Electric cars are getting better pretty much every year, but they usually get more expensive too. BYD is trying something different for 2026 – the carmaker shared the details for the updated BYD Seal, and there is some surprising news. Even though the car has more storage and smarter technology, the price is staying exactly where it was, at least in the UK market.
The BYD Seal first arrived in the United Kingdom back in 2023 and it quickly became a popular choice for people looking for a stylish EV. For the 2026 model year, the company did not want to mess with a good thing too much. Instead, they focused on fixing the small things that owners wanted to improve. The result is a car that looks almost the same on the outside but works much better for daily life.
2026 BYD Seal – source: BYD
The «Ocean» design style is still here, giving the car its sporty, fastback shape. If you look closely, you will see a few changes. There is a new design for the 19-inch wheels that makes the car look a bit more aggressive on the road. BYD also added three new colors for buyers to pick from: Ruby Red, Obsidian Black, and Lavender Grey. These join the older colors like Polar White and Indigo Grey.
One small change is at the back: the BYD logo has moved. It is now right in the middle, sitting above the long light bar that stretches across the rear. The name of the car is now tucked into the bottom corner. Nice, clean look that keeps the car looking modern without being too flashy.
2026 BYD Seal – source: BYD
Inside, the refreshed Seal feels a bit more grown-up. You still get the soft Nappa leather seats, but the designers removed the logos that used to be stitched into the headrests. This gives the cabin a simpler, cleaner vibe. The center armrest got a makeover as well – it used to have a logo for «NFC» but it is gone now, though the feature still works perfectly. It just looks a bit nicer without the extra label telling you it’s there.
The biggest surprise for the 2026 model is how much stuff you can fit inside. The car is still the same 15.7 ft long, but somehow, BYD found more room. The trunk grew from 14.1 ft³ to 17.1 ft³ – a big jump for a car that didn’t actually get any longer. BYD even added hooks to stop your grocery bags from sliding around while you drive. The storage under the hood, often called a «frunk,» grew too. It is now 0.67 ft³ larger, bringing the total to 2.54 ft³. That is enough space to hold all your charging cables.
2026 BYD Seal – source: BYD
BYD added some clever new tricks to the software – you can now use your smartphone as your car key. You don’t even have to take your phone out of your pocket to get inside and start the motor. A new Driver Monitoring System is now standard. It uses a camera to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road. If you get sleepy or start looking at your phone too much, the car will give you a nudge to stay focused. This helps the Seal meet the newest and toughest safety rules in Europe.
There are still two main versions of this car. The entry-level version is called the Design and it uses one motor to drive the rear wheels. It has 308 horsepower (308bhp) and can go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. It comes with a 15.6-inch screen that can rotate and a 12-speaker sound system.
2026 BYD Seal – source: BYD
If you want more speed, you can pick the Excellence trim. This version has two motors and all-wheel drive with 523 horsepower. It can sprint to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. This trim also adds a head-up display, which projects your speed onto the windshield so you never have to look down.
Both versions of the car use the BYD «Blade Battery» with lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry. It is known for being very safe and lasting a long time. The battery has a capacity of 82.5 kWh and on a full charge, the Design model can travel up to 354 miles. The more powerful Excellence needs more electricity, and for that reason, it can travel up to 323 miles. Both trims support up to 150kW fast charging. This can fill the battery from 10% to 80% in about 37 minutes.
2026 BYD Seal – source: BYD
The most surprising part of the refresh is the price tag. The BYD Seal Design starts at $62,800, and the faster Excellence model costs $66,920. Keeping the price the same while adding more features is a smart move in a very competitive market. BYD also includes a long warranty to make owners feel safe. The car itself is covered for six years or 93,200 miles. The battery has even better protection, lasting for eight years or 155,300 miles.
