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Pros: Comfortable, well-equipped, EV range.
Cons: Boot volume, driving dynamics.
BYD Seal U DM-i Design
The Seal U is part of BYD’s ‘Ocean Series’ alongside the Seal electric saloon and there are a lot of similarities between these two models when it comes to design. BYD's new SUV has a lot of presence with stylish LED lighting at the front and an elegant full-width light bar at the rear, which on closer inspection features a water droplet motif as a nod to its ocean aesthetics. With just four colours available and one 19-inch alloy wheel design, there’s not much room for individuality when configuring your Seal U, but the subtle palette of colours and wheel combos all look smart.
BYD Seal U DM-i Interior
The Seal U’s cabin feels surprisingly luxurious inside with black leatherette covering vast swathes of it including the seats, dashboard and centre console. The contrasting green stitching is a nice touch, as is the ambient lighting. There’s also a stylish crystal-like gear selector that adds to the upmarket feel. A full digital driver display and head-up display are included, as is BYD’s now infamous rotatable touchscreen. Its large size sits well in the Seal U and it comes with seamless wireless smartphone connectivity and voice control. The climate settings can be accessed from a solid toolbar at the bottom of the screen though it does require a few taps to open up the full menu. The large centre piece between the driver and passenger does house a few extra buttons like those for the drive modes and demisting the front windscreen.
The standard specification is incredibly good including an opening panoramic glass sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustment and memory function, heated steering wheel, 360 camera, 10-speaker sound system and two wireless smartphone charging pads.
The BYD’s 425-litre boot is a good size, though it is down on rivals like the MG HS, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. Where the Seal U excels is in the amount of space it offers for rear seat passengers. There’s loads of legroom across the rear bench thanks to a flat floor. The rear seats can also recline a little. For family buyers there’s Isofix on the two outer seats and the front passenger seat.
BYD Seal U DM-i Performance & Drive
The new Seal U DM-i is available as front wheel drive or all wheel drive, with two battery sizes depending on model. The entry level Boost model claims up to 80 kilometres of electric driving range, but stepping up to the Comfort with the larger battery ups that to an impressive 125 kilometres. The top of the range all wheel drive Design model has up to 70 kilometres, but the best performance of the range with 0-100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds though none of the versions are slow. The Seal U’s clever hybrid system is based around a 1.5-litre petrol engine (turbocharged for the all wheel drive model) and delivers smooth, responsive acceleration without too much intrusion from engine noise. It intelligently switches between driving the wheels by the electric motor, engine or combination of both, depending on what’s most efficient. Plugging in the Seal U at home or work and making the most of the EV range will be the cheapest way to run it, but even letting the charge drop in the battery didn’t lead to criminal levels of consumption – the Seal U averaged 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres during our test drive. Charging can be completed in 2-3 hours when charging at 11kW AC. The Seal U is also compatible with DC charging up to 18kW for an 80% charge in as little as 35 minutes.
It’s been set-up for comfort and copes well with Irish roads but the downside of that is that there is lean in corners and it can feel a bit wallowy. But the steering is precise enough to place it safely on the road. Insulated glass ensures a high level of refinement, though there is a bit of wind whistle from around the mirrors at high speeds on the motorway.
BYD Seal U DM-i Pricing
The front wheel drive Seal U DM-i Boost is available from €42,150 and the Comfort from €44,130. The range-topping all wheel drive Design version is available from €49,140.
Carzone Verdict
The BYD Seal U DM-i is a great addition to the BYD range and expands the brand’s appeal beyond just electric vehicles. It’s not the sharpest handling SUV and the boot is a bit smaller than rivals. But it excels for comfort and a smart, spacious cabin filled with standard features that makes it one of the best value plug-in hybrid SUVs on sale.