It’s protected to say that BYD has set the nation alight with the Seal, {an electrical} sedan that goes toe-to-toe with the ever-popular Tesla Model 3. The Chinese language language agency has been pretty aggressive with its latest model, notably by means of pricing.

Most likely, there may be these of you who may be questioning how the BYD compares in opposition to the Tesla by means of value, dimension and bare numbers. Proper right here, we’re taking a greater check out how the Seal stacks up in opposition to its fiercest rival.

Pricing: Seal undercuts Model 3 considerably

We’ve been eagerly awaiting pricing for the Seal as a result of it was confirmed will probably be coming to Malaysia, and now that it’s proper right here, it’s clear that BYD isn’t messing about. Prices are as follows:

• BYD Seal Premium RWD – RM180,430 on-the-road with out insurance coverage protection
• BYD Seal Effectivity AWD – RM200,430 on-the-road with out insurance coverage protection

As such, the Seal Premium RWD undercuts the Model 3 RWD (RM190,700) by higher than RM10,000, and don’t overlook, you proceed to need in order so as to add on-the-road registration costs to Tesla’s prices. Within the meantime, the Effectivity AWD is over RM19,000 cheaper than the Model 3 Prolonged Range AWD (RM219,700), and in addition you get additional effectivity as nicely.

Dimensions: Model 3 is smaller nonetheless additional wise

Offered that the Seal has been designed to compete with the Model 3, it’s no shock they’re largely the similar dimension. Nonetheless, the Chinese language language automotive edges out its Chinese language language-built American rival ever so barely, being 80 mm longer and 19 mm taller; the Tesla counters by being 42 mm wider.

This profit ought to offer the BYD bigger inside room compared with the Tesla, although the Model 3 is not at all cramped inside. However when baggage space is what you’re seeking, then the Model 3 is the automotive for you, every by means of the rear boot (425 litres vs 400) and notably the doorway (88 litres versus 40). The precise reality the Seal even has a entrance boot, however, is noteworthy, notably as a result of the Atto 3 and Dolphin don’t have one.

Effectivity and range: Seal is faster, Model 3 can drive extra

Tesla is believed for providing a staggering amount of effectivity in your money, however it certainly’s been upstaged by BYD proper right here. The Seal Premium RWD makes 313 PS and 360 Nm of torque and is able to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.9 seconds – two tenths of a second ahead of the Model 3 RWD.

Within the meantime, the Effectivity AWD variant churns out 530 PS and 670 Nm from its twin motors, enabling it to complete the century sprint in merely 3.8 seconds. That’s six tenths of a second quicker than the Model 3 Prolonged Range AWD. To be sincere, the Seal Effectivity AWD is additional of a competitor for the Model 3 Effectivity, which in its latest Highland guise isn’t out however. Nevertheless we’d depend on the latter to be significantly dearer.

The Tesla hits once more as regards to range. The comparability between the two sedans is refined by the reality that essentially the most price efficient Seal is the one which has basically essentially the most range (as a result of the 82.5 kWh LFP battery comes customary), whereas with the Model 3, the Prolonged Range model costs additional. Even so, the Model 3 Prolonged Range comfortably beats the Seal Premium RWD with a wide range of 629 km, versus 570 km for the BYD (every figures are WLTP) – whatever the precise reality it has all-wheel drive.

Charging: Profit Tesla

Charging cases are inconclusive as Tesla doesn’t current any figures for the Model 3 (solely that its 250 kW DC Superchargers are able to current as a lot as 282 km of additional range in quarter-hour). Nevertheless the automotive can accept a greater amount of DC fast charging power than the Seal (170 kW vs 150 kW), the latter taking 37 minutes to price from 10 to 80%.

The Model 3 will even price quicker when plugged as a lot as an AC charger, because it may truly assist as a lot as 11 kW, compared with merely 7 kW for the Seal. The latter takes a staggering 15.2 hours for a full price.

And that’s with the acceptable 7 kW single-phase charger. For those who occur to make use of an 11 kW or 22 kW three-phase charger pondering it’ll be sooner, the Seal’s onboard charger will step all the best way right down to between 3.5 and three.7 kW, which signifies that it’s going to take twice as prolonged (higher than a full day) compared with a technically slower 7 kW charger. Electrical autos with a three-phase 11 kW (similar to the Tesla) or 22 kW OBC don’t bear from this concern.

It moreover goes with out saying that solely the Model 3 can use Tesla’s Supercharger group along with its Trip spot Chargers.

What else?

For those who occur to’re seeking the automotive with basically essentially the most value for money, the Seal trumps the Model 3 arms down. The bundle itemizing is principally an similar all through every variants, along with full-LED lighting, large 19-inch alloy wheels, flush pop-out door handles, a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a novel rotating 15.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, powered leather-based seats, a glass roof, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system and a 360-degree digital digicam system.

You moreover get a full suite of driver assists, resembling autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise administration and lane centring assist, plus 9 airbags that embrace rear aspect and driver’s centre airbags.

In distinction, you might have quite a few risk containers to tick with the Tesla, resembling alloy wheels (lowly 18s as customary), colours (solely white is free) and even the choice of Autopilot (common, Enhanced or the uncertain Full Self Driving). On the plus aspect, even the same old Autopilot is probably going one of many most interesting throughout the enterprise, as are the same old 15.4-inch entrance and eight-inch rear touchscreens. No stalks, however, so there’s that.

Itching to learn the way these two vehicles drive? Check out Hafriz’s video consider of the Tesla Model 3 and Anthony’s first drive impressions of the BYD Seal.

GALLERY: 2024 BYD Seal Premium RWD in Malaysia

GALLERY: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Prolonged Range AWD in Malaysia

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