VW ID.4 owner test drives the BYD Seal, shares his various observations

The Tesla Model 3 is the only competition to this Chinese EV as other electric vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Volkswagen ID.7 are much more expensive.

BHPian StarrySky recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I test-drove the BYD Seal in Finland.

BYD has taken aim at the Tesla Model 3 with the Seal, and it shows in its looks, interior, features, specs and price. If Tesla had given the Seal's looks to the updated Model 3, it wouldn't have looked out of place. The 3.8S badging, however, looks cheesy. But way better than having Build Your Dreams plastered across the rear.

Coming from a crossover, my biggest complaint was ingress/egress. The interior is not as minimalist as the Tesla (thankfully). The seats are comfortable, but I thought maybe they were a bit too soft. The front seats provide good support. The steering wheel is chunky and nice to hold. There are some real buttons there as well. One ergonomic issue is that the edge of the main infotainment screen is blocked by the steering and the driver's hands when in motion. We can put the screen in portrait mode, but I heard that Android Auto and Apple Carplay don't work in portrait mode. The infotainment screen and software are quite responsive, much better than my VW ID.4.

I drove mainly on a busy highway, so I wasn't able to go beyond 80km/h or test any high-speed dynamics. The ride didn't feel plush, but I wouldn't call it stiff either. In this area, my VW ID.4 has the edge.

I didn't test the economy, but the car was showing a range of 462km at 95% at around 2-3C temperature. I am not sure if it is calculated based on the recent consumption or a value based on the WLTP range.

The regen didn't feel too strong, but the brakes felt very sharp. Perhaps, it is only a matter of getting used to the car.

The HUD was bright and legible, but navigation prompts did not show up on the HUD.

The rear seats also felt comfortable, and the under-thigh support felt good for a person of average Indian height. Taller passengers will also not complain about knee room. But under-thigh support could be lacking, as it is not possible to slide the feet under the front seats. No idea how the ride is at the back, as I was always the one driving. Headroom is also good in front and rear.

The storage space is good in the front and the central storage is deep. The cabin quality felt good upfront.

The Seal is feature-packed and there is almost nothing that is missing. The Seal is priced at €47990 for the RWD version and €50990 for the AWD version here. Tesla Model 3 is the only competition, as the Ioniq 6 and ID.7 are much more expensive, to the tune of nearly €12000. I wouldn't be surprised if this car starts selling in large numbers.

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