An EV That Deserves Your Seal of Approval

There’s something rather random I must admit. My first reaction to the BYD Seal was a sense of hesitation. This wasn’t down to anything you might expect such as design or price but rather due to my phocidaphobia. You see, that’s the phobia to describe a fear of seals (for me it extends to their closest kin such as sea lions and walruses too). While I am passionate about all wildlife and conservation, as a child, I developed a unique fear of swimming and suddenly encountering pinnipeds. This was probably the result of watching documentaries showing seals devouring helpless penguins and seeing just how fast they moved in desolate, frigid waters. Moving on from this mini zoology/psychology reflection, my initial disdain completely subsided when driving. I realised that, phocidaphobia aside, the nameplate chosen is a more than apt addition to BYD’s Ocean Series. Vivid imagery of seals swiftly and effortlessly moving through distant, vast seas from the very documentaries that gave me a phobia were conjured as the Seal powerfully and gracefully glided through our Klang Valley roadways.

In the Malaysian market, the Seal currently sits atop the model lineup alongside the globally popular Atto 3 crossover and the Dolphin hatchback that splashed headlines with its competitive pricing announcement last year. As is the case with other Chinese manufacturers, understanding the names and series of the complete model lineup can be a challenging task indeed. In this case, the Seal is a name given to 4 separate models. The take home for Malaysian buyers is that the vehicle available in our market and most others is the battery electric fastback sedan.?

It comes in two variants: Performance and Premium. Cosmetically they are similar with the changes being apparent in drive feel and driving range. The Performance offers more power, with its dual motor AWD system, achieving 0-100 km/h in a mind boggling 3.8 seconds (for reference, that’s almost the same as the Porsche Taycan GTS I drove and wrote about recently). But of course with great power comes more responsibility in the form of a lower estimated WLTP range tradeoff (520 km). The RWD Premium variant that I tested is by no means a slow car able to make 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds while achieving a better estimated WLTP range (570 km). Even in the Premium, the direct and immediate torque with a slight press of the pedal is purely astounding as I contemplate the bizarreness of anything being labelled a family car being this fast.?

The elephant seal in the room must be addressed… For better or worse but perhaps to BYD’s advantage, it is constantly being compared to Tesla’s Model 3. The comparison is inevitable with the vehicles being similarly proportioned, bearing striking resemblances, and being priced almost within the same range across markets where both vehicles are on sale. Delving into a comparison could easily be its own article but the Seal is impressive in its own right and deserving of its own highlight. Though, before we move on from the topic it must be said that the interior of the Chinese model strikes a better balance between minimalism and functionality. Just one example to illustrate this point - the Seal’s physical drive selector with its traditional, tactile feedback is preferable to the new and controversial screen swiping feature in the Model 3.?

In keeping with the name, BYD describes the Seal as having an “Ocean-Inspired Aesthetic”. Often, these marketing claims seem far fetched or too abstract but that is not the case here. The well designed and clean crease lines are complemented by well placed arrow shaped accents reminiscent of rippling waves. The fin shaped trim towards the rear of the rocker panels further evoke marine imagery truly giving the car a unique and cohesive design aesthetic. The satisfying, almost symmetrical BYD logo in its shortened form proudly sits on the trunk above the swooping, sleek tail lights that remind me of octopus eyes. While you can’t go wrong with any of the colours on option, the features all come together the most in the beautiful Atlantis Grey paint option.?

Those stepping in from Atto 3 or Dolphin may be surprised to find a minimalistic cabin. The refined, spacious, and airy interior is made possible partly thanks to the gigantic 15.6” screen. Even years after the introduction of the rotating screen, this party trick is still sure to wow passengers as you casually and smoothly rotate the screen between landscape and portrait modes. Functionally speaking, the portrait mode is exceedingly useful for navigation, being able to see much of the road ahead. Very importantly both Apple Carplay (wired) and Android Auto (wireless) are supported. Sitting behind the steering wheel is another screen conveniently displaying the most important information such as speed and range. If that’s not enough there is also the head-up display (HUD) bright and clear to show the driver their speed without even needing to take their eyes off the road. In my experience, rather surprisingly, many new cars still lack wireless charging. Of course this isn’t the case in the Seal which boasts efficient and well placed phone charging pads right underneath the central screen.?

A primary motivation for many in making the jump to electric is still the aspect of sustainability. In this arena, BYD made a fantastic decision, fitting the car with vegan leather. Among other environmental offences, traditional leather is notorious for polluting waterways (and consequently our seas) during the dyeing process. Fitting that leather into an ocean themed EV would have been an awful irony. Best of all, occupants still get to enjoy luxurious and comfortable masterfully crafted ergonomics. The front seat occupants further enjoy being cooled and refreshed with the ventilated seats.?

Unbeatable value, stunning design, and cutting edge technology are just among a few of the solid reasons the Seal has made waves in Malaysia and overseas. The overwhelming success of yet another BYD model is unsurprising as the marque continues to be a powerhouse in the automotive industry continuously developing well received EV models with no signs of slowing down.?