This new BYD Seal undercuts its main Tesla Model 3 rival over here by a reasonable RM 10k.
After having been slightly delayed, the BYD Seal has nevertheless finally been launched locally. And the biggest news from its arrival is that this rival to the Tesla Model 3 lands over here bearing a price tag that undercuts the aforementioned popular American EV by a reasonable margin, with the RWD Premium and Performance AWD variants costing RM 179,800 and RM 199,800 respectively.
Aside from the price too, this new Seal does also outgun its main Tesla rival when it comes to performance. The aptly-named Performance AWD trim especially packs a real punch, with its combined output of 390 kW and 670 Nm of torque enabling it to post a 911-rivalling century sprint time of 3.8 seconds. Though it is not like the lower-end RWD Premium is a slouch by any means as well, with 230 kW and 360 Nm of torque on hand still capable of dispensing the charge 0-100 km/h in a more-than-adequate 5.9 seconds.
What more is aside from buying cheap and going fast, prospective Model 3 buyers may also be drawn to just how far the Seal can go on a charge. A headline-grabbing 650 km after all is what the NEDC has rated the single-motor Premium trim of this BYD EV to be capable of travelling on a single charge from its 82.5-kWh BYD Blade battery, while the Performance AWD variant manages to eke out a still-rather-impressive 580 km from the same battery setup.
And just staying on the topic of its battery for a little bit more, the charging of it can be performed with a DC connection of up to 150 kW, which in turn translates to a 10-80% fill up supposedly taking only a reasonable 37 minutes. Unfortunately however, only supporting 7 kW Type 2 AC charging does let the side down somewhat over here, with a lengthy 15.2 hours being quoted as the time required to charge this BYD from flat to full.
Now moving on to other aspects worth mentioning under the skin of this new Seal, BYD has touted that the iTAC intelligent torque adaptation control system on-board ‘ensures optimal performance in varying driving conditions’. This Chinese EV further goes on to showcase for its rather BMW-esque 50:50 front and rear axle load distribution to provide ‘a more balanced and responsive driving experience’, with it further emphasising that its 5.7-metre turning radius makes navigating through urban spaces effortless an effortless endeavour.
Though while discussing figures with this BYD here, what is perhaps most impressive about the Seal is for it to claim an incredibly low Cd factor of just 0.219. A drag coefficient that is lower than the already 0.23 of Tesla’s Model 3, this is made all the more impressive when considering that this Chinese EV is a tad bit bigger than the aforementioned American counterpart.
Measuring in at at 4,800 mm long, 1,875 mm wide and 1,460 mm tall, with a 2,920 mm-long wheelbase, the skin of this Chinese EV has been said to be rooted in the “Ocean Aesthetics” philosophy, while simultaneously be inspired by the ‘X’ concept. For those who don’t speak design though, the external design highlights of this svelte four-door fastback silhouette includes LED lights on either end, with 19-inch alloy wheels complementing its retractable door handles on its side.
Turning towards the inside of the Seal, a 15.6-inch rotatable central touchscreen (with wired Apple CarPlay/wireless Android Auto integration) and a 10.25 digital instrument display with a heads up display precedes a pair of heated and ventilated sporty-looking bucket seats. This particular BYD also nets a 12-speaker Dynaudio premium sound system, dual wireless charging pads, a panoramic glass roof and dual-zone climate control with PM2.5 filtration system as among the creature comforts within, while the 9 airbags and surround view camera just scratch the surface of its long list of standard ADAS features too.
The BYD Seal lands locally with a choice of four colours: Cosmos Black, Aurora White, Atlantis Grey and Arctic Blue, with the last exclusive to the Performance trim. Standard on all variants is nevertheless a rather substantial package of warranties, which includes a 6-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty, an 8-year or 160,000 km battery warranty, and an 8-year or 150,000 km drive unit warranty.
Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Berhad, stated for the introduction of BYD SEAL in Malaysia represents a noteworthy addition to the company’s growing EV market. “With its advanced technologies, impeccable design, and remarkable performance, the BYD SEAL is undoubtedly one of the most compelling EVs in the market today. The interest shown by consumers leading up to the launch has been overwhelmingly positive. We are excited to see how it will reshape e-mobility in Malaysia and the region.”
Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, commented, “Today’s launch of BYD SEAL is pivotal for BYD in Malaysia. The vehicle is the epitome of what BYD stands for – innovation, quality, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Designed for convenience and efficiency, it has a distinctive value proposition as a high-technology electric sedan that offers significantly greater space for families and individuals.”
It was also announced at the launch that the first 800 bookings made for this BYD Seal will enjoy a complimentary wallbox charger and free Gentari or ChargEV charging credits worth RM800. So… is anyone out there now on the phone to Tesla cancelling their Model 3 order?
