Driving the Seal 6 DM-i Touring
For my test, I opted for the entry-level Boost, which would have a showroom price of £34,990. The 135kW combined output felt perfectly adequate, nothing more than that. For everyday use, the power is precisely what most will want and need. From a standing start, the Seal 6 accelerates like an EV. It has the rewarding, punchy torque level that a 1.5L petrol engine alone could only ever dream of.
The electric motor provides most of the legwork on the road; however, the 1.5-litre engine steps in to offer some extra oomph when needed. With a 0-62 time of around 8 seconds and a top speed of 111mph, the Seal 6 in either Boost or Comfort form isn’t exactly what you would call punchy. When the petrol engine shares the load for power delivery, it makes itself heard by revving to 6,000rpm to provide extra torque, but otherwise goes unnoticed at low speeds and during more gentle acceleration.
In terms of steering and suspension feel, the Seal 6 DM-i is likely to be similar to the estate cars its buyers are replacing. Like its engine performance, the handling and steering aren’t overly dynamic, but more than fit for purpose.
Road noise and wind noise are both well muted in EV mode, and the engine is only really heard when the throttle is hit hard for overtakes and motorway speeds.
BYD describes itself as a tech company before an automaker, and this is evident in the cars’ in-built infotainment systems, which house a collection of applications for assisted driving. There are also assistive functions for adjusting settings that support spoken commands. Drivers can call out ‘hey BYD’ and ask the car to adjust climate control settings, open and close windows and set navigation destinations without having to remove any hands from the steering wheel.
