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BYD Seal vs rivals: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BMW i4, Volvo XC40

22nd May 2024, 08:33 by Kanad Kalasur

Let's take a look at how BYD Seal fares against its rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BMW i4 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

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What you'll like:

Good build quality coupled with very appealing styling
Punchy motor offers fast performance. RWD variant's 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds is enjoyable; AWD variant's performance is ballistic (0-100 in 3.8 seconds)
Good high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling
Spacious and well-built cabin with comfortable seats
Useable 400-litre boot, along with a 50-litre frunk (in the front)
Inherent EV advantages such as a green image, zero tailpipe emissions, low running costs (charge at home) & top-notch NVH
We find the BYD Seal to be well-priced for what it offers
Selectable regenerative braking and drive modes allow you to extract maximum performance or efficiency, as needed
Sufficient driving range (approx 500 km) for urban commuting as well as the usual road-tripping with family
6-year/150,000 km warranty on the car, 8-year battery & motor warranty, 6-year roadside assistance
Features such as the vehicle-to-load function, soundproof glass, rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen, climate control with heat pump, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable A/C vents, NFC key card, etc.
5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit & level 2 ADAS to keep you safe

What you won't:

145 mm ground clearance requires you to drive with care over large speed breakers & broken roads
Firm low speed ride. Liveable, but not plush in the city. You feel bad roads
Low slung body makes ingress & egress a challenge for the not-so-flexible and elderly
No option of a lighter-coloured interior theme (cabin is full-black)
Rear seat offers poor under-thigh support
Most functions and settings are controlled through the touchscreen, which makes them difficult to access on the move
Vertical movement over road joints can get annoying
Missing features such as connected car tech, a spare wheel (in India!!!), wireless Apple CarPlay, etc.
Poor rearward visibility due to the acutely-angled rear windscreen and large rear headrests
BYD's currently small dealership & service network. Even major cities like Mumbai & Delhi have just 1 dealer

What you'll like:

A sharply styled SUV. Volvo’s new designs sure are head-turners!
Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out
Quick performance will keep most owners happy. Well configurated one-pedal driving feature makes it very easy to drive in the city
Real-world range should be ~350 km, which is enough for most users
Excellent high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling. Mature ride quality at speed too
Zero emissions, cheap running costs & green image will appeal to a lot of people
Features such as panoramic sunroof, electric front seats with extendable seat bases, one-pedal driving, button-less starting procedure, air purifier etc.
5-star NCAP rating. Loaded with safety equipment such as 7 airbags, collision mitigation support (front & rear), lane keeping aid, blind spot information system, cross-traffic alert & more

What you won't:

Rear seat comfort levels are mediocre. Raised floor & upright seatback. It’s best for just 2 & ingress / egress are tricky too
Firm low speed ride. Liveable, but not plush in the city. You will feel the bad roads
No drive modes and no adjustable regeneration means you cannot customise your drive experience
Spare tyre is placed above the boot floor and eats into luggage space
Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), Vehicle to Load etc.
Small dealership and service network isn't a patch on its German competitors

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