2026 BYD Seal AWD: More juice
The 100 per cent electric BYD Seal was already impressive enough in single motor form. In dual-motor guise it wears its achievement proudly on it sleeve.
What car has sleeves? Anyway, the badge on the rear of the all-wheel drive version of the Seal now sports a small number 3.8. Why? Speed. Armed with that second motor, the Seal can now hit 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, easily embarrassing the large majority of Motordom at the traffic light.
EXTERIOR
Other than the extra 3.8 addition to the rear badging there isn’t much to differentiate the all-wheel drive Seal from its single motor trim. That’s not a bad thing, as the Seal was already an attractive vehicle using BYD’s Ocean X design language. It’s low, sleek, with that dramatic four-door coupé styling that continues to be popular. Seal or high performance Shark in hiding, whichever one, the car will grab attention.
INTERIOR
To paraphrase the meme, same-same, but different. Like the exterior, there is very little to set the dual-motor apart from the single motor — and, again, that’s a good thing. The Seal was already laden with more tech than there is written space to describe. Just know there’s plenty, and it all works; from powered and automated convenience features to a suite of driver assist functions that all can be accessed and operated in a variety of input option. Press, touch, swipe, or speak, the car can handle the command.
Interior design and material quality all remain the same.
The big change is that navigation is no longer native in the 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen. This is because the car now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other than that, occupants will be cruising around in a spacious refined cabin augmented by the full panoramic roof and ambient lighting.
ON THE ROAD
The meat of the Seal AWD is its performance as afforded the extra motor. Located at the front, it not only gives more traction, but has 215bhp all to itself. This moves total horsepower to 523bhp and 494lb/ft of torque. The story is pretty much a repeat. As an EV, the Seal is smooth. It never felt underpowered in RWD trim. In urban settings it cruises effortlessly, making light work of over exuberant Proboxes in traffic. It’s best described as a GT sedan, combining comfort and luxury with the speed to easily cover long distances as the 82.56kWh Blade battery provides a rated 570km of range.
The separation of the Seal RWD and AWD happens when the accelerator is explored to its maximum. For the doubters, the launch control function will rocket the Seal RWD to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, consistently, versus the 5.9 seconds for the RWD variant. This adds some more spice to the Seal, while taking a 50km hit in total range to 520km. The Seal AWD still DC fast charges at a maximum 150kWh, so for many this may be an acceptable trade-off.
The Seal AWD is the same great car, just a bit more juice via its second front mounted electric motor.
Interior design and material quality of the BYS Seal AWD is very good. (Photo: Rory Daley)
The Seal was already an attractive vehicle using BYD’s Ocean X design language giving it that dramatic four-door coupé styling that continues to be popular. (Photo: Rory Daley)
The BYD Seal AWD is laden with more tech than there is time to discuss. (Photo: Rory Daley)
The EV platform gives it tonnes of practical storage. (Photo: Rory Daley)
Of course, there is a frunk. (Photo: Rory Daley)
