BYD’s European offer expands with the arrival of the new Seal U, which essentially represents the SUV variant of the Seal. It inherits a significant portion of the design from the sedan, bearing the signature of Wolfgang Egger. Measuring 4.77 meters in length, Seal U features smooth lines inspired by the movement of ocean waves. The front is very clean, characterized by the presence of slim LED headlights, while the absence of a large grille gives the overall appearance a minimalistic touch. The side panels, on the other hand, guide the gaze towards the rear, where the scene is dominated by connected taillights through a thin “coast-to-coast” LED strip running from one side to the other of the tailgate. 

It’s however inside the cabin that the new BYD Seal U truly stands out. Thanks to the generous wheelbase of 2.77 meters, there is ample space on board, even for rear passengers. Talking about space, the luggage compartment has a minimum capacity of 552 liters, which increases to 1.440 when folding the seats of the second row. The quality on board is good, thanks to the use of soft-touch materials and the attention given by BYD technicians to various assemblies. 

As with the rest of the range, a large 15,6” infotainment system screen is present, capable of rotating by pressing a button on the steering wheel or on the screen itself. The 12,3” cluster behind the steering wheel with customizable graphics is also clear and easy to read. The Seal U is offered in two trim levels: Comfort and Design. The first comes with a 71,8 kWh battery, promising a range of 420 km, while the Design variant features an 87 kWh battery and a range of 500 km. 

We tested the Design version in Portugal on the roads around Cascais, where the Seal U proved to be a reliable travel companion, comfortable and spacious. The front electric motor with 218 CV is very progressive in its acceleration, with relatively modest energy consumption (17 kWh/100 km). The sound insulation is also excellent, while we were not convinced by the steering, too light and not very communicative.