Every BYD model ranked: all the models sold by this popular Chinese car brand

BYD is one of the most prolific and recognisable Chinese brands selling cars in the UK. It launched on our shores back in 2022 and has since grown exponentially. With great sales and sponsorship of some high-level events, it’s joined MG in becoming one of the only Chinese car brands to be a household name.

BYD’s model lineup is a bit confusing because it seems to have a lot of overlap, and the model names don’t give you much indication of where the cars sit. Some of them are really good cars, though, and definitely deserve your consideration. Below you’ll find we’ve ranked every model BYD sells, from best to worst, as well as given you the closest alternative from a more everyday brand to help you figure out which one suits you best.

Here is every model currently sold by BYD in the UK:

1. Seal
2. Dolphin
3. Sealion 5
4. Sealion 7
5. Atto 2
6. Seal U
7. Atto 3
8. Dolphin Surf

1. BYD Seal: A Tesla Model 3 alternative

Wowscore: 8/10

The Seal is our favourite BYD model you can buy right now, and it really can give the Tesla Model 3 a run for its money. You get loads of kit, decent range and it’s actually good fun to drive on a twisty road.

Some of the tech may be a bit confusing to use – especially the infotainment system – and it’s a bit cramped in the rear. This is easy to forgive though when you can get a 530hp version which can do 0-60mph in a blistering 3.8 seconds.

2. BYD Dolphin: A Volkswagen ID3 alternative

Wowscore: 7/10

A quick Google search will reveal that dolphins are a bit bigger than seals, but the BYD Dolphin is actually the smallest car it currently sells. It’s as spacious inside as a Volkswagen ID3, but costs about the same as the much smaller Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

This makes it great value for money, especially when you look at the long list of standard equipment. The interior may not be as posh as a Cupra Born’s, and the rear visibility isn’t great, but the Dolphin is really spacious and it’s good to drive.

3. BYD Sealion 5: A Hyundai Tucson alternative

Wowscore: 7/10

The Sealion 5 is one of a glut of Chinese plug-in hybrid SUVs to launch in fairly rapid succession – along with the Geely Starray and Chery Tiggo 7. All three cars cost within £5 of each other at less than £30,000, so the Sealion 5 is a cut-price alternative to some of the most popular PHEV SUVs on the market such as the Hyundai Tucson or Ford Kuga.

While it’s quite efficient and gets plenty of standard equipment, the Sealion 5 looks pretty old-fashioned and the monochromatic interior isn’t particularly exciting, so it’s definitely a head-over-heart purchase.

4. BYD Sealion 7: A Kia EV6 alternative

Wowscore: 7/10

You can think of the BYD Sealion 7 as being an SUV version of the Seal. You can get it with the same 530hp dual-motor setup and the styling is very similar to the saloon, however the interior is totally different.

It’s a spacious and well-equipped electric car, but with prices starting at around £47,000 it’s quite a lot more expensive than alternatives like the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y. Both of those cars are more comfortable as well.

5. BYD Atto 2: A Volvo EX30 alternative

Wowscore: 7/10

At around £30,000 the Atto 2 is quite a strangely positioned car. It’s the same price as the BYD Dolphin, and a little bit bigger – but the entry-level model has less range and it’s arguably a bit less characterful.

The really interesting thing will be when BYD launches the Atto 2 DM-i, a range-extending hybrid model that’s set to become the cheapest plug-in hybrid in the UK at less than £20,000. For now, though, the Atto 2 is a pretty underwhelming alternative to a whole lot of really great EVs for a similar price such as the Kia EV3, Skoda Elroq, and Volvo EX30.

6. BYD Seal U: An MG HS alternative

Wowscore: 7/10

Finally we have the only BYD with a petrol engine on board. It’s confusingly called the Seal U, and it’s a plug-in hybrid with an impressive 77 miles of all-electric range. It’s well-equipped and spacious, but there are a few things which let this car down.

The main one is the way it drives, because the suspension is far too soft so it wobbles a lot over small bumps and imperfections. It’s also not got the nicest interior, and the styling is pretty bland as well. The low starting price makes it tempting, but an MG HS is a much better bet.

7. BYD Atto 3: A Peugeot e-2008 alternative

Wowscore: 6/10

The Atto 3 was the first car BYD launched in the UK, debuting features like the rotating infotainment screen. It’s since had an update with serious mechanical changes including a switch to rear- or all-wheel drive, and a bigger battery. But the quirky interior still remains.

It has a decent range and lots of standard equipment, but the rear-wheel drive Atto 3 isn’t fantastic on the road and though the all-wheel drive model is very quick it can’t really cope with its own performance. It’s also quite pricey compared to the best EVs of this size, such as the Renault Scenic E-Tech.

8. BYD Dolphin Surf

Wowscore: 6/10

The Dolphin Surf is one of the cheapest EVs in the UK, and it’s just a little pricier than the Dacia Spring or the Leapmotor T03. For your money though, you get much more equipment, and the option of a larger battery that’ll do up to 200 miles on a charge – putting it in line with pricier models such as the Citroen e-C3.

As a super-cheap runaround that feels a bit more substantial than a Dacia Spring, the Dolphin Surf is a good option, but it’s not much fun to drive and the boot is very cramped.

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