How's it like to own a BYD Seal; 3 months & 3,200 km experience

I’m loving every minute with the BYD Seal. The car continues to impress, both in the city and on the highway.

BHPian ManiPrakash recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

After three months and 3,200 kilometers on the road, I’m excited to share my experience with the BYD Seal (Premium). With 80% of the driving done in the Delhi NCR region, this EV has become my go-to vehicle for daily commutes and the occasional road trip.

Charging:

- Home Charging: I’ve been primarily using a slow home charger installed in my parking slot. Although my society didn’t allow a fast charger, the slow charger adding 3 kWh/hour has been sufficient. I usually plug in the car as soon as I get home, so the slower pace hasn’t been an issue.

- Commercial Chargers: When I’ve needed a quick charge, commercial chargers have been a game-changer. Gurgaon’s Cyber City area is well-equipped with 120 kW chargers, fully charging the vehicle from 10/20% to 100% in about 30-40 minutes.

Ground Clearance and Driving Dynamics:

- Smooth Ride: Despite initial concerns about the low ground clearance, it hasn’t been a problem. Even with the notorious monsoon and waterlogged roads in Gurgaon, the Seal has handled it all with ease. As long as you’re cautious on potholes, you’re good to go.

- Silent and Powerful: The drive is incredibly smooth, with a cabin that remains quiet, even in city traffic. The power delivery is instant—just press the pedal, and the car responds immediately. Thanks to the Heads-Up Display (HUD), you’re always aware of your speed, which is essential when the car’s so silent you can easily forget how fast you’re going.

- Road Trip to Jaipur: I took the Seal on a road trip from Gurgaon to Jaipur via the Mumbai Expressway, and it was a dream. The roads were excellent, which made the drive even more enjoyable. I covered over 250 km in less than 3.5 hours, including a quick coffee break. Cruise control set to 115 km/h handled 65% of the drive, with the car effortlessly reaching a maximum of 175 km/h during a short burst. I didn’t even need Sports Mode—Standard Mode was more than capable.

- I used Sports Mode only once to catch up with a BMW 530i which rocketed past me while I was peacefully driving at 115 kmph. The standard mode wasn’t quick enough to catch up with the Beemer, Sports mode helped me reduce the gap quickly. Oh Man, BMWs are quick.

- For everyday driving, Eco Mode is more than adequate. Standard Mode delivers plenty of thrills, and while Sports Mode is there if you want to unleash the car’s full potential, I’ve found Standard Mode to be sufficient for most situations. The Seal is comfortable, with seats that offer excellent support and adjustability.

Gadgetry and Features:

- Continuous Improvement: With each update, the car keeps getting better. The latest update introduced gesture controls for the AC, which means no more fiddling with the touchscreen—just swipe three fingers to adjust the fan speed and the temperature.

- Voice Assistant: The voice assistant has improved significantly over time. It now understands commands better and doesn’t need an internet connection, making it a reliable co-pilot for most tasks.

- Wireless Apple CarPlay: Initially, Wireless Apple CarPlay had its quirks, but after a few updates, it now connects seamlessly every time.

- App Limitations: One downside is that you can’t install third-party apps. You’re limited to what BYD provides, but if you want onboard maps, the service center can help with that.

- Music System: I wasn’t impressed with the Dynaudio system at first, especially after experiencing Bang & Olufsen in the Audi A4. However, it has grown on me. The surround sound is well-tuned, and I highly recommend using Apple Music to get the most out of it. Other streaming apps just don’t deliver the same high bitrates, which can affect the listening experience.

Range:

- City Driving: Range is, of course, a major concern with EVs, and the Seal doesn’t disappoint. While BYD claims 650 km on a full charge, my real-world experience has been between 590 km and 694 km, especially in city driving where regenerative braking boosts the range. This makes the Seal an excellent choice for daily commutes.

- Highway Driving: On the highway, the range naturally drops. On my Gurgaon to Jaipur trip, I managed 510 km on a full charge. I used a mix of driving modes—85% in Standard, 5% in Sports, and 10% in Eco Mode when the battery dipped below 10%. I started with a full charge and returned home with 3% left after covering 536 km, including a quick 5% top-up during a break. Thus using 102% battery (100%-3%+5%) i.e. 84.15 KwH.

This highlights the importance of planning for highway trips, as the real-world range is lower than the claimed figures due to less braking and regenerative opportunities. I cruised at 115 KMPH, with car being driven without braking for 50+ kms on most stretches.

Fortunately, charging infrastructure is improving, and fast DC chargers are available at most highway stops. I rely on Statiq and Tata EV apps for finding chargers, and they’ve been reliable so far.

Conclusion:
Three months in, and I’m loving every minute with the BYD Seal. The car continues to impress, both in the city and on the highway. I’m excited to see how it evolves with future updates and look forward to many more miles of driving pleasure.

Sharing the pic from my trip and the return Journey stats.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.