BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: is a Chinese electric car better than one of the world’s best-sellers?

The Tesla Model 3 is the second most popular electric car in the world right now, only beaten by its SUV sibling – the Tesla Model Y. An update in 2023 further broadened this car’s appeal with revised styling and a nicer interior, making it one of my favourite EVs.

But these days Tesla is facing stiff competition from China, and the Model 3 now needs to fend off the BYD Seal. It’s a similar size to the Model 3, offers much the same levels of performance and has a similar price tag, but which car should you buy?

To find out, I’m going to compare their design, interiors and how they drive.

BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: prices

You might think that buying a Chinese car would be cheaper than a mainstream model but the Tesla Model 3 actually has the lower starting price here.

The range kicks off at £39,990 for the single-motor rear-wheel drive version, while the equivalent BYD Seal costs almost £46,000.

However, the cars I have here are the dual-motor versions. So this Model 3 starts from £49,990, and the BYD costs around £48,700. You can also save an average of around £2,800 on a new BYD Seal when you buy through Carwow.

BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: design

So these cars are pretty closely matched on price, but which one looks the best? I’m going to start with the Tesla Model 3.

It was given a mid-life update in 2023 which brought a new face with slimmer headlights and a redesigned front bumper. It also gave the car a “butt” lift with some new taillights and a diffuser, however the side profile remains pretty much the same as the old car’s.

Now I’d like to talk about plagiarism, because the BYD Seal is giving off some Tesla vibes from certain angles. THis could be because it’s just another medium-sized saloon car, but I do think the headlights look very similar to the ones you’ll find on the Tesla Roadster.

This aside, I do like all of the extra details BYD has added, such as the creases down the side and the little fins under the rear doors. I ever so slightly prefer the way the Seal looks overall, so China gets the design win.

BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: interior and infotainment

The Tesla Model 3’s interior was also updated in 2023 with more posh-feeling materials and new ambient lighting. These changes were good, but what’s not so good is the fact the indicators have been ditched in favour of buttons on the steering wheel. The physical gear selector has gone too, replaced by a slider on the touchscreen. It’s minimalism gone too far.

The BYD on the other hand has a much more conventional cabin with stalks and a physical drive selector. The curvy dashboard looks great as well, and material quality is a match for the Tesla’s.

Both of these cars have touchscreens measuring over 15.0-inches. The Tesla’s has pin-sharp graphics and it’s responsive, but there are no physical buttons for the climate controls – just a few shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.

On the whole this is a really easy system to use with logical menus, although it’s annoying that there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Tesla also refuses to give the Model 3 a head-up display, which would be very welcome here because the speedometer is on the central screen.

This isn’t a problem in the BYD, because it has both a digital driver’s display and a head-up display. However, the touchscreen just isn’t as easy to use as the Tesla’s. Some of the menus are more fiddly to navigate, and there are no shortcuts for your climate control which makes it a pain to adjust things like the cabin temperature on the move.

BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: range and driving

Tesla claims that the entry level Model 3 with a single motor can do 323 miles on a charge, and you can get a long-range version of this car with 436 miles of range. The rear-wheel drive BYD Seal will do 354 miles between stops.

But what about the dual-motor versions I have here? Well this BYD Seal has a claimed range of 323 miles, while this Long Range all-wheel drive Model 3 has 421 miles of range.

Out on the road the Tesla really shines for me. I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but it feels like a go kart to drive with sharp steering and point-and-squirt acceleration. Even with the eco-friendly tyres on this car it grips well, and you can really have a laugh with it on a country road.

By comparison, the BYD Seal feels more vague and less composed than the Model 3. It’s alright to drive day-to-day, but it doesn’t feel quite as precise and tied-down as the Tesla. The softer suspension does make it more comfortable over bumps though, and after a short while I discovered that you can actually get the Seal to kick its tail out if you push it hard enough.

BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: final verdict

So then, what’s my final verdict? Well the BYD Seal is a very good electric car. It’s got a nice interior and I think it looks good, plus it’s pretty comfy to drive day-to-day.

I like it a lot, but I like the Tesla Model 3 even more. It’s even better to drive, has a better infotainment system and you get access to Tesla’s excellent Supercharger network, so that’s where my money would go.

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.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.