 1,875 / 1,460 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1,885 to 2,185 kg |
| Luggage space | 400 litres rear, 53 litres front |
| Drag coefficient | Cd 0.219 |
Design and technology
The Seal was designed by a team under BYD's design director Wolfgang Egger. The body has a drag coefficient of 0.219. The battery is a structural part of the body and stiffens it to about 40,500 Nm per degree of torsion. It also allows a lower floor. The LFP (lithium iron phosphate) Blade cells contain no cobalt. Inside, a 15.6-inch touchscreen can be rotated between landscape and portrait, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel sits behind the steering wheel. Equipment includes a 12-speaker Dynaudio system, a panoramic glass roof and heated and ventilated front seats.
Production takes place in Changzhou and Xi'an in China. In some markets the car is sold as the BYD Atto 4. BYD also uses the Seal name for other models, such as the Seal U SUV and the Seal 06 plug-in hybrid. This guide covers the electric saloon only.
Versions and performance
| Version | Battery | Drive | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h | WLTP range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 61.4 kWh | rear | 150 kW (204 PS) | 310 Nm | about 7.5 s | 460 km |
| Design / Extended | 82.5 kWh | rear | 230 kW (313 PS) | 360 Nm | about 5.9 s | up to 570 km |
| Excellence / Performance AWD | 82.5 kWh | all-wheel | 390 kW (530 PS) | 670 Nm | about 3.8 s | 520 km |
Top speed is limited to 180 km/h in all versions. The all-wheel-drive car pairs a front induction motor with a permanent-magnet rear motor; some versions also have iTAC torque vectoring and adaptive dampers. BYD Germany lists combined consumption of 15.4 to 18.2 kWh/100 km for the current range. The PS figures in the table are converted from the kW values. The versions are listed in the BYD catalogue.
Updates in China
In China, where the Seal was launched in July 2022 with four trim levels, BYD updated it several times. The Champion Edition of May 2023 added a Prestige version rated at 700 km on the Chinese CLTC cycle. The Honor Edition of March 2024 cut prices by about 5 percent. A refreshed model of August 2024 added a LiDAR sensor and new wheels. On the CLTC cycle the ranges run from 550 to 700 km, much higher than the WLTP figures used in Europe.
Charging
The Seal charges at 11 kW on three-phase AC in Europe (7 kW single-phase in other markets). On DC, the peak is 110 or 150 kW depending on the version. BYD Germany quotes 26 minutes from 30 to 80 percent at 150 kW. The car can also power external devices through vehicle-to-load (V2L).
European launch and prices
The Seal reached European dealers in the fourth quarter of 2023, and customer deliveries began in November 2023. At launch two versions were offered: the rear-wheel-drive Design with 230 kW and the all-wheel-drive Excellence with 390 kW, both with the 82.5 kWh battery. The Design was rated at 570 km WLTP (354 miles) and the AWD at 520 km (323 miles).
For 2026 BYD Germany advertises the Seal Comfort with a financing example based on a purchase price of €47,990, valid to 31 December 2026. A leasing example uses €38,490, or €32,490 after BYD's own electric bonus and the 2026 state subsidy for private buyers. The subsidy, of up to €6,000, applies only to new registrations from 1 January 2026. The BYD E-Bonus runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026.
Safety
Euro NCAP tested a rear-wheel-drive Seal in 2023. It scored 89 percent for adult occupants, 87 for children, 82 for vulnerable road users and 76 for the assistance systems. ANCAP adopted the same results for Australia. In 2025 the Seal was also tested by ASEAN NCAP for South-East Asia.
Sales and awards
| Year | China | Total production |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 51,200 | 51,200 |
| 2023 | 62,079 | 84,277 |
| 2024 | 17,528 | 60,607 |
| 2025 | 6,189 | — |
Chinese sales peaked in 2023, while export markets such as Australia (6,393 in 2024), Thailand and Brazil grew. In December 2024 the Seal became the first Chinese-made car in the top ten of the Japan Car of the Year, and in March 2025 it won the Japan EV of the Year 2024. It was also a top-three finalist for World Car of the Year 2024.
Photo gallery
BYD Seal in our rankings
- No. 3 of 36 · Quickest sedans, 0–100 (3.8 s)
- No. 9 of 45 · Quickest electric cars, 0–100 (3.8 s)
- No. 22 of 149 · Most powerful sedans (390 kW · top 16%)
- No. 12 of 68 · Most torque: sedans (670 Nm · top 18%)
- No. 20 of 103 · Quickest cars of the 2020s, 0–100 (3.8 s · top 20%)
- No. 185 of 859 · Most powerful cars (390 kW · top 22%)
Quicker from 0 to 100 km/h than 91% of ranked sedans in the 1CARS catalog (No. 3 of 36).
FAQ
What is the range of the BYD Seal?
460 km WLTP with the 61.4 kWh battery, up to 570 km for the rear-wheel-drive version with 82.5 kWh and 520 km for the all-wheel-drive version.
How fast is the BYD Seal?
The all-wheel-drive version has 390 kW and reaches 100 km/h in about 3.8 seconds; top speed is limited to 180 km/h.
Where is the BYD Seal built?
In Changzhou and Xi'an, China.
How fast does the BYD Seal charge?
At up to 150 kW on DC, from 30 to 80 percent in about 26 minutes, and at 11 kW on AC in Europe.
Is the BYD Seal the same as the Seal U?
No. The Seal U is a separate SUV model; the Seal described here is a four-door saloon.
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
