It’s secure to say that BYD has set the nation alight with the Seal, an electrical sedan that goes toe-to-toe with the ever-popular Tesla Mannequin 3. The Chinese language firm has been fairly aggressive with its newest mannequin, significantly by way of pricing.
Probably, there will probably be these of you who will probably be questioning how the BYD compares in opposition to the Tesla by way of value, measurement and naked numbers. Right here, we’re taking a better take a look at how the Seal stacks up in opposition to its fiercest rival.
Pricing: Seal undercuts Mannequin Three significantly
We’ve been eagerly awaiting pricing for the Seal because it was confirmed it might be coming to Malaysia, and now that it’s right here, it’s clear that BYD isn’t messing about. Costs are as follows:
- BYD Seal Premium RWD – RM180,430 on-the-road with out insurance coverage
- BYD Seal Efficiency AWD – RM200,430 on-the-road with out insurance coverage
As such, the Seal Premium RWD undercuts the Mannequin Three LR (RM190,700) by greater than RM37,000. In the meantime, no Mannequin Three Efficiency competitor for the Seal Efficiency AWD has been launched, but the Seal Efficiency AWD is over RM19,000 cheaper than the Mannequin Three Lengthy Vary AWD (RM219,700), and also you get extra efficiency as well.
Dimensions: Mannequin Three is smaller however extra sensible
Provided that the Seal has been designed to compete with the Mannequin 3, it’s no shock they’re largely the identical measurement. Nevertheless, the Chinese language automotive edges out its Chinese language-built American rival ever so barely, being 80 mm longer and 19 mm taller; the Tesla counters by being 42 mm wider.
This benefit ought to give the BYD higher inside room in comparison with the Tesla, though the Mannequin Three is in no way cramped inside. But when baggage area is what you’re in search of, then the Mannequin Three has the sunshine edge, each by way of the rear boot (425 litres vs 400) and particularly the entrance (88 litres versus 40). The very fact the Seal even has a entrance boot, nonetheless, is noteworthy, particularly because the Atto Three and Dolphin don’t have one.
Efficiency and vary: Seal is quicker, Mannequin Three can drive additional
Tesla is thought for offering a staggering quantity of efficiency in your cash, but it surely’s been upstaged by BYD right here. The Seal Premium RWD makes 313 PS and 360 Nm of torque and is ready to dash from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.9 seconds.
In the meantime, the Efficiency AWD variant churns out 530 PS and 670 Nm from its twin motors, enabling it to finish the century dash in simply 3.eight seconds. That’s six tenths of a second faster than the Mannequin Three Lengthy Vary AWD. To be truthful, the Seal Efficiency AWD is extra of a competitor for the Mannequin Three Efficiency, which in its newest Highland guise isn’t out but. We’d count on the latter to be considerably costlier.
The most affordable Seal is the one which has essentially the most vary (because the 82.5 kWh LFP battery comes customary). Even so, the Mannequin Three Lengthy Vary comfortably beats the Seal Premium RWD with a variety of 629 km, versus 570 km for the BYD (each figures are WLTP) – regardless of the very fact it has all-wheel drive.
Charging: Benefit Tesla
Charging occasions are inconclusive as Tesla doesn’t present any figures for the Mannequin 3 (solely that its 250 kW DC Superchargers are in a position to present as much as 282 km of further vary in 15 minutes). However the automotive can settle for a better quantity of DC quick charging energy than the Seal (170 kW vs 150 kW), the latter taking 37 minutes to cost from 10 to 80%.
The Mannequin Three may even cost faster when plugged as much as an AC charger, as it may possibly help as much as 11 kW, in comparison with simply 7 kW for the Seal. The latter takes a staggering 15.2 hours for a full cost.
And that’s with the correct 7 kW single-phase charger. In case you use an 11 kW or 22 kW three-phase charger pondering it’ll be sooner, the Seal’s onboard charger will step all the way down to between 3.5 and three.7 kW, which means that it’s going to take twice as lengthy (greater than a full day) in comparison with a technically slower 7 kW charger. Electrical autos with a three-phase 11 kW (just like the Tesla) or 22 kW OBC don’t endure from this challenge.
It additionally goes with out saying that solely the Mannequin Three can use Tesla’s Supercharger community in addition to its Vacation spot Chargers.
What else?
BYD Seal (left), Tesla Mannequin 3 (proper)
In case you’re in search of the automotive with essentially the most worth for cash, the Seal trumps the Mannequin Three fingers down. The equipment record is principally similar throughout each variants, together with full-LED lighting, huge 19-inch alloy wheels, flush pop-out door handles, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a novel rotating 15.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, powered leather-based seats, a glass roof, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system and a 360-degree digital camera system.
You additionally get a full suite of driver assists, resembling autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management and lane centring help, plus 9 airbags that embody rear aspect and driver’s centre airbags.
Against this, you will have a number of possibility bins to tick with the Tesla, resembling alloy wheels (lowly 18s as customary), colors (solely white is free) and even the selection of Autopilot (regular, Enhanced or the doubtful Full Self Driving). On the plus aspect, even the usual Autopilot is without doubt one of the finest within the enterprise, as are the usual 15.4-inch entrance and eight-inch rear touchscreens. No stalks, nonetheless, so there’s that.
Itching to learn the way these two vehicles drive? Take a look at Hafriz’s video evaluation of the Tesla Mannequin Three and Anthony’s first drive impressions of the BYD Seal.
GALLERY: 2024 BYD Seal Premium RWD in Malaysia
GALLERY: 2024 Tesla Mannequin Three Lengthy Vary AWD in Malaysia
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