Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD unveiled its second passenger model in Korea, the "Seal," on the 16th at the Yongin Speedway track in Gyeonggi Province and nearby public roads. Despite heavy rain making the road slippery and visibility challenging, the vehicle's agile and precise responses allowed for a stable drive.
The mid-sized electric sedan Seal was first introduced at the Seoul Mobility Show in April this year. Customer deliveries are expected to begin in August once the government's eco-friendly subsidies calculation process is finalized.
The Seal offers better driving performance than BYD's first compact electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), the "ATTO3." The company explains that it has applied Cell-to-Body technology, which integrates the body and battery, enhancing body rigidity and stability.
The Seal has a maximum battery output of 390 kilowatts (kW), delivering 530 horsepower. It takes about 3.8 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour. The ATTO3's maximum battery output is 150 kW (204 horsepower), with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds. The Seal's full charge driving range is 407 km under standard conditions, longer than the ATTO3's 321 km.
Many evaluate the design as more refined than the ATTO3, but its elements may evoke mixed preferences depending on personal taste. The steering wheel, inspired by the ocean, resembles a whale's tail, while the crystal gear lever evokes images of raindrops. The materials used for the velvet dashboard storage area and the airbag labeling in Chinese further remind of its Chinese origin.
The Seal measures 4,800 mm in length, 1,460 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,920 mm. This size is similar to that between Hyundai's Avante (length 4,710 mm, height 1,420 mm) and Sonata (length 4,910 mm, height 1,445 mm). The car is slightly shorter for a mid-sized sedan, but with its higher ground clearance, it gives a coupe-like feel.
Driving performance was more prominent on the track than on ordinary roads. The acceleration was strong enough to momentarily push the body back, and the regenerative braking system allowed for a noticeable reduction in speed when lifting off the accelerator. When applying the brakes, the car stopped nimbly and accurately. During sudden braking, the brake lights blinked rapidly to alert following vehicles.
The iTAC (Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control) system assisted in vehicle control. This feature adjusts the torque output of the drive motor to minimize wheel slip and understeer.
During the track drive that day, as the vehicle slightly skidded due to the rain, the steering wheel swiftly corrected itself. The vehicle is equipped with safety assistance features that recognize lane departures and control the steering, blind spot detection, and rear cross-traffic warning.
However, the windshield wipers were slow, making it difficult to maintain visibility even when operating at full speed. While overall noise, such as rain hitting the car body, was well insulated, vibrations from the road surface affected ride comfort.
The price of the Seal Dynamic AWD (all-wheel drive) model released in Korea is 46.9 million won, which is 7.9 million to 9.9 million won lower than in Australia ($61,990) and Japan (6.05 million yen). With subsidies, it is expected to be purchasable in the low 40 million won range in Seoul. However, there are many imported electric vehicles priced around 40 million won, including the Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo EX30, and Polestar 2, raising questions about its price competitiveness.