Just by this car alone, I can say that China has really stepped their game up in terms of quality. I have an uncle that has a business of being the middle man for construction supplies. He knows a lot about China's manufacturing since he scouts a lot of factories. I asked him why China's quality is always so poor. He said, "It's not because they can't produce high quality, it's just that their client wants more profit and would rather compromise the quality. You want cheap? You will get what you will pay for."
That's about it... On top of that The companies sending us goods from China are mostly western multinationals Where Chinese mostly send their goods to their Belt and Road trade partners In most cases companies who have wholly owned factories in China using more and more illegal labor from SE Asia or more and more automation in their factories in China.
Earlier this year (2024), one of the Federal Reserve banks paid an American engineering firm to tear down this car right to the bolts. Their report basically called the BYD Seal an "extinction level event" for American automakers.
It is true, a lot of Russians today are complaining that Chinese cars they now get are crap but the issue is that they cannot afford the more expensive models so China ships all the crappy brands with issues to them... and they are ICE cars anyway, or very crappy hybrids, brands that nobody really drives around in Chinese bigger cities or Westerners or Chinese cover as part of the brands that have made those great cars recently... they drive Haval or maybe Chery ICE cars and some less known brands... not Xpang, BYD or Zeekr
I’ve owned a BYD Seal AWD performance since October 2023 and absolutely love the car. Here in Thailand it was cheaper than a RWD model 3 and there are no extras to pay. 3.8 seconds 0-62mph is fast enough for me. I have the V2L hooked up to my home solar to power my house - videos on my channel.
Very nice. I have had my Tesla M3 Performance a few years now and thinking of switching to Seal Performance model as well. Never driven one but saw one sat in the show room and i was very impressed by the build quality of it.
@@borinvlogsif you’re thinking of it, wait until the BYD Seal 07. It’s going to have a refreshed interior, LIDAR for better ADAS, potentially the blade 2.0 batteries which are 20% more energy dense
I test drove both a BYD Seal and a Tesla Model 3 LR at the Everything Electric show in Amsterdam in 2023. The Tesla I knew, and of course it is super impressive. I love the M3. But what surprised me was how good the Seal is. It's different. It's actually softer in handling and comfort, but the Chinese makers go for more luxury/tech over hardcore minimalism/tech. But it easily has enough performance. And, as you can see, It has enough tech. It's a real competitor. Take it seriously.
BYDs are also sold in Australia, with the seal starting at 35k USD we also get the performance variant. Im a model 3 owner and frequent seal premium driver. Imo byd build quality/ fit and finish is superior compared to tesla ie real leather, nice balance of real buttons and touch functionality, but the ADAS leaves much to be desired compared to tesla. Software/UI will improve over time, i think when people say the software being better than tesla, they're meaning within China. Totally agree with Kyle more of a cruiser than the model 3 much smoother ride feel and quieter. Overall a great car and excellent alternative to the model 3 particularly in terms of value for money.
@@oumuamua1963 I do. also have family that drive a 24 model 3 and 24 byd seal. so very familiar with improvements of the new model 3. still think in terms of overall ride quality the byd is better and quieter.
Not quite that simple, on the HS-7 you need to be a 'non-resident' of the US, so you need a Mexican residence permit and Mexican driver's license (you can't drive a Mexican car without a Mexican driver's license unless it's a rental).
I'm sure it is quite a complicated if not impossible to do that legally , way back in 1989 my cousin immigrated to California from Canada, drove to Michigan with his 2 yr old van and trailer , was stopped at the borders and had to turn around due to his Van not complying to US and California standards, he flew to California, bought a new Van and drove that van back to Toronto to pickup the loaded trailer he had to drove back to California .
I wouldn't say no one knows what is actually going on with BYD. In fact, the Germans know quite a bit about BYD as an automaker and a battery manufacturer. The Japanese have also started to realize BYD is a force to be reckoned with and are conducting extensive research about the company and its products. However, it's true that almost no one in the US or Canada knows anything about them, for obvious reasons.
As a Berkshire Hathaway share holder, I got introduced to BYD at the annual meeting in 2008 (or somewhere around then). Impressive as BYD up to then was basically in the cell phone battery business. Huge leap to go into auto production. You occasionally get signals at the Berkshire meeting on what stocks to buy, I should have bought some BYD stock as soon as I got home. Oops. Stock is up over 20 times since then.
Great overview. I test drove the entry level Seal and Model 3 (did a comparison video myself), both great cars but ended up with the Seal as it was $7K cheaper in Australia and seemed to be more luxurious and smoother to drive.
Australian Atto 3 owner with 25k kilometres since purchase. I really love the seal but I need a hatch back with ground clearance. Totally agree with all your comments regarding BYD in your driving impression. In my experience so far OTA updates and dealer services been great, car keeps getting better done a heap of highway, dirt road some towing and city driving. Old Toyota fan but wow BYD is a solid well built comfortable vehicle for sure 😁👍
"....but I need a hatch back with ground clearance." Same here. Hatchbacks are just way more versatile than sedans, especially when you need to haul something taller than will fit in a trunk, or long, like shelf boards or some 2x4's for a home project.
As a BYD shareholder I'm surprised the dealership services have been great. I heard BYD didn't directly own their Australian retail network but instead commission a third party company to operate it. I was having concerns that they might not do so well with the After-sales services
My Atto 3 was great to drive until I needed to book it for repairs with the only one authorised repairer. They are so busy that the next available booking is in October 2024. A waiting period of 3 months. Take that into consideration when you buy a BYD in Melbourne, Australia.
Sad to hear are you awaiting panel work? I needed a new windscreen thanks to North Queensland poor quality roads windscreen supplier had them in stock and calibrated it easy mentioned it was a much easier job than other common brands my local BYD dealer great 👍
And I suspect that on a "level playing field" there might be a closer match if manufactured elsewhere... But.... The main thing is, this is "Angels on the head of a pin " territory, the real problem is the *combination* of BYD AND Tesla for others? Between these two? You pay your money and take your choice.
One has the backing of its government. The other has a government that won’t even mention its name and tries to throw it under the bus any chance given. Really no surprise why one is 20% cheaper than the other in China.
I've seen the 3 Seal models and they are awesome. The high end one is crazy fast and has a 690 km range. Luxurious interior. I drove a Dolphin and it is very nice, lots more power than the Toyotas and Hondas I've driven.
Protectionist tariffs prevent competition and limit customer choice. Punitive tariffs are not paid by the country of origin but by the consumer in destination market.
China massively subsidizes its car industry. The free market is a utopian fantasy. You will get a slightly cheaper car and the destruction of jobs etc. in your country.
I've watched a traveller's vlog on a busy street scene in Chicago and the background traffic noise is deafening compared with similar street scenes in Chinese cities. The reason is obvious: most vehicles in Chinese cities are EVs. Needless to say, the air is cleaner and healthier with less ICE vehicles on the road.
And it's actually the politicians who are always crying "Free Market!!" that are most pushing to keep these cars from coming into US. Tesla needs some real competition. They are getting way too complacent and Musk is getting delusions of serious grandeur. I would love to see him brought back to Earth so he can get back to making Tesla a premier car company, not a Terminator manufacturing company.
It is far from a perfect product, and it won't destroy the us automakers, but the fact that it can't be here at all is the problem. Protectionism is always bad especially when it is linked with lobbying and political influence from the big corporations
Kyle needs to visit the BYD factory in California and then go to China: BYD, CATL and SAIC for sure. On the way home he could visit South Korea: Hyundai, KIA and Samsung.
I don't care how much better tesla is they won't be getting my money. No prize for guessing why. I own a BYD Atto 3 and it does everything and more than what I need.
I live in Mexico and as I type this, calculating today’s exchange rate, the Seal is $43,460 USD. In Mexico, the price is the price no matter which dealer. The price is “All In” which includes 16% IVA tax. There are many many Chinese brands on the road here, probably the most common being the MG or maybe the Chirey. BYD (Build Your Dreams) are more of a luxury brand.
You guys will also get the Dolphin and Dolphin Mini. These are dirt cheap. Seriously thinking about paying those tariffs. Interesting how Mexico, who doesn’t care much about being geopolitically vulnerable, will adapt to all those BYD cars, knowing how far behind they are in the electrification of their industries.
I drove the seal in Europe for 3 weeks and hands down, it's way better than Tesla. It's a Shame our so called "free economy " will not allow free competition!!
Well, we spent 50 years sabotaging EV technology, so now it’s the only way to protect our lagging EV industry. Punching ourselves in the face for corporations is the American way.
I’ve been waiting for this I’ve heard nothing but good things about BYD and the outer spec network of channels has become my favorite longform car channels. Keep up the great work let me dive into this video.
I have a BYD Seal AWD, but never drove a tesla so I cant say if it’s better or worse than the model 3. I still own 2 non-M BMWs. While the seal is much, much quicker, I still think BMWs are better driver cars. The Seal is a true cruiser. It’s very comfortable and quiet. It doesnt have the best tires (conti ecocontact 6Q), but I doubt summer tires will make a huge difference because the chassis is designed towards comfort. The high regenerative braking makes me feel queasy, so I set it to standard. This is my first EV, and the thing I like about the seal is the slight delay in throttle response. It feels like I’m driving an ICE car, and with the traffic where I live, it’s better. Overall I like the car for daily driving. It’s kinda numb, but I still have my BMWs when I want to have some fun.
Drove the car for a week. Overall, really good, and almost as good as the more expensive BMW I4 for driver experience. BYD has a growing UK has a dealer network, which should be reassuring for servicing (dont know availability of parts however). The annoying speed bongs have apparently been corrected with a recent software fix, however it reduced the parking sensor bongs. The issue is the car picks up slower speed limit (eg 5mph in a car park), then bongs at you when you drive on the road until it eventually detects a 30mpg sign (or correct speed limit). Only a few mph over the speed limit, it starts bonging (10% rule?). I think its possible to turn this off manually each and every time. Seems to be an issue pairing a car with their phone app. According to fb group, can take weeks to resolve. Has a lot of features as standard, that other brands might charge for. Spotify app wouldnt login, which is apparently a known issue. Android auto worked fine. Voice commands are erratic, such as listen to a radio station. It uses an american english voice, so (in the UK) mispronounces words. It has no idea where chargepoints are in the UK. The head up display speed flickers too much on cruise control which is a bit distracting. Should be a software fix to perhaps reduce the speed sample rate when on cruise control. At slower speeds, I could see a quicker responding number may help.
Just a note, the BYD e6 EV first drove on European roads in 2014. BYD HQ was in Rotterdam at the time, but it was being used as a taxi in London. Oh and it had a 246 mile range even then (when the Nissan Leaf could barely manage 70 miles per charge).
@@junaidisalam5718 smoking on a Chinese pack. Why don’t you go look into the Soyuz design and the Chinese space station design before yapping small sausage man
Remember everybody wants BYD sets up. In Mexico and sales from the factory, we can easily go get the cars and bring them here without worrying about a tarrif as long as you drive it yourself across border. Only problem you will have is there is no one to fix it.
Kyle. Amazed you haven’t been picked up by all the big brands for final chassis and EV evaluation. Your breadth of knowledge and experience, but also your perspective, is invaluable. Great review mate.
There's loads of BYDs in NZ. I test drove a Seal Performance just last weekend, and while i was very impressed with the fit and finish for the price, it did still have some substantial issues with how the vehicle interface is designed which might not have bothered me that much when I drove a used Atto 3, but in a new Seal priced at over 80k NZD was astoundingly bad. The Regen braking is terrible. You have two modes: normal and high, which is really "none" and "technically present". There is nothing even approaching 1-pedal driving or pseudo-1-pedal with creep. And worse, to toggle it you have to swipe down from the top of the infotainment screen and hit a Regen braking widget, like you're turning airplane mode on in the notification tray of your smartphone. It's basically the exact opposite of something like the Hyundai group paddle shifters, which really empower the driver to precision manage their Regen if they choose. There are 3 drive modes - eco, normal, and sport - and the normal one feels way too powerful. They need to add another mode between eco and normal for city driving without giving yourself whiplash. Call them "eco comfort normal sport", or even better, "eco normal sport performance". And finally, the sound system sucks. It can produce a respectable bass rumble which will make it passable for most buyers, but every other section of the sound spectrum is so bad i am pretty sure even the average listener will notice the missing fine details from their favourite tracks compared to, say, their smartphone or bluetooth speakers they likely have if they're in a position to buy a car of this price. EDIT: oh, a weird extra thing that really surprised me: the door bins weren't designed to take a standard 500ml insulated bottle. Every single other modern car i've driven had door bins specifically sized to take one, and in the Seal i had to wedge it in sideways with a fit so tight the door plastics were straining and creaking. What a strange design oversight
@PsychedMedia sure, you can prefer weak Regen, but shouldn't the choice of what type of Regen to use be the driver's decision rather than an absolute constraint inflicted on you by the car? And for the hardware switch for the Regen, you're probably thinking of the Atto 3. I know there was one in that, but in the seal I definitely couldn't find it, and the salesperson walking me through the controls prior to my drive advised there wasn't one for the Seal, only the screen. I've gone and checked the owner's manual for both models from BYD New Zealand and confirmed the Atto 3 has mention of a hardware button for managing Regen settings, while the Seal only mentions managing the settings in software.
Your comments are way off. Whilst not OPD, the high regen with latest software is quite strong. The Seal also has blended brakes, the Tesla only has friction brakes. The UI in the Seal is quite sleek, the latest software adding gesture control for AC, which makes using Android Auto / Apple Carplay easier to use (which Tesla don't have anyway). I leave the car in Sport mode permanently. It's pretty easy to get used to the power and drive accordingly. Current software has just about fixed all the ADAS issues. Tesla have had a never ending cycle of fixing/breaking/fixing/breaking ADAS with their software updates. I have both the Seal and Model 3 and the Seal is a far superior car, in IMO. I can only guess you are strongly biased towards Tesla and can't look at other cars objectively. But you are not alone. Tesla owners give me ICE owner vibes, very protective of the status quo.
I live near where you filmed. If you need a few tips on where the best roads are for testing, feel free to contact me. I also have an M3P Highland for comparison if you want to put it next to a BYD. IG-L 100kmh on the motorway means the speed is 100kmh for environmental reasons. With an electric car you can drive 130kmh.
Technically you can go up to 130 km/h, but practically not. There is always a fossil in the left lane that prevents anything above 110 km/h, unless you drive on Inntalautobahn in the middle of the night, but then you have the 110 km/h night speed limit. 🤣
I just heard they are about to update the architecture to 800v like next month v3 is supposed to be announced. Looks like they are really taking it directly to Tesla. Bjorn's video on this car seemed like the software needs some work. Looks like BYD intends to be the leader. They are improving very fast.
Yeah, almost all mid-size EVs in China are 800V now. Even some compact cars will be 800V in the near future. Good that BYD implemets it in their main models now. The BYD premium brand "Yangwang" already has it of course. In Europe at least the premium manufacturers like Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes have or will have 800V. Some of the new models in 2025 will be the Mercedes CLA, BMW iX3 and Audi A6. Volkswagen will follow in 2028 with the new 800V SSP platform (quite late tho). The biggest surprise is the reluctance of Tesla to upgrade their mass-selling vehicles and charging infrastructure to 800V. At least for the Model S and Model X it is such a shame and incompetence. The Model Y should be 800V with the upcoming Juniper update or it will fall behind quickly. I am pretty sure Tesla is too stingy to update the Model Y significantly tho. Model 3 is okay without 800V if they lower the prices for this model, it needs to be cheaper than the Model Y anyway to differenciate it more and give customers a reason to buy it over the much more practical Model Y. I hope former Tesla buyers and potential customers wake up and realize how low-tech and cheaply build Teslas really are at this point. The market is moving fast.
@@BBingo-v5i We know Tesla is talking about it. The V4 SC's were supposed to support this. So far they appear to be stumbling and bumbling around with this. BYD appears to be moving with a purpose. The Chinese are not fooling around. If they get this software sorted Tesla is in trouble.
@@BBingo-v5iJust curious - what advantage does 800V have in these cars? The Seal charges up to 150kW, my model 3 does 250kW.. As a former Audi and BMW customer, I can’t complain about quality nor reliability of Tesla either…
@@GamingProject23 well normal 400V chargers can only deliver something like 210kW (For example 420V + 500A). Tesla has much higher Amps then normal, something like 600A and 425V, so 255kW. But even with these chargers you are restricted at a mediocre level. If you have something like a 100kWh battery pack, like in the Model X/S, then you only charge with 2,5C, which is 10-80% in 25-30min in reality. 30min is like last decade old charging speeds and abysmal for any new premium EV. If you want a faster charging session, let's say 10-80% in 20min, which is 3C, with the 100kWh battery you'd already need an 800V system which can deliver 300kW (100kWh * 3C). At 4C, which is something like 10-80% in 15min im reality, you already need 400kW. At 5C, which should be 10-80% in around 12min, you need 500kW. But even smaller batteries profit from 800V system if you want to charge extra fast. A 70kWh battery would already need 280kW at 4C charging speeds and 350kW at 5C. 4C and 70kWh has become the standard and is even almost the entry-level specs in China for mid-range EVs, so it really is nothing special. 100kWh batteries in Model 3 sized EVs is the premium option but also available now, in the Zeekr 007 for instance or in the upcoming Mercedes CLA which will have 90kWh net battery capacity. Without 800V you would be stuck with smaller batteries and mediocre charging speeds at best. This counts especially for Tesla which offers small battery sizes (and therefore also small range) in the Model 3s and Model Ys nowadays and even with these batteries they charge mediocre. Without 800V in your mid-range EV you are outdated in 2025. The BYD Seal was the final nail in the coffin. 400V is fine for compact or sub-compact EVs, but that's kinda it.
Have a Performance here in Australia. Has been 800V architecture from the start of sales last year. So not sure where people are getting their incorrect info.
This performance version that you have. has 3.8s at the back meaning 3.8s from 0-100km/h. Ppl usually go for a smaller battery RWD version and it is smoother and breaks are not that grubby. And while not perfect most people replace their 10yo or 20yo cars and it is a huge step up for them. Plus it is different to Tesla and cheaper.
As a person who wants to own an EV. I care more about comfort, quality, and reliability than technology. I would pick the BYD over any Tesla. I do NOT trust technology on doing the driving for me because it's not reliable. The more of these technologies we have, the more distracted we are as drivers. My brother uses FSD on the freeway often with a small counterweight added on the steering wheel and uses his smartphone regularly. I accused him of being selfish for simply putting other driver's lives at risk for his own benefit.
The software is just so bad. If you’re really into cushy interiors, the Seal is fantastic, but I need a smooth software experience with lots of features.
@@jonathanfields4ever Odd feature to have brought up. The Tesla doesn't even have a simple function to set a time period for charging. I have to use Charge HQ. There are other obtuse charging related functions but nothing that just let's you charge within a specific time period. My Seal does have this feature and it works fine.
The BYD Seal does feature a brake-by-wire system. This technology allows for electronic control of the braking system, which can provide more precise braking response and improved integration with other vehicle systems such as regenerative braking.
39:42 Just a side note, if it says IG-L on the speed limit, it is due to air quality, and electric cars are actually exempt from that, so you are allowed to go 130 km/h.
Yes, the only issue with that is, that there is almost always a fossil in the left lane and you can barely reach 110 km/h most of the time. So technically legal, but practically impossible.
My opinion - it will only give an excuse to the American / European automakers to make sub par cars. Once China produces in Mexico or other countries well then get their cars and they’ll be even farther ahead. Protectionism is not the answer
Bailouts aren't just "free" money like a subsidy is, it's a government loan that was paid back, and only GM and Chrysler were bailed out. And it's not like the US isn't subsidizing its EVs either. That's basically what the IRA EV tax credit is.
You're not wrong but the US only stepped in for a specific reason but mostly is not involved. China is so far up their @$$ nothing gets done without them being involved.
These cars will eventually come to America. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but for sure by 2026 BYD and other CHinese EV makers will bring these cars to the US. How? They will avoid the massive tariffs put on Chinese EVs by using NAFTA rules. By building plants in Mexico they conform to rules of trade for NAFTA partner countries. Several Chinese EV makers are already building in Mexico. They are building enough capacity that it's clear they intend to sell in America since the capacity exceeds the market in Mexico and Latin America. I recently rented a BYD in Europe and was extremely impressed with the car. It had very good efficiency, was comfortable and easy to drive. I would buy a BYD Seal or the Truck that they are planning to make.
The swing setting reminds me of some of the modes of modern mini-split AC units that vary flow and direction to create something more naturally feeling, like a light breeze. I can easily see liking that option in the car on high heat days
When I see the interior of a model 3 and I see the interior of the BYD....massive difference in favor of BYD. Look at the materials, looks, 2 screens...one behind the beautiful steering wheel. Beautiful mid console with drive selector and wireless phone charging There is no way I would choose the tesla. Look how comfortable you sat in the back with that view. Oh look....blinker lever Like bjorn nijland would say "tesla go home!"😊
The Tesla is designed with the ethos, that less is more. The BYD is old-school and has a traditional interior. You go with what you are comfortable with.
@@billymania11 I do not agree. Less is more...but the materials in such a BYD are so much more luxurious. They both don't have buttons etcetera, but I can't live with no cockpit in combination with no HUD Also I want stalks for indicators
@@ferrysonder7051 Nothing wrong with your viewpoint. You're old-school and you want those creature comforts. In my fam, we have a Tesla Model 3 (my wife's car), and my 2023 Mustang GT 6 speed. I actually enjoy both, each has their own appeal.
Your video reviews are great, very informative. Kyle has a deep knowledge of minutiae like the different amp ratings of charging ports, and how the internal chargers respond to supply voltage and amperage. Here’s the thing, for me personally, it’s just too much data. I have started to consider your channel as a EV reference if I need to research a particular car. But honestly I can’t use your channel for casual learning about an EV I’m curious about. Just too long, too much technical detail. You combine lots of personal observations (like your fondness or lack of for the upholstery) with lots of specification type data. What would work better for me (and I suspect lots of other casual viewers) would be to have three separate videos for each car reviewed. #1. A general impression, how does it look, how does it drive, what is the user interface like, price/warranty. #2. performance. How fast does it charge, what is the real world range, how much room is there for passengers and luggage, what is the towing capacity? #3. Deep Dive. pros and cons of the kind of batteries it uses, the motors, the charging method, what kind of suspension, etc etc. For me personally, I would only watch the level 3 videos for a vehicle I intended to buy or already own. You are already providing all that information. I’m just suggesting that 3 twenty minute videos would be a lot more user friendly than one 45 minute or longer video. As it is I usually stop watching about halfway through
If you look at the boot lid it’s different than our Performance here in Oz. His shows a “3.9S” and is missing the “AWD” badge as well the left side. So no clue what it is.
The Mazda 929 had swinging physical vents in the U.S. model, back in the early 90’s. Super useful feature for those of us who want air in our face, but not constantly
What a cool car, I like it a lot. Good to see that the Chinese manufacturers start adding more vehicles to choose from. The more EV options people have, the less people choose a fossil when they are in the market for a new car. I think there was a misunderstanding at the beginning of the video. According to the BYD website the Seal comes with a 32 A onboard charger, but it is only single phase. That means it is limited to only a little over 7 kW. That is certainly not enough for such a big battery. BYD should consider offering a 3-phase charger at least as an option. 22 kW would be great, but even 11 kW is okay. At least you can then use all the power a 16 A 3-phase outlet can deliver. Oh, and on that highway you can legally drive at up to 130 km/h with an EV, because the 100 km/h limit is only for improving air quality and EVs are exempt from that speed limit. But on the other hand it is almost impossible to go that fast, as fossil cars are always blocking the left lane driving between 90 and 110 km/h.
Very nice vehicle. Quite surprised at build quality of exterior and interior. However, the gauge cluster/UI seems busy and over-complicated. Do we really need two iPads on the dash ?
I have tried this, and Model 3 LR. In Denmark, the Tesla is abit cheaper. I completly agree with you about the pros and cons on this car. Seems like the chinese have some way to go in the software department. Xpeng struggles alot with it´s driver aid. You missed the 3.8 at the back of the car, this is the 0-62 time, so it´s on pair with Model 3 performance. Biggest problems with the car is the battery thermal management, that Bjørn showed in his 1000 km test, the lack of crusie control above 120 km/h, and the lack of one pedal driving, preheat, and routeplanner. Beside those, wich are dealbreakers for me, it´s a really nice car :)
For me for example who never use ADAS or one pedal driving I much more prefer this than a tesla. If I drive I want to control the car and not rely on ADAS. The thermal management is hardly any issue in normal driving.
I live in China, where BYD has been a growing ICE manufacturer for years. They were always targeted at the lower end of the market &, imho, never esthetically attractive. The name is an acronym (more precisely, initialism) for Build Your Dream, which always struck me as a ridiculous name for an auto maker. Their newer EVs, though, are definitely improving in terms of esthetics, as well as in every other way. There are over 100 EV makers in China, though. Whether or not BYD survives the coming industry attrition only time will tell.
(from wiki) "BYD" is the pinyin initials of the company's Chinese name Biyadi. The company was originally known as Yadi Electronics (亚迪电子), named after the Yadi Road in Dapeng New District, where the company was once based.[22] According to Wang Chuanfu, when the company was registered, the character "Bi" (比) was added to the name to prevent duplication, and to provide the company with an alphabetical advantage in trade shows.[23] As the name "BYD" had no particular meaning, BYD started adopting a backronymic slogan "Build Your Dreams" when it participated at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in the US.[24][25][26]
Just by this car alone, I can say that China has really stepped their game up in terms of quality. I have an uncle that has a business of being the middle man for construction supplies. He knows a lot about China's manufacturing since he scouts a lot of factories. I asked him why China's quality is always so poor. He said, "It's not because they can't produce high quality, it's just that their client wants more profit and would rather compromise the quality. You want cheap? You will get what you will pay for."
That's about it... On top of that
The companies sending us goods from China are mostly western multinationals
Where Chinese mostly send their goods to their Belt and Road trade partners
In most cases companies who have wholly owned factories in China using more and more illegal labor from SE Asia or more and more automation in their factories in China.
Germans are literally buying parts from China then re-label them and sell them for x3 the price to other countries as German parts.
Same story with Ebike battery packs. They make good stuff but alot of people buy a cheap battery from China and expect the best.
Earlier this year (2024), one of the Federal Reserve banks paid an American engineering firm to tear down this car right to the bolts. Their report basically called the BYD Seal an "extinction level event" for American automakers.
It is true, a lot of Russians today are complaining that Chinese cars they now get are crap but the issue is that they cannot afford the more expensive models so China ships all the crappy brands with issues to them... and they are ICE cars anyway, or very crappy hybrids, brands that nobody really drives around in Chinese bigger cities or Westerners or Chinese cover as part of the brands that have made those great cars recently... they drive Haval or maybe Chery ICE cars and some less known brands... not Xpang, BYD or Zeekr
The new byd hybrid system is insane. Full tank and fully charged can drive over 2000km
I’ve owned a BYD Seal AWD performance since October 2023 and absolutely love the car. Here in Thailand it was cheaper than a RWD model 3 and there are no extras to pay. 3.8 seconds 0-62mph is fast enough for me. I have the V2L hooked up to my home solar to power my house - videos on my channel.
Very nice. I have had my Tesla M3 Performance a few years now and thinking of switching to Seal Performance model as well. Never driven one but saw one sat in the show room and i was very impressed by the build quality of it.
@@borinvlogsif you’re thinking of it, wait until the BYD Seal 07. It’s going to have a refreshed interior, LIDAR for better ADAS, potentially the blade 2.0 batteries which are 20% more energy dense
awesome, your house is so cool❤
@@Alex_HangzhouThanks
@EcoHouseThailand
Very Nice house.
I test drove both a BYD Seal and a Tesla Model 3 LR at the Everything Electric show in Amsterdam in 2023. The Tesla I knew, and of course it is super impressive. I love the M3. But what surprised me was how good the Seal is. It's different. It's actually softer in handling and comfort, but the Chinese makers go for more luxury/tech over hardcore minimalism/tech. But it easily has enough performance. And, as you can see, It has enough tech. It's a real competitor. Take it seriously.
I’ve had mine in Australia for a few months. Awesome car. I test drove several cars including teslas. The seal is the best for us.
The city I work in has over a dozen BYD buses and are very nice on the inside and out
BYD has been producing electric buses for a long time.
BYDs are also sold in Australia, with the seal starting at 35k USD we also get the performance variant. Im a model 3 owner and frequent seal premium driver. Imo byd build quality/ fit and finish is superior compared to tesla ie real leather, nice balance of real buttons and touch functionality, but the ADAS leaves much to be desired compared to tesla. Software/UI will improve over time, i think when people say the software being better than tesla, they're meaning within China. Totally agree with Kyle more of a cruiser than the model 3 much smoother ride feel and quieter. Overall a great car and excellent alternative to the model 3 particularly in terms of value for money.
They just get update that improve ADAS and others.
wr
@@yulusleonard985they have in Australia at least. It isn’t perfect but is hugely better than it was just a few months ago
You have a pre 2024 model 3 right
@@oumuamua1963 I do. also have family that drive a 24 model 3 and 24 byd seal. so very familiar with improvements of the new model 3. still think in terms of overall ride quality the byd is better and quieter.
Note to self: set up corporation in Mexico. Buy BYD and register it there. Drive it across the border and use in the USA.
Clever
Good luck!
Not quite that simple, on the HS-7 you need to be a 'non-resident' of the US, so you need a Mexican residence permit and Mexican driver's license (you can't drive a Mexican car without a Mexican driver's license unless it's a rental).
@@mvevitsis oh bummer.
I'm sure it is quite a complicated if not impossible to do that legally , way back in 1989 my cousin immigrated to California from Canada, drove to Michigan with his 2 yr old van and trailer , was stopped at the borders and had to turn around due to his Van not complying to US and California standards, he flew to California, bought a new Van and drove that van back to Toronto to pickup the loaded trailer he had to drove back to California .
I wouldn't say no one knows what is actually going on with BYD. In fact, the Germans know quite a bit about BYD as an automaker and a battery manufacturer. The Japanese have also started to realize BYD is a force to be reckoned with and are conducting extensive research about the company and its products. However, it's true that almost no one in the US or Canada knows anything about them, for obvious reasons.
As a Berkshire Hathaway share holder, I got introduced to BYD at the annual meeting in 2008 (or somewhere around then). Impressive as BYD up to then was basically in the cell phone battery business. Huge leap to go into auto production. You occasionally get signals at the Berkshire meeting on what stocks to buy, I should have bought some BYD stock as soon as I got home. Oops. Stock is up over 20 times since then.
'You're going to need a bigger tariff'. As an Aussie, can pick these up for $33k USD (minus any state/federal incentives).
The "USA = WORLD" idea has a few cracks showing eh?
😉
P. S
About time for a BYD (etc) factory in OZ?
Minerals and all that?
Where did he say that lol, I must have missed it.
@@jarrodf_ you guys are super lucky in Australia with your free market and all that
@@reginald7214 They lost all auto manufacturing because of that free market
@@JD-yx7be indeed, thems the breaks.
Great overview. I test drove the entry level Seal and Model 3 (did a comparison video myself), both great cars but ended up with the Seal as it was $7K cheaper in Australia and seemed to be more luxurious and smoother to drive.
Australian Atto 3 owner with 25k kilometres since purchase. I really love the seal but I need a hatch back with ground clearance.
Totally agree with all your comments regarding BYD in your driving impression. In my experience so far OTA updates and dealer services been great, car keeps getting better done a heap of highway, dirt road some towing and city driving. Old Toyota fan but wow BYD is a solid well built comfortable vehicle for sure 😁👍
BYD Seal U is coming!😊
"....but I need a hatch back with ground clearance." Same here. Hatchbacks are just way more versatile than sedans, especially when you need to haul something taller than will fit in a trunk, or long, like shelf boards or some 2x4's for a home project.
As a BYD shareholder I'm surprised the dealership services have been great. I heard BYD didn't directly own their Australian retail network but instead commission a third party company to operate it. I was having concerns that they might not do so well with the After-sales services
My Atto 3 was great to drive until I needed to book it for repairs with the only one authorised repairer. They are so busy that the next available booking is in October 2024. A waiting period of 3 months. Take that into consideration when you buy a BYD in Melbourne, Australia.
Sad to hear are you awaiting panel work?
I needed a new windscreen thanks to North Queensland poor quality roads windscreen supplier had them in stock and calibrated it easy mentioned it was a much easier job than other common brands my local BYD dealer great 👍
This car costs 20% less in China than the Tesla Model 3. That's a huge difference!
And I suspect that on a "level playing field" there might be a closer match if manufactured elsewhere...
But.... The main thing is, this is "Angels on the head of a pin " territory, the real problem is the *combination* of BYD AND Tesla for others?
Between these two? You pay your money and take your choice.
One has the backing of its government. The other has a government that won’t even mention its name and tries to throw it under the bus any chance given.
Really no surprise why one is 20% cheaper than the other in China.
@@rogerstarkey5390 lol that is some bad english.
In Mexico the model 3 awd is cheaper than seal awd
@@AA-yw1nhagreed, I have no idea what that man just said.
I've seen the 3 Seal models and they are awesome. The high end one is crazy fast and has a 690 km range. Luxurious interior. I drove a Dolphin and it is very nice, lots more power than the Toyotas and Hondas I've driven.
Stop quoting CLTL range, that is unrealistic.
@sammaimas155 A friend has a Dolphin (the one I drove) and it's good for the rated 490 km while using the AC.
@@tsbrownie The premium LR BYD Seal in Australia has a quoted WLTP range of only 570km.
Chinese EVs usually have good back seat space. My Xpeng P5 has plenty of leg space for a 6 feet tall person. Can say the same for ICE cars
Seal also available in Australia and New Zealand along with other BYD cars, much prefer it to a Model 3 personally.
Wow! The village you are driving through is a Paradise! So beautiful!!!
very typical European village.
@@yellowsheepsyup
Kyle really needs to visit China
Indeed. Don't even need a visa these days. At least for short stays
Absolutelly +1 on this! It is absolutelly eyeopening. Been there 3 times already and the progress they make is mindbogling.
CCP
@@wisefull3210 ccp does more for their people than Biden or trump will, that's for sure.
He seems like a person that thinks China is a 3rd world country
YEAH, congrats!
welcome to Austria, Kyle!!
all the best from Vienna,
Raphael
🇺🇸 Bring it to the USA! I want more competition!
But it's labelled as a major national security threat by the US government.
Protectionist tariffs prevent competition and limit customer choice. Punitive tariffs are not paid by the country of origin but by the consumer in destination market.
China massively subsidizes its car industry. The free market is a utopian fantasy. You will get a slightly cheaper car and the destruction of jobs etc. in your country.
your gov't is protecting you from getting affordable EVs
BYD = CCP. Part of the CCP mass surveillance program. So a definite no-go.
We can't have this in the US cuz it would destroy our complacent automakers. And half the country is allergic to electric cars cuz politicians say so.
I've watched a traveller's vlog on a busy street scene in Chicago and the background traffic noise is deafening compared with similar street scenes in Chinese cities. The reason is obvious: most vehicles in Chinese cities are EVs. Needless to say, the air is cleaner and healthier with less ICE vehicles on the road.
And it's actually the politicians who are always crying "Free Market!!" that are most pushing to keep these cars from coming into US. Tesla needs some real competition. They are getting way too complacent and Musk is getting delusions of serious grandeur. I would love to see him brought back to Earth so he can get back to making Tesla a premier car company, not a Terminator manufacturing company.
@@tuppenceworth5485 as the most polluting country (I believe), anything China can do to make the air cleaner and healthier would be a positive step
@@doctorpatient519 Before you get on your patronising high horse, the US emits 1.6 times more CO2 per capita than China.
It is far from a perfect product, and it won't destroy the us automakers, but the fact that it can't be here at all is the problem. Protectionism is always bad especially when it is linked with lobbying and political influence from the big corporations
Kyle needs to visit the BYD factory in California and then go to China: BYD, CATL and SAIC for sure. On the way home he could visit South Korea: Hyundai, KIA and Samsung.
I suspect China would be "Eye-opening"?
Ccp
@@wisefull3210 CIA?
BYD factory in US is only for buses, surely? it definitely has no personal vehicle manufacturing in the US.
@@wisefull3210NED
Better looking than a Model 3 that’s for sure
Designed by the former head of design for Audi
@@Clove_Parma And Alfa Romeo.
Looks are subjective.
lmao no way.
I’ll keep my model 3 😂
Kyle, you have to remember to tell people how tall you are when doing the seat/back seat review!
Ah crap yes, 6’1 or 185cm
wr
I don't care how much better tesla is they won't be getting my money. No prize for guessing why. I own a BYD Atto 3 and it does everything and more than what I need.
I live in Mexico and as I type this, calculating today’s exchange rate, the Seal is $43,460 USD. In Mexico, the price is the price no matter which dealer. The price is “All In” which includes 16% IVA tax. There are many many Chinese brands on the road here, probably the most common being the MG or maybe the Chirey. BYD (Build Your Dreams) are more of a luxury brand.
You guys will also get the Dolphin and Dolphin Mini. These are dirt cheap. Seriously thinking about paying those tariffs.
Interesting how Mexico, who doesn’t care much about being geopolitically vulnerable, will adapt to all those BYD cars, knowing how far behind they are in the electrification of their industries.
I drove the seal in Europe for 3 weeks and hands down, it's way better than Tesla. It's a Shame our so called "free economy " will not allow free competition!!
Government had to step in because no one wants EVs. Ask any ICE fan to make sense of that and watch the poor soul turn into a pretzel.
@@ElMistroFeroz Doesn't matter the brand, the consumer does NOT want an EV, for good reason, they are outrageously priced, and impractical as well.
BYD pays for bots on every video haha.
@@horseathalt7308
Sales statistics say other wise.
Well, we spent 50 years sabotaging EV technology, so now it’s the only way to protect our lagging EV industry. Punching ourselves in the face for corporations is the American way.
I’ve been waiting for this I’ve heard nothing but good things about BYD and the outer spec network of channels has become my favorite longform car channels. Keep up the great work let me dive into this video.
I have a BYD Seal AWD, but never drove a tesla so I cant say if it’s better or worse than the model 3. I still own 2 non-M BMWs. While the seal is much, much quicker, I still think BMWs are better driver cars. The Seal is a true cruiser. It’s very comfortable and quiet. It doesnt have the best tires (conti ecocontact 6Q), but I doubt summer tires will make a huge difference because the chassis is designed towards comfort. The high regenerative braking makes me feel queasy, so I set it to standard. This is my first EV, and the thing I like about the seal is the slight delay in throttle response. It feels like I’m driving an ICE car, and with the traffic where I live, it’s better. Overall I like the car for daily driving. It’s kinda numb, but I still have my BMWs when I want to have some fun.
I guess Kyle really need to try out that 144hr custom policy soon
Then someone would claim he's being paid by the CCP.
EV is nothing without good software. Especially route planning. That's why Tesla is better than other US EV manufacturers
Once charging infrastructure becomes as prolific as oil/gas infrastructure you won't need route planning software.
Most likely been stated. The car you have there is the 530bhp version, dual motor. So the fastest seal they do
Drove the car for a week. Overall, really good, and almost as good as the more expensive BMW I4 for driver experience. BYD has a growing UK has a dealer network, which should be reassuring for servicing (dont know availability of parts however). The annoying speed bongs have apparently been corrected with a recent software fix, however it reduced the parking sensor bongs. The issue is the car picks up slower speed limit (eg 5mph in a car park), then bongs at you when you drive on the road until it eventually detects a 30mpg sign (or correct speed limit). Only a few mph over the speed limit, it starts bonging (10% rule?).
I think its possible to turn this off manually each and every time.
Seems to be an issue pairing a car with their phone app. According to fb group, can take weeks to resolve.
Has a lot of features as standard, that other brands might charge for.
Spotify app wouldnt login, which is apparently a known issue. Android auto worked fine.
Voice commands are erratic, such as listen to a radio station. It uses an american english voice, so (in the UK) mispronounces words.
It has no idea where chargepoints are in the UK.
The head up display speed flickers too much on cruise control which is a bit distracting. Should be a software fix to perhaps reduce the speed sample rate when on cruise control. At slower speeds, I could see a quicker responding number may help.
Great review. I pick up my Premium Seal (mid spec, LR RWD) in Australia later this week. Can't wait!
Just a note, the BYD e6 EV first drove on European roads in 2014. BYD HQ was in Rotterdam at the time, but it was being used as a taxi in London. Oh and it had a 246 mile range even then (when the Nissan Leaf could barely manage 70 miles per charge).
Best Chinese ev is Zeekr and please test Zeekr 001
when a country is able to build and operates its own Space Station, then building a decent and safe car is a piece of cake...
Not to mention their awesome Novel Corona Lab in Wuhan
@@jackharle1251 The virus are known from the US lab
They didn’t built the space station by themselves, it was with Russian massive help. Do some research before you comment
@@LanNguyen-vd4zt what are you smokin' there... seems like fun
@@junaidisalam5718 smoking on a Chinese pack. Why don’t you go look into the Soyuz design and the Chinese space station design before yapping small sausage man
Remember everybody wants BYD sets up. In Mexico and sales from the factory, we can easily go get the cars and bring them here without worrying about a tarrif as long as you drive it yourself across border. Only problem you will have is there is no one to fix it.
The BYD is a much nicer car than a Model 3. I drove a Model 3 for a few days as a service loaner and really didn't like it.
Kyle’s review at its finest. No one beats Kyle when he’s in his zone.
Love the 3 finger swipe ac control and that you can have the 360 3D camera on while driving
Kyle. Amazed you haven’t been picked up by all the big brands for final chassis and EV evaluation. Your breadth of knowledge and experience, but also your perspective, is invaluable. Great review mate.
I like there is a tablet behind the steering wheel also...
There's loads of BYDs in NZ. I test drove a Seal Performance just last weekend, and while i was very impressed with the fit and finish for the price, it did still have some substantial issues with how the vehicle interface is designed which might not have bothered me that much when I drove a used Atto 3, but in a new Seal priced at over 80k NZD was astoundingly bad.
The Regen braking is terrible. You have two modes: normal and high, which is really "none" and "technically present". There is nothing even approaching 1-pedal driving or pseudo-1-pedal with creep. And worse, to toggle it you have to swipe down from the top of the infotainment screen and hit a Regen braking widget, like you're turning airplane mode on in the notification tray of your smartphone. It's basically the exact opposite of something like the Hyundai group paddle shifters, which really empower the driver to precision manage their Regen if they choose.
There are 3 drive modes - eco, normal, and sport - and the normal one feels way too powerful. They need to add another mode between eco and normal for city driving without giving yourself whiplash. Call them "eco comfort normal sport", or even better, "eco normal sport performance".
And finally, the sound system sucks. It can produce a respectable bass rumble which will make it passable for most buyers, but every other section of the sound spectrum is so bad i am pretty sure even the average listener will notice the missing fine details from their favourite tracks compared to, say, their smartphone or bluetooth speakers they likely have if they're in a position to buy a car of this price.
EDIT: oh, a weird extra thing that really surprised me: the door bins weren't designed to take a standard 500ml insulated bottle. Every single other modern car i've driven had door bins specifically sized to take one, and in the Seal i had to wedge it in sideways with a fit so tight the door plastics were straining and creaking. What a strange design oversight
@PsychedMedia sure, you can prefer weak Regen, but shouldn't the choice of what type of Regen to use be the driver's decision rather than an absolute constraint inflicted on you by the car?
And for the hardware switch for the Regen, you're probably thinking of the Atto 3. I know there was one in that, but in the seal I definitely couldn't find it, and the salesperson walking me through the controls prior to my drive advised there wasn't one for the Seal, only the screen. I've gone and checked the owner's manual for both models from BYD New Zealand and confirmed the Atto 3 has mention of a hardware button for managing Regen settings, while the Seal only mentions managing the settings in software.
wrgg
Your comments are way off. Whilst not OPD, the high regen with latest software is quite strong. The Seal also has blended brakes, the Tesla only has friction brakes.
The UI in the Seal is quite sleek, the latest software adding gesture control for AC, which makes using Android Auto / Apple Carplay easier to use (which Tesla don't have anyway).
I leave the car in Sport mode permanently. It's pretty easy to get used to the power and drive accordingly.
Current software has just about fixed all the ADAS issues. Tesla have had a never ending cycle of fixing/breaking/fixing/breaking ADAS with their software updates.
I have both the Seal and Model 3 and the Seal is a far superior car, in IMO. I can only guess you are strongly biased towards Tesla and can't look at other cars objectively. But you are not alone. Tesla owners give me ICE owner vibes, very protective of the status quo.
Do the bottles fit in the armrest cupholders?
@@vasil7410 cool stuff buddy. Now redo the armchair psychoanalysis with the prompt of "I also don't like Teslas"
The sunroof of BYD is much better than Teala, much cooler
You had me at turn signal stalks and driver dashboard
BYD is good but this video sold me on Austria!
The birth place on a well known world leader from back in the day..lol
Lookup their speeding penalties.
Amazing how massive subsidies can make things affordable
Once I hear Kyle say, "Holy smokes..." I know the vehicle is impressive. And I must visit Austria one of these days.
The Mazda 626 came with "swing" vents in the late 80s-early 90s.
Great cars, it all worked until the were retired.
Thank you Christina
I have to say, that mountain town looks like a dream. Amazing views!
Please forgive me, I didn’t listen to a word you said. I was attracted by the scenery outside the window, like poetry and distant scenery.
About to order a Seal in the next couple of weeks here in Australia. Kinda spewing that we don't get that light green here, I like it a lot!
Seal of approval?
(I'll see myself out)
Everybody has been copying Toyota lunar rocks since it deputed on the rav 4
Remember there’s the new Seal 07 refresh model coming probably next year with a better interior and potentially new generation blade batteries
@@BrandonMeyer1641did toyota invent that color! 😂
Seal is a beautifully designed car. ❤
I live near where you filmed. If you need a few tips on where the best roads are for testing, feel free to contact me. I also have an M3P Highland for comparison if you want to put it next to a BYD. IG-L 100kmh on the motorway means the speed is 100kmh for environmental reasons. With an electric car you can drive 130kmh.
Technically you can go up to 130 km/h, but practically not. There is always a fossil in the left lane that prevents anything above 110 km/h, unless you drive on Inntalautobahn in the middle of the night, but then you have the 110 km/h night speed limit. 🤣
@@felixklusener5530 sometimes i am lucky!
Thanks for helping out Christina
Where is his usual sidekick, she’s been absent from his posts for a while now.
I just heard they are about to update the architecture to 800v like next month v3 is supposed to be announced. Looks like they are really taking it directly to Tesla. Bjorn's video on this car seemed like the software needs some work. Looks like BYD intends to be the leader. They are improving very fast.
Yeah, almost all mid-size EVs in China are 800V now. Even some compact cars will be 800V in the near future. Good that BYD implemets it in their main models now. The BYD premium brand "Yangwang" already has it of course. In Europe at least the premium manufacturers like Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes have or will have 800V. Some of the new models in 2025 will be the Mercedes CLA, BMW iX3 and Audi A6.
Volkswagen will follow in 2028 with the new 800V SSP platform (quite late tho).
The biggest surprise is the reluctance of Tesla to upgrade their mass-selling vehicles and charging infrastructure to 800V. At least for the Model S and Model X it is such a shame and incompetence. The Model Y should be 800V with the upcoming Juniper update or it will fall behind quickly. I am pretty sure Tesla is too stingy to update the Model Y significantly tho.
Model 3 is okay without 800V if they lower the prices for this model, it needs to be cheaper than the Model Y anyway to differenciate it more and give customers a reason to buy it over the much more practical Model Y.
I hope former Tesla buyers and potential customers wake up and realize how low-tech and cheaply build Teslas really are at this point. The market is moving fast.
@@BBingo-v5i We know Tesla is talking about it. The V4 SC's were supposed to support this. So far they appear to be stumbling and bumbling around with this. BYD appears to be moving with a purpose. The Chinese are not fooling around. If they get this software sorted Tesla is in trouble.
@@BBingo-v5iJust curious - what advantage does 800V have in these cars? The Seal charges up to 150kW, my model 3 does 250kW..
As a former Audi and BMW customer, I can’t complain about quality nor reliability of Tesla either…
@@GamingProject23 well normal 400V chargers can only deliver something like 210kW (For example 420V + 500A). Tesla has much higher Amps then normal, something like 600A and 425V, so 255kW. But even with these chargers you are restricted at a mediocre level.
If you have something like a 100kWh battery pack, like in the Model X/S, then you only charge with 2,5C, which is 10-80% in 25-30min in reality. 30min is like last decade old charging speeds and abysmal for any new premium EV. If you want a faster charging session, let's say 10-80% in 20min, which is 3C, with the 100kWh battery you'd already need an 800V system which can deliver 300kW (100kWh * 3C). At 4C, which is something like 10-80% in 15min im reality, you already need 400kW. At 5C, which should be 10-80% in around 12min, you need 500kW.
But even smaller batteries profit from 800V system if you want to charge extra fast. A 70kWh battery would already need 280kW at 4C charging speeds and 350kW at 5C.
4C and 70kWh has become the standard and is even almost the entry-level specs in China for mid-range EVs, so it really is nothing special. 100kWh batteries in Model 3 sized EVs is the premium option but also available now, in the Zeekr 007 for instance or in the upcoming Mercedes CLA which will have 90kWh net battery capacity.
Without 800V you would be stuck with smaller batteries and mediocre charging speeds at best. This counts especially for Tesla which offers small battery sizes (and therefore also small range) in the Model 3s and Model Ys nowadays and even with these batteries they charge mediocre.
Without 800V in your mid-range EV you are outdated in 2025. The BYD Seal was the final nail in the coffin.
400V is fine for compact or sub-compact EVs, but that's kinda it.
Have a Performance here in Australia. Has been 800V architecture from the start of sales last year. So not sure where people are getting their incorrect info.
Good job. I don't remember listening such a good review!
This performance version that you have. has 3.8s at the back meaning 3.8s from 0-100km/h. Ppl usually go for a smaller battery RWD version and it is smoother and breaks are not that grubby. And while not perfect most people replace their 10yo or 20yo cars and it is a huge step up for them. Plus it is different to Tesla and cheaper.
As a person who wants to own an EV. I care more about comfort, quality, and reliability than technology. I would pick the BYD over any Tesla. I do NOT trust technology on doing the driving for me because it's not reliable.
The more of these technologies we have, the more distracted we are as drivers. My brother uses FSD on the freeway often with a small counterweight added on the steering wheel and uses his smartphone regularly.
I accused him of being selfish for simply putting other driver's lives at risk for his own benefit.
Have both a Seal and Model 3 and IMO, the Seal is significantly superior. Shame we don't get this colour in Australia.
They have this color in the UK.
The software is just so bad. If you’re really into cushy interiors, the Seal is fantastic, but I need a smooth software experience with lots of features.
@@jonathanfields4ever I'm into the best car I can drive. I have lots of software to play with on my computer 😉
@@vasil7410 that’s not what it means and you know it. The Seal I borrowed didn’t charge at the time I set.
@@jonathanfields4ever Odd feature to have brought up. The Tesla doesn't even have a simple function to set a time period for charging. I have to use Charge HQ. There are other obtuse charging related functions but nothing that just let's you charge within a specific time period. My Seal does have this feature and it works fine.
Nice video Kyle. Thank you very much! It is time to sell all Tesla stocks. 😂
The BYD Seal does feature a brake-by-wire system. This technology allows for electronic control of the braking system, which can provide more precise braking response and improved integration with other vehicle systems such as regenerative braking.
Porsche copied BYD with the trunk
39:42 Just a side note, if it says IG-L on the speed limit, it is due to air quality, and electric cars are actually exempt from that, so you are allowed to go 130 km/h.
NEVER tell Kyle "You're allowed to go 130kph"
😉😂👍
Yes, the only issue with that is, that there is almost always a fossil in the left lane and you can barely reach 110 km/h most of the time. So technically legal, but practically impossible.
The #1 problem in the United States right now is high prices, and for cars, BYD could help bring those prices down.
They won be allowed to. If they do that the us cars will complain too.
About the 100% tariff:
"The Chinese government is subsidizing its auto industry"
Like USA didn't bail 2 of the "Detroit 3" several times....
My opinion - it will only give an excuse to the American / European automakers to make sub par cars. Once China produces in Mexico or other countries well then get their cars and they’ll be even farther ahead.
Protectionism is not the answer
Bailouts aren't just "free" money like a subsidy is, it's a government loan that was paid back, and only GM and Chrysler were bailed out.
And it's not like the US isn't subsidizing its EVs either. That's basically what the IRA EV tax credit is.
You're not wrong but the US only stepped in for a specific reason but mostly is not involved. China is so far up their @$$ nothing gets done without them being involved.
Usa tax rebate only makes ev cars cheaper in us, not like china make car cheaper in the whole world..
The US government has never bailed out Ford, only the other two.
These cars will eventually come to America. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but for sure by 2026 BYD and other CHinese EV makers will bring these cars to the US. How? They will avoid the massive tariffs put on Chinese EVs by using NAFTA rules. By building plants in Mexico they conform to rules of trade for NAFTA partner countries. Several Chinese EV makers are already building in Mexico. They are building enough capacity that it's clear they intend to sell in America since the capacity exceeds the market in Mexico and Latin America.
I recently rented a BYD in Europe and was extremely impressed with the car. It had very good efficiency, was comfortable and easy to drive. I would buy a BYD Seal or the Truck that they are planning to make.
You should consider going to China. Europe and USA EV offer is super limited. You'd freak out in China, and It is a safe and hospitable place.
Working for the CCP?
@@ms-jl6dl Better than working for Falun Gong cult.
@@ms-jl6dlfound the hillbilly without a passport!
@@ms-jl6dl come on buddy... are you jealous because Chinese made a good car? BTW, the good old US is so afraid that they don't allow them here.
The swing setting reminds me of some of the modes of modern mini-split AC units that vary flow and direction to create something more naturally feeling, like a light breeze. I can easily see liking that option in the car on high heat days
When I see the interior of a model 3 and I see the interior of the BYD....massive difference in favor of BYD.
Look at the materials, looks, 2 screens...one behind the beautiful steering wheel.
Beautiful mid console with drive selector and wireless phone charging
There is no way I would choose the tesla.
Look how comfortable you sat in the back with that view.
Oh look....blinker lever
Like bjorn nijland would say "tesla go home!"😊
The Tesla is designed with the ethos, that less is more. The BYD is old-school and has a traditional interior. You go with what you are comfortable with.
@@billymania11 I do not agree.
Less is more...but the materials in such a BYD are so much more luxurious.
They both don't have buttons etcetera, but I can't live with no cockpit in combination with no HUD
Also I want stalks for indicators
@@ferrysonder7051 Nothing wrong with your viewpoint. You're old-school and you want those creature comforts. In my fam, we have a Tesla Model 3 (my wife's car), and my 2023 Mustang GT 6 speed. I actually enjoy both, each has their own appeal.
Really enjoyed this
Your video reviews are great, very informative. Kyle has a deep knowledge of minutiae like the different amp ratings of charging ports, and how the internal chargers respond to supply voltage and amperage. Here’s the thing, for me personally, it’s just too much data. I have started to consider your channel as a EV reference if I need to research a particular car. But honestly I can’t use your channel for casual learning about an EV I’m curious about. Just too long, too much technical detail. You combine lots of personal observations (like your fondness or lack of for the upholstery) with lots of specification type data. What would work better for me (and I suspect lots of other casual viewers) would be to have three separate videos for each car reviewed. #1. A general impression, how does it look, how does it drive, what is the user interface like, price/warranty. #2. performance. How fast does it charge, what is the real world range, how much room is there for passengers and luggage, what is the towing capacity? #3. Deep Dive. pros and cons of the kind of batteries it uses, the motors, the charging method, what kind of suspension, etc etc. For me personally, I would only watch the level 3 videos for a vehicle I intended to buy or already own. You are already providing all that information. I’m just suggesting that 3 twenty minute videos would be a lot more user friendly than one 45 minute or longer video. As it is I usually stop watching about halfway through
Seal has more room,better interior,more comfortable,best balaneced
The A/C vents swing is a GREAT idea.
Old mazda from the 80s-90s did that
@@JD-yx7bethey move automatically like a house AC and can be set to focus, avoid, swing or freely move like wind
@@JD-yx7be Irrelevant twaddle.
It may make up for it in the way that it drives until it runs out of battery and then they don't tell you where to stop and charge.
Kyle the Seal you have it's called Performance in Australia and you can see on the back says 3.8S and costs here $68,748 Australian
If you look at the boot lid it’s different than our Performance here in Oz. His shows a “3.9S” and is missing the “AWD” badge as well the left side. So no clue what it is.
10:30. Just like the Fisker Ocean, except still in business. 😂😂
Kyle if you get a chance test drive the new BYD Song L other reviewers said it handles much better not soft like other BYD cars but not harsh either.
The Mazda 929 had swinging physical vents in the U.S. model, back in the early 90’s. Super useful feature for those of us who want air in our face, but not constantly
And the 626... So cool!
And dual motor is the perfomance 3.8s
Wait till you see the facelifted Seal, they added LiDAR front and rear and totally changed the interior.
Hope you get your hands on an EX30 twin motor performance while you’re in Europe
And MG4 XPOWER.
Does the seal meet U.S. safety standards / same safety standards as the M3?
No
@@doomsday9973It got 5 star EuroNCAP. Its not like American tests are more thorough than the EU tests.
No, the cost to design to US specs is high. They ace all the European specs though.
It’s kind of obvious that this car is not a model 3 killer. In China those cars have a 10 000$ gap between them.
What a cool car, I like it a lot. Good to see that the Chinese manufacturers start adding more vehicles to choose from. The more EV options people have, the less people choose a fossil when they are in the market for a new car.
I think there was a misunderstanding at the beginning of the video. According to the BYD website the Seal comes with a 32 A onboard charger, but it is only single phase. That means it is limited to only a little over 7 kW. That is certainly not enough for such a big battery. BYD should consider offering a 3-phase charger at least as an option. 22 kW would be great, but even 11 kW is okay. At least you can then use all the power a 16 A 3-phase outlet can deliver.
Oh, and on that highway you can legally drive at up to 130 km/h with an EV, because the 100 km/h limit is only for improving air quality and EVs are exempt from that speed limit. But on the other hand it is almost impossible to go that fast, as fossil cars are always blocking the left lane driving between 90 and 110 km/h.
An interesting license plate, SZ - Shenzhen, the home of BYD.
You've got talent, keep showcasing it
BOO, you bot.
wrr, cepuxaux, outx, can outx etc any nmw s perfx
I’m seeing a few of these on the road in Queensland now
Go visit china Bro. It Will blow your mind...not just the car. The Cities aks We'll.
Very nice vehicle. Quite surprised at build quality of exterior and interior. However, the gauge cluster/UI seems busy and over-complicated. Do we really need two iPads on the dash ?
I have tried this, and Model 3 LR. In Denmark, the Tesla is abit cheaper. I completly agree with you about the pros and cons on this car. Seems like the chinese have some way to go in the software department. Xpeng struggles alot with it´s driver aid. You missed the 3.8 at the back of the car, this is the 0-62 time, so it´s on pair with Model 3 performance. Biggest problems with the car is the battery thermal management, that Bjørn showed in his 1000 km test, the lack of crusie control above 120 km/h, and the lack of one pedal driving, preheat, and routeplanner. Beside those, wich are dealbreakers for me, it´s a really nice car :)
For me for example who never use ADAS or one pedal driving I much more prefer this than a tesla. If I drive I want to control the car and not rely on ADAS.
The thermal management is hardly any issue in normal driving.
For some reason Australia only gets single phase, so max 7kw AC on all versions (I think all byd models too)
Looks a lot nicer than the Tesla.
I own this car. I really enjoy it. Quality is top and driving it is super fun.
I live in China, where BYD has been a growing ICE manufacturer for years. They were always targeted at the lower end of the market &, imho, never esthetically attractive. The name is an acronym (more precisely, initialism) for Build Your Dream, which always struck me as a ridiculous name for an auto maker. Their newer EVs, though, are definitely improving in terms of esthetics, as well as in every other way. There are over 100 EV makers in China, though. Whether or not BYD survives the coming industry attrition only time will tell.
BYD is one of only few EV makers that's actually making a profit..... most other EV brands are losing money with each car they sell...
(from wiki) "BYD" is the pinyin initials of the company's Chinese name Biyadi. The company was originally known as Yadi Electronics (亚迪电子), named after the Yadi Road in Dapeng New District, where the company was once based.[22] According to Wang Chuanfu, when the company was registered, the character "Bi" (比) was added to the name to prevent duplication, and to provide the company with an alphabetical advantage in trade shows.[23] As the name "BYD" had no particular meaning, BYD started adopting a backronymic slogan "Build Your Dreams" when it participated at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in the US.[24][25][26]
Not that it matters but mazda 626 back in the 90s had power oscillating vents
no route planning in europe is a definite miss. obviously they could fix that tommorow OTA if they wanted to
TESLA REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP!!! Not sure why they are trying to use camera for FSD and open themselves to lawsuits..