I’m living with this Chinese estate car for six months to see if it’s worth considering over its SUV alternatives
Car changing is a big deal
Carwow’s associate producer James Drujon has swapped his BYD Seal U for the new BYD Seal 6 Touring to find out if an estate car makes for a better family runaround. Here’s an introduction to his new car, as well as some first impressions.
After spending six months with a BYD Seal U, the brand’s plug-in hybrid SUV, it’s now been taken away and I’ve been handed the keys to something a bit different. This is my new BYD Seal 6 Touring, and it’s the only Chinese estate car currently on sale in the UK.
I’m going to show you around the Seal 6 Touring, as well as explain why I was keen to try this car out for a few months and give you some first impressions after a couple of weeks with it.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
An introduction to my new BYD Seal 6 Touring
My BYD Seal 6 Touring is as basic as they come. It’s the entry-level Boost trim, finished in no-cost white paint and there are no options fitted to it.
Despite this, it still has a decent amount of standard equipment. I have a 12.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels. Heated seats would be nice during the cold winter months, but you have to step up a trim to get them.
Under the bonnet you’ll find the same 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid petrol engine as I had in my old Seal U SUV, only I’ve now got the version with the smaller of two battery options. This means it has an all-electric range of 31 miles, as opposed to 62 miles if you get the larger pack.
All in, this car will cost you £35,000, however you can save an average of almost £2,500 on a new Seal 6 Touring right now through Carwow. Even before any savings, this car is around £6,500 cheaper than a plug-in hybrid Skoda Superb, and it’s a whopping £8,700 less than a Volkswagen Passat E-Hybrid.
Why am I living with the BYD Seal 6 Touring?
One of my biggest gripes with my old Seal U was the boot, because it wasn’t all that big and the sloping roofline made it hard to load all the way up. In theory, a boxy estate car should be more practical thanks to the flat rear window, and the Seal 6 Touring has 75 more litres compared to the Seal U as well.
I’ve also got an eight-month-old boy to ferry around, and when I was that age estate cars were the go-to family haulers. SUVs have since overtaken in popularity, but I’m interested to compare the two bodystyles back-to-back.
First impressions of the BYD Seal 6 Touring
I’ve had my Seal 6 Touring for a couple of weeks now, and on first impressions I’m pretty pleased with it. For a car at this price the interior feels quite posh, with solid switchgear and plenty of soft-touch plastics, and there’s plenty of room in the back for my son’s bulky child seat.
The hybrid engine is also just as smooth as it was in my old Seal U, meaning I can waft around town in electric silence and you rarely notice the engine kicking in. I am finding some of the driver assistance systems pretty annoying though – they chime in a bit too readily.
I’ll be getting to know this car more over the coming weeks and months, so check back soon for an update on this car after the first month has passed.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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