New BYD Seal U revealed: plug-in hybrid SUV coming this year
February 26, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new BYD Seal U, and it’s the first model from the Chinese brand to be sold with a petrol engine in the UK. Read on for all you need to know.
- New BYD Seal U revealed
- First plug-in hybrid BYD to be sold in the UK
- Similar design to the Seal saloon
- Unique interior design
- Up to 60 miles of range from the battery
- On sale in the spring
BYD has revealed the new Seal U at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, and it’s a plug-in hybrid SUV to provide an alternative to cars like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage.
The Seal U will go on sale in the spring of this year, and it’ll offer around 60 miles of range from its battery.
New BYD Seal U design
The BYD Seal U SUV shares a similar design to the saloon model, a bit like the Seal has eaten one too many krill and put on a few pounds.
The headlights look as though they’re lifted straight from the Seal saloon, as they have almost exactly the same sleek shape to them. You also have a sloped bonnet line with a couple of creases to make the car look a bit more muscular.
It’s pretty generic-looking down the side, with a curvy silhouette and some classy-looking 19-inch alloy wheels lifting things a bit. You also have an LED light bar running across the tailgate, just like the Atto 3 and Seal.
New BYD Seal U interior and infotainment
Where the BYD Seal U separates itself from the Seal saloon is inside, because it looks completely different to every other model in the range. It’s not quite as whacky as the Atto 3’s cabin, and it’s more conservatively designed than the Dolphin’s interior.
The centrepiece is a 15.6-inch touchscreen, the same size as you get in other BYD models. Just like the rest of the range, the screen can also rotate at the touch of a button. All cars also get a premium sound system, as well as wireless phone charging.
New BYD Seal U engines
Despite what you might think, the BYD Seal U isn’t just an SUV version of the electric Seal saloon. This is actually the first BYD model to be sold in the UK with a petrol engine, making it an alternative to something like a Hyundai Tucson.
Powering the Seal U is a 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid system. The all-electric range hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but it’ll achieve a claimed 60 miles on the old NEDC testing cycle used in China.
When can I buy a new BYD Seal U?
The BYD Seal U will go on sale in the spring this year, with deliveries expected to start around May. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but a figure of around £40,000 seems likely.
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