BYD Seal 6 review

A plug-in hybrid model from Chinese firm BYD – aka Build Your Dreams – that’s available as a sports saloon or big booted estate. It’s also not to be confused with the all-electric Seal, which is similar in name but very different in powertrain. 

For those who don’t know, BYD was set up in 1995 as a battery company before diverging into cars in 2005, and these days it’s huge, shifting 4.6 million vehicles in 2025 and overtaking Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of EVs globally.

The Seal 6 isn't a bad looking thing, it's just not particularly memorable either. Certainly not as stylish as the Peugeot 308 SW, or the BMW 3 Series, Skoda Superb Estate or VW Passat, which it can count as rivals.

Hang on, I thought BYD only did electric cars?

Nope, its Dual Mode-intelligent system is BYD speak for plug-in hybrid. You can choose from two different setups, although both get the same 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol engine. Base versions get a 181bhp peak when combined with the electric motor and up to 34 miles of e-range (31 miles in the estate) courtesy of the 10.1kWh battery. Prices start at £34,015.

Upper spec models get a more powerful electric motor for a combined 209bhp, plus 64 miles of electric range thanks to a bigger 19kWh battery. That's... not bad going. More than you'll get in the 3 Series, but less than VW Group's offerings.

Tell you what, context is king - click these blue words for a full lowdown of hybrids with the longest electric ranges. 

It's also worth noting that base versions can only accept 3.3kW AC charging versus 6.6kW in the higher spec, meaning a 15-100 per cent charge on a home wallbox takes around three hours in both. The latter also allows up to 26kW DC, for a 30-80 per cent charge in 23 minutes. Not that you're likely to bother.

So this hybrid system, is it... good?

It feels much more like an EV than a traditional PHEV, and that’s because the 1.5-litre four cylinder powertrain exists mostly to keep the battery topped up, with the electric motor driving the front wheels most of the time. It’s not as quick as a pure EV, with the 0-62mph sprint taking over eight seconds, but it’s very quiet even when the engine kicks in and also very efficient – we averaged around 60mpg.

Otherwise, it's distinctly average. The steering is vague and lacking in any feedback, and the ride is noticeably unsettled, largely as a result of the damping which really needs some fine-tuning for our pockmarked roads.

Worse than all that, though, is the driver monitoring system, which constantly tells you to ‘keep your eyes on the road’, even if you’ve merely glanced away to check your speed. Pipe down!

Hmm, not great. What about the rest of interior?

It’s actually all very pleasant in here, with the leather and suede trim, comfortable seats and ambient lighting giving it a premium feel. It's perfectly comfortable up front, but while headroom is fine in the back you might find legroom is in short supply if whoever's behind the wheel likes a low driving position.

Spec dependent, you get either a 12.8in or 15.6in landscape fixed touchscreen. Yep, no more rotating screen - BYD is phasing that party trick out due to customer feedback.

Does it have a USP?

Let’s not gloss over that price tag, which is very reasonable for a plug-in hybrid. Indeed, it undercuts all its rivals - the VW Passat, Superb Estate and 3 Series all start over £40k, the latter significantly so. And the Seal 6 DM-i comes more generously equipped as standard than all of them.

Meanwhile the EV-only Seal saloon is about nine grand dearer than this.

On paper, the BYD Seal 6 has plenty going for it. It costs significantly less than its rivals, comes generously equipped, and is available as both a saloon or estate. With its efficient plug-in hybrid system and useful electric-only range, it'll also be cheap to run without the compromise of an EV on longer journeys.

But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for - and the Seal 6 isn't fit to lick its rivals' boots for driving dynamics or ride comfort. Not to mention the monitoring/assist systems - which are as intrusive as any we’ve tried/been subjected to - are absolutely maddening.

Undoubtedly BYD will sell plenty of these on price alone, but that's its only USP against more established (and talented) competitors.