Currently reading: BYD Seal U confirmed for UK sales with electric and hybrid power
Taller and wider sibling of Seal electric saloon to bring competitive range and more interior space

The BYD Seal U will be sold in the UK, the Chinese brand has confirmed at the Munich motor show.

A slightly taller and wider sibling to the electric Seal saloon, the SUV is sold in China as the BYD Song Plus Champion Edition, with either a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric powertrain.

Both powertrains will be offered in the UK, with the electric edition becoming available with either 71kWh or 87kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. The hybrid powertrain will likely be offered later given BYD's efforts to initially concentrate on electric power when it arrives in the UK. 

Both 71kWh and 87kWh batteries yield a range of 323-376 miles on the Chinese CLTC test cycle, according to local media reports, but these figures are expected to change when the model undergoes European WLTP testing.

Charging capabilities are yet to be detailed, but the Seal saloon – based on the same e-Platform 3.0 – can replenish its battery at rates up to 150kW. This is on a par with many current models, although it falls short of the 350kW offered by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

Two electric motors are offered in the Seal U, putting out 204bhp and 218bhp along with 229lb ft of torque.

BYD Seal U rear quarter

The interior features the same 15.6in rotating infotainment touchscreen as the Seal saloon, as well as a digital instrument display.

The Seal U is likely to be priced a slight premium compared with its saloon counterpart, which is expected to arrive at around the £45,000 mark, mirroring the relationship between the rival Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

The SUV represents the next stage in BYD's European expansion, which began with the Atto 3 electric crossover late last year. It will soon be followed by the Dolphin hatchback, priced from £25,490.

The firm is the world’s biggest manufacturer of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric cars, having sold 1.8 million such vehicles in 2022. It aims to more than double its volumes in 2023, pinning its hopes on a successful European launch.

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BYD Seal U dashboard

Whether that will be achieved is yet to be seen: BYD recorded exactly 3000 new-car registrations in Europe during the first six months of the year, according to figures from Jato Dynamics.

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial Assistant, Autocar

Charlie plays a key role in setting the news agenda for the automotive industry, having joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication, What Car?. He's previously contributed to The Intercooler, and placed second in Hagerty’s 2019 Young Writer competition with a MG Metro 6R4 feature

Before he joined the automotive media, Charlie studied History at the University of Winchester, where he specialised in the impact of more accessible mobility on 20th Century Europe. 

He is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, and hopes to one day add a lightweight sports car like a Caterham Seven or a Lotus Elise S1 to his collection.

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Peter Cavellini 5 September 2023

Bland to look at, too practical?, seems that's what we're getting just now, most of the crossovers we're getting look similar, they don't do anything much better/worse than the next and at the moment the getting more expensive.

tman247 4 September 2023
Just horrible. Who on earth would buy something like this?
sadjad_ahmadi 4 September 2023

I prefer the saloon!