I went and had a look at the Seal as it was on display. I cannot believe how beautiful it looks in person. If you think it looks good on a screen, go see it in person!

Thanks for your even-handed look at the pros and cons of the Seal. We are lining up a Seal as a replacement for our second car next year through a novated lease. It's price point is a big factor.

Hello again. I have some additional information for you. Norway - where I live is famous for rust due to the extensive use of salt during 4 - 5 winter months. Therefor many importers - if not all - have to do an additional anti-rust treatment on the cars before they start selling them. This is done in Norway, with the best stuff that we have experience with here. This goes also for BYD of course. We bought an Atto 3 last year, and besides being very happy with the quality, batteries, drive performance, etc. - there is no trace of the rust you show. Anywhere. You use Toyota an even Honda as good samples of EV's. None of them make EV's that's worth owning. Most publications are aware of this and comment on it - except those who get their major income from their advertisements. Remember that the second "Honda EV" is just a rebranded GM EV. I do have many more comments - that could be fun to discuss with you. You're going to Scandinavia soon are you? Let me know where to meet you. 😊 Believe you have my email address? Thank you for your video's. 😇 BTW., we haven't got the Seal here yet.

@ThePantheons

6 ай бұрын

This is great to know, and as an Aussie looking for an EV I'm jealous of Norway's amazing acceleration to sustainable driving. I think the Atto or Seal will be our first!

@ommykkan

6 ай бұрын

So you had Atto 3 through last winter? If I am correct it has a weak 1000w PTC heater and an efficient heat pump. How was it in -20-25degC temperatures. I am looking to buy Atto 3 in Finland but am worried how the car manages in the cold to produce heat.

@onefiniteplanet

6 ай бұрын

As the first BYD Seals arrived in Australia in Brisbane Australia had not yet be road registered at the date of this video, the author of this video has only see a car in the showroom so far.

@knuth.nyhagen82

6 ай бұрын

@@ommykkan We didn't have more than approx. -12 here but it was okay. But same again this week actually, approx. minus 10. And the heating use a lot of energy. Must get used to use the seat heating more instead I guess...

@TheChargeShow

6 ай бұрын

Hi Knut, so sorry but I only just saw these messages. Can you send me an email at benatthecharge@gmail.com

Great video Ben. Will go and check out That Damn Guide. Cheers

Wow I like BYD

@TheChargeShow

6 ай бұрын

They are fantastic :)

I agree with your assessment that the Seal is the only realistic competitor for the Model 3. People have tried to argue other EVs are competitors to the model 3, but everything else is just too overpriced, in comparison.

@pkerry12

6 ай бұрын

Not really tesla has software that no other manufacturer can replicate. Especially there Full self driving software, no one comes close to tesla in software

@fredfrond6148

6 ай бұрын

@@pkerry12 agreed but you pay a lot for the software. The Chinese are coming. Huawei, CATL Changan with the avatr, DJI with boajun (the GM-SAIC-Wuling joint venture).

@pkerry12

6 ай бұрын

@@fredfrond6148 Chinese don’t make good software in cars at all.

@vasil7410

6 ай бұрын

@@pkerry12 For some markets, it will be a long time before FSD will be available, if ever. Driving rules and road characteristics vary a lot around the world and I'd say some jurisdictions may never legally allow FSD anyway.

@pkerry12

6 ай бұрын

@@vasil7410there is no laws in Australia around fsd but they are actively testing it currently on Australian roads.

Hi and thanks for the vid ! If you’re interested, here’s my take on the subject. I have a Model 3 and was thinking about getting a Seal. The small battery version is not for sale in my country. So, mainly compared to the Model 3 : Pros : - Excellent fit and finish. - Sound insulation and suspension should be better than even on the M3 Highland. - Interior seems more comfy and more spatious. - Better windshield to hood ratio (if that’s even a thing) making the Seal kinda more beautiful and more agressive looking. - The rear is gorgeous. - BYD Blade battery : more secure and should have a better charging curve (true for the Model Y equiped with it but apparently not on the Seal according to the tests I saw). - Performance version has an LFP battery. The only car with such combo as far as I know. - More pratical door handles. - Instrument screen in front of the driver + optional HUD (though I don’t feel the need for either in my Model 3). Cons : - Heavier and less efficient than a Model 3 : basically same range with a 82,5 kwh battery than the Model 3 propulsion with a 60 kwh battery and a lot less range than the Model 3 AWD with the same battery size. - Software seems subpar : there doesn’t seems to have a good trip planner like on Teslas. Moreover, Android auto and Apple carplay are not wireless and you loose some screen data when you use them. - The plug is on the wrong side of the car if you want to charge on Tesla superchargers. - Charging speed is not great : 150kw with a sub-optimal curve. - Seems to beep a lot. - Has a « start » button. - Doesn’t seems to have a built in dashcam and certainly no sentinel mode. - Cargo space is largely inferior. - There’s no one pedal driving (because chinese customer don’t like it. It should come with a software update, though). - Some tests shows a lag between when you press the pedal and the vehicule moving when lauching the car in the AWD version.

@jegerm6752

3 ай бұрын

Agree about the dash cam. Someone on youtube bought the OEM BYD dash cam from aliexpress and it connects with the car infotainment system. I really wish BYD had fitted it in the first place, or at least offered it as an option.

@damienfernandes8314

2 ай бұрын

Android Auto is wireless. Apple Carplay is not.

Pretty much agree with everything you've said there

My 5 Series BMW does not have the back of the bonnet clear coated.

@Paul-ow9dd

6 ай бұрын

Nor does our 2014 Golf diesel or 2015 Polo. It's a non-issue but a few reviewers have commented on it. Perhaps they should have used a slightly glossier paint to appease the naysayers?

I have a seal performance on order, and I agree with everything you said about the pros. I’m gonna add some cons, or at least my concerns about the BYD seal. I saw a black one up close recently, and the paint job wasnt great. I feel like the clear coat isnt of great quality. The car was brand new and it already had tons of swirl marks, and the black didnt “pop” like other black cars I see. Mine is gonna be in arctic blue, and I really hope the color somewhat masks the imperfections that will inevitably show. I also dont like the faux leather seats as I dont think it will be durable, but it’s easy enough to retrim in a few years. Some will love that it’s animal free, but it just feels too rubbery and cheap to me. Next, BYD fit continental eco contact 6 tyres on the seal, even on the performance version. Continental is an excellent tyre manufacturer, but the eco contact is not their max performance tyre. I’m concerned the tyres will hinder the performance of the car somehow. I understand they have to prioritize range, but I feel they should’ve fitted sportier tyres on the performance version. None of those cons was enough to sway me though. This will be my first EV, so I truly hope it’s gonna be a great experience.

@TheChargeShow

3 ай бұрын

Really interesting mate. thanks for that. Awesome car the BYD Seal. Drives great, although people say that it's a bit wobbly. I like it a lot.

Thanks for the video, I can't wait to testdrive the BYD Seal , I went there on the weekend at the Brisbsne showroom in the valley and they said pretty much I had to put the $1000 deposit in order to test drive as they are giving priorityto those customers, mmm really, I was a bit disappointed with that comment, but anyways I was very impressed with the car quality, and like I said, I can't wait to drive one.

@martinb8013

6 ай бұрын

They said the same to me. What a joke! It seems like a nice car though the boot seems a bit small and the seats felt quite plastic. A bit tacky having the “3.8” badge on the back and the “qi” logos on the charging pads too. The full glass roof is very nice and the rear legroom seemed larger than a model 3.

@bluejuice2503

6 ай бұрын

@@martinb8013 not really a joke. They had over a 1000 preorders in the first 2 weeks (where people put down the $1000). A lot of those people want a test drive before proceeding with their order. So there is a big queue already and those people are being prioritised.

@royfitz612

6 ай бұрын

Wow. Things have changed. I went into the Fortitude Valley centre today. Test drive arranged no question of putting a deposit down.

@sergiomoreno6283

5 ай бұрын

​@royfitz612 that's great news, because in their website the Seal still not available for test drive at this very time, only the atton3 and dolphin are for test drive from the website, I may have to get in there, I am between the model 3 long range and the BYD Seal performance

@Leeviathon

5 ай бұрын

I tried to get a test drive of the seal and was told they're booked out till early new year. But once I put my deposit down I was offered priority for a test drive, mind you it was for the following week.

I have a Seal Perfomance, and it has a battery warmer that activates when necessary.

@MHWibi

2 ай бұрын

hi mate, I watched a review from UK saying that the driver can feel a quite annoying vibration (not smooth) on the steering wheel column when passing a quite rough surface road, is it really the case ? please kindly share your experience on that matter, I am planning to buy BYD Seal but still doubt because of this issue

I’m considering to buy the Seal in Jordan from a distributor. The informatics are in Chinese and seems like there is no software update to convert it to English …. Any thoughts or information on this is appreciated Thx

@roro4787

2 ай бұрын

Here in Australia we have in English, in Thailand in Thai, so I think they have all languages. So, I think you don't need to worry about language they will adapt

I'm assuming that the vehicle you saw in Brisbane was a pre-prduction vehicle for display only. It will be interesting to see how the final production vehicle is presented - eg is the clearcoat issue you mentioned corrected.

@TheChargeShow

6 ай бұрын

I will definitely keep you updated David :) I hope they don't cheap out on a bit of clear coat under the bonnet.

@davidmacbeth5575

6 ай бұрын

@@TheChargeShow I've actually ordered a Seal. Hopefully pickup in the first batch that have arrived in Brisbane though I haven't received any text / email from BYD yet.

I think people should start thinking about the better longevity of LFP batteries in terms of sustainability. The battery is a big part of the energy and materials going into the manufacture of the car and even if the battery outlasts the car, it can then be used for secondary application (eg home battery storage system).

Lithium Ferro Phosphate versus NMC which contains COBALT.

Can you do a comparison video of the Seal vs the model 3 highland. Things like lane keeping assist and ride quality.

@charlesxu1236

6 ай бұрын

As a Chinese seal owner, I would like to express my own opinion: 1. Driving experience: Excellent, the vehicle's handling and riding experience are both very good. The suspension system is relatively not as hard as Tesla's. As a driver, I did not feel any extra vibration in the driver's seat when driving on some bumpy roads 2. Ride space: Compared to the rear space of Model 3, the rear space of the Seal is simply a paradise. Believe me, if you have passengers other than your girlfriend, Model 3 is definitely not the first choice for family travel. The physical buttons in the three cabins allow me to operate the air conditioning, music, automatic start stop, and other functions while driving without the need for visual inspection. Relatively old-fashioned drivers would like this design. 4. Driving assistance system: This is a nightmare for all BYD vehicles, except for Tesla, all other Chinese car manufacturers can beat BYD completely.

We don't get the one with the small battery here in Denmark 😭 I would wish they would make a Touring version like the ET5 and the HUD also in the RWD version.

@knuth.nyhagen82

6 ай бұрын

I totally agree with you, 'mange tak' 😋But there is hope; the new Sea Lion 07 (that they actually also call SUV, look like the Seal in front and is no typical SUV), which had a public debut last week at the Guangzhou Auto Show, will hit the market in the first half of 2024. I believe Car News China on the net - not on KZread, are a good source for new Chinese cars and models. And btw., as in Denmark we also only get the large batteries - which is good.

@Clove_Parma

6 ай бұрын

They’re bringing the smaller battery to the EU next year!

Hi guys. When I picked up my seal in Australia. The car had swirl marks all over the paint work. So guys be careful and check the paint work in the sun. Because I got black and on a cloudy day you can’t see the swirl marks. Customer care were good but the Blacktown dealership were terrible. I’m taking the car to a detailer he said would be able to to get the swirl marks out. As I’m getting it ceramic coating.

@jegerm6752

3 ай бұрын

That is exactly my concern. I saw a black seal in a motor show recently, and it had tons of swirl marks. I changed my order from black to arctic blue immediately. I think they may use inferior quality clear coat.

@MHWibi

2 ай бұрын

hi mate, I watched a review from UK saying that the driver can feel a quite annoying vibration (not smooth) on the steering wheel column when passing a quite rough surface road, is it really the case ? please kindly share your experience on that matter, I am planning to buy BYD Seal but still doubt because of this issue

The only con for the BYD in general is after sale support, at least in Australia. Staff is poorly trained and the knowledge of the product is close to 0. Hence this video about the Seal , I can tell you that it’s the only car imported to Australia by BYD has galvanised steel, well at list it’s true for China market

what color you guys prefer for the BYD Seal ?

Test drove one today following a 24 hour test drive of the model 3. Can’t fault it and it’s a true rival to the M3, with one exception. Supercharger network. Until manufacturers realise that it’s the infrastructure that overcomes range anxiety not how well finished the car is or how many extra gadgets you put in. Range anxiety, the fear of not being able to charge and having to rely on an unreliable network of 3rd party provider that all have their own app is the true blocker to EV adoption and that will always keep Tesla in the top spot for the time being.

@TheChargeShow

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment mate. I bet you enjoyed the test drive :) Fantastic to drive and very comfortable. Let me know if you order one!

Tesla does show the full manufacturing process. So they show u what they do

While I agree with the potential con of name recognition. BYD IS gonna go to countries like Brazil and Thailand with their manufacturing plants. Manufacture there and take over business there.

The single phase OBC is a no no.

@TheChargeShow

2 ай бұрын

You aren't the first person to say this actually :) I think people expect more in this regard.

I am not sure if you say lithium ion phosphate or lithium iron phosphate? The 'f' in lfp stands for 'ferro' which is iron.

Quite like the BYD Seal but really not keen on a car with a glass roof in Brisbane (for multiple reasons), will have to wait for other models!

@sazdean7233

6 ай бұрын

is it because of the heat in brisbane? isn't the glass roof blocking sunlight slightly?

@philljones4095

6 ай бұрын

​@@sazdean7233sun and hail!

@xxxx-dh9pk

6 ай бұрын

the glass roof on the premium edition of Seal has automatic tint adjustment. it turns darker automatically based on the sunlight

Hi.......have you driven the car yet ??

@Clove_Parma

6 ай бұрын

It’s not in Australia yet beyond the stationary display units. The retail cars are being brought through customs in Brisbane now

@06younger

6 ай бұрын

@@Clove_Parma that makes sense. There seemed to be an awful lot of "opinion" content without actually driving the car.

@Paul-ow9dd

6 ай бұрын

@@06younger Yes, but there are some good hands-on reviews from the UK, Germany, China, Singapore and the Philippines. Do a search. They're worth watching. I've watched far too many! LOL.

@06younger

6 ай бұрын

@@Paul-ow9dd yes..... I have probably watched every actual review of the car available on KZread.....English language or otherwise. There is also a huge amount of "opinion piece" content available thats shot from behind a desk......and to be honest, I don't see the point of.

@frankpaaskesen

6 ай бұрын

Yes the car is perfect almost except for the very noisy climate system, which is a great disappointment since the car is so quiet, and the climate control is running on 3-5 fan speed, its underdimensioned sadly

When you sit in that car feels like Mercedes or BMW hahahah 😂😂

@TheCryptonomatron

6 ай бұрын

The interior is better quality than my 2019 A35 or the missus 2022 C350e.

@DS87

6 ай бұрын

@@TheCryptonomatron 100% agree. It's better than my W205 C class

not able to use supercharger is not a con..... it's a BYD not a tesla... it's not supposed to use supercharger anyway

@pauldoree3967

6 ай бұрын

They can use them, just not as seamlessly. In the Uk there are now nearly 30 Supercharger sites open to all EV's.

@lifeliver9000

5 ай бұрын

I’ve had a ev6 for a year and drive a few hundred kms a week and never stopped to charge. 100% charged at home. I’m lucky too, power company gives me 3 hours free power a night. Only charge then so free travel for a year

Yeah if u want good resale in an ev a tesla has the highest resale value

@sammaimas155

6 ай бұрын

Not with the constant price changes. I expect Tesla will be slashing prices again in the not too distant future.

@lifeliver9000

5 ай бұрын

Not in my country and they all teslas look the same from old to new. All EVs will have poor resale in general due to the technology advance every few months. But you got to jump in some time

@pkerry12

5 ай бұрын

@@sammaimas155 only America has rhe constant price changes thats why tesla resale sucks over there.

Kia Sorento has....

the climate system is extemely noisy which spoils all the silent pleasure…have you noticed ?

@Paul-ow9dd

6 ай бұрын

The Atto 3 is a bit noisy as well. The fan always seems to want to be on 2 or 3 and is a bit noisy. On 1 it's still noticeable. I expect the Seal uses the exact same system? Or very close to it.

@sazdean7233

6 ай бұрын

@@Paul-ow9dd what's the climate system? is it the aircon?

@frankpaaskesen

6 ай бұрын

jep…. auto temperature,

@Paul-ow9dd

6 ай бұрын

​ @sazdean7233 @@frankpaaskesen Heating is all auto on these EV's. Quite different than the more manual system on ICE cars. Something we just have to get used to if we move to an EV. And you don't get that "instant heat" from an ICE engine at temperature. It's the same as for A/C at home. Quite different from a wood fire, gas or radiant heat.

@frankpaaskesen

6 ай бұрын

I was driving the new tesla model 3 and the climate system was almost soundless….this is definately a deal breaker regarding the ByDs. Very sadly because i love the car

If the balloon does go up in Taiwan these Chinese cars can be firmware bricked before you can say Jack Robinson. Remember the tale of the Trojan Horse which can manifest itself in many subtle ways nowadays such as beautiful cars full of foreign software in lieu of warriors. Interesting how the car averse government in the UK is running away hell for leather from having any Chinese technology in their communications but has no problem with these cars also in communication with the homeland. I hope in Australia you have no choice but to stay neutral and it may be OK. The UK as usual will rush in to any world conflict with the few guns left blazing, aircraft carriers without any aircraft, as much as a moth has the urge to burn on a light bulb so little hope here.

@roro4787

2 ай бұрын

Don't worry, China is peaceful.