BYDSeal U

The Seal U DM-i is a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV and has been BYD’s biggest seller in the UK. It sits above the cheaper Sealion 5 in the range and comes in three trims: Boost from £34,995, Comfort from £36,995 and the all-wheel-drive Design from £39,995. All share the same smooth, rounded body and a generously equipped cabin.

## Battery, range and charging

Boost uses an 18.3 kWh Blade battery good for about 50 miles of electric driving, while Comfort gets a 26.6 kWh pack and around 78 miles – one of the longest electric ranges of any family PHEV. The Design trades some of that for performance and manages about 43 miles. An 11 kW on-board charger is standard, and DC rapid charging at 18 kW takes the battery from 30% to 80% in roughly 35 minutes. BYD quotes a combined range of up to about 670 miles (1,080 km) with a full tank and battery.

## Performance and driving

Boost and Comfort are front-wheel drive with 218 PS from a 1.5-litre petrol engine working with an electric motor. The Design adds a turbocharged engine and a rear motor for 324 PS and 0–62 mph in 5.9 seconds. Most of the time the car runs as an electric vehicle, with the engine acting mainly as a generator, so it feels calm and quiet; the soft suspension favours comfort over sharp handling.

## Interior and space

The cabin has vegan leather, heated and ventilated electric front seats with memory and a flat rear floor with plenty of legroom. The boot holds 425 litres, rising to 1,440 litres with the rear seats folded. A sliding panoramic sunroof and a 10-speaker Infinity sound system are standard.

## Technology and safety

A 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen runs the infotainment, with sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control and over-the-air updates. A head-up display, adaptive cruise with lane centring, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic braking are included, and the Design adds Sand and Mud modes and a vehicle-to-load cable.

## Who is it for?

Families and company-car drivers who want long electric range for the daily commute without range anxiety on holiday. Its main rivals are the Kia Sportage PHEV, Hyundai Tucson PHEV and MG HS Hybrid+.