BYD SEAL U Design electric FWD automatic

Our verdict

Examined here is the BYD SEAL U. This is the third vehicle from this Chinese brand to be tested by Green NCAP. The car is a small SUV offering a high level of comfort and 500 km driving range as type approved in the WLTP cycle. This range is possible thanks to a battery with 86 kWh usable capacity and the official consumption of 20.5 kWh/100 km, a figure confirmed by Green NCAP's tests. Green NCAP reveals the vehicle's consumption values in demanding situations not covered by homologation, such as the high-load highway cycle and the -7°C Cold Ambient Test. Both scenarios are particularly challenging for a large SUV, as the high aerodynamic drag takes its toll on motorway consumption, and the spacious cabin combined with high comfort demand requires more energy for heating. Naturally, the SEAL U consumption results are higher, but still in the expected range. The vehicle was also tested in real-world driving on the street, where it recorded 21 kWh/100 km at 24°C ambient temperature on dry road. BYD could further improve the efficiency of the onboard charger. With 11 kW charging, some 88‑89% of the recharged energy withdrawn from the charging socket is normally available at the output of the battery, while Green NCAP measured approx. 87% with the SEAL U. Overall, the vehicle receives an Average Score of 93% and 5 Green Stars.