Review – BYD Seal U DM-i (2024) – Now also as a plug-in hybrid

The BYD Seal U debuted on the Dutch market early this year and was only available with all-electric drive. To appeal to a broader target group, the range was immediately expanded to include a plug-in hybrid variant: the DM-i. Plug-in hybrid technology is nothing new for BYD. In fact, in 2008 BYD was the first car brand with a plug-in hybrid in mass production. That was the BYD F3DM, a compact sedan based on an older Toyota Corolla at the time. Since then, much has changed…

The plug-in hybrid powertrain

The BYD Seal U DM-i comes with two versions of the plug-in hybrid powertrain: the Boost and the Design. In both, the electric motors are combined with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. In the case of the Design with turbocharging. In the Boost, one electric motor provides the drive, on the front wheels. In the Design, there are two electric motors, providing all-wheel drive. Thus, contrary to what the names suggest, the Design is the more powerful version of the two. The Boost has a system output of 160 kW (218 hp), while the Design boasts a whopping 238 kW (324 hp). Torque is 300 and 550 Nm, respectively.

The gasoline engine can drive the wheels, but that is mainly for emergencies. There is not even a transmission between engine and wheels; it is then a direct transmission. In practice, the gasoline engine is merely a generator, generating power at the most efficient speed for the electric motors, which drive the wheels. Both variants feature an 18.3 kWh battery. That, of course, is BYD’s own Blade Battery, which is nickel- and cobalt-free and puncture-resistant.

Performance and consumption BYD Seal U DM-i

The BYD Seal U DM-i Boost sprints to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds, while the Design takes 5.9 seconds. The Boost has an official consumption of 0.9 l/100 km and 21.0 kWh/100 km, good for an all-electric range of 80 km and a total range of 1,080 km. The Design has slightly higher consumption of 1.2 l/100 km and 23.5 kWh/100 km. That’s still good for an all-electric range of 70 km and a total range of 870 km. All these figures are WLTP values.

BYD Seal U DM-i Prices

The BYD Seal U DM-i is available for order immediately. The price list is clear: BYD charges 39,490 euros for the Boost and 47,230 euros for the Design. For those amounts, the car comes standard with all the trimmings: you only have to choose (at no extra cost) your favorite body and interior color. For completeness: the all-electric version of the Seal U can be ordered from 42,990 euros.

Outfits BYD Seal U DM-i

So what does this rich equipment consist of? Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, metallic body paint, full LED lighting with high beam assist, a panoramic glass sliding/tilting roof, seat and steering wheel heating, seat ventilation, faux leather upholstery, several USB ports, wireless charging for two smartphones and a power tailgate. Comprehensive infotainment with over-the-air updates is available via a rotatable (either landscape or portrait) 15.6-inch touchscreen.

Also standard is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature that allows you to connect external electrical devices to the car. Of course, various driver assistance systems are also on hand, including 360-degree camera. One practical aspect to consider: the luggage compartment measures 425 liters (1,440 liters with the rear seats folded down), compared to 552 liters in the all-electric version of the BYD Seal U.

Driving the BYD Seal U DM-i Boost

In terms of driving, the BYD Seal DM-i is actually (almost) no different from the all-electric version. The powertrain does its job very quietly. Even when we ask for full power in hybrid mode, the gasoline engine remains gently in the background. In terms of tire and wind noise, it’s also pretty quiet aboard the Seal U DM-i. Together with the fact that because of the electric drive of the wheels you always have an immediate response to the gas pedal, the driving experience is really just that of an electric car. Only in the displays on the instrument cluster – and the less vigorous regenerative braking – do you notice that sometimes a gasoline engine also joins in.

The suspension is very comfortably tuned. A distinctive choice, among the mostly “sporty” tuned competitors. All bumps are smoothly eliminated, without the car swaying. Roadholding in corners also remains good, although it is not a sporty cornering driver. For the steering, BYD chooses a middle ground: not too heavy, maybe just a little too light, but mostly just fine. However, you do sometimes have to correct just a little too much around the center position.

Cameras and infotainment

When parking, the camera systems provide a clear picture, with the 360-degree camera in particular being an asset. The cameras are not an unnecessary luxury, by the way: due to the rather small side windows and especially rear window, the Seal U has a rather large blind spot diagonally behind the car. Outside of maneuvering, the large central display provides access to a fast-acting and comprehensive infotainment system. Some functions take some searching, but much can be adjusted and arranged as desired. Practical are shortcut keys for frequently used functions. For example, ventilation can always be operated by swiping three fingers across the screen, no matter which submenu you are in. However, physical buttons remain our preference for that sort of thing.

Conclusion

One might wonder what a newcomer like the BYD Seal U DM-i adds to the already large range of plug-in hybrid or otherwise electrified SUVs from established brands. In fact, BYD is not pushing any boundaries with the new DM-i. On the other hand, the very comfortable suspension tuning is a distinctive choice these days, and the Seal U DM-i is simply a fine offering when you look at the price and what you get in return. Therefore, those looking for a spacious, plug-in hybrid SUV should definitely have the Seal U DM-i on their candidate list.