2024 BYD Seal owner review

About the BYD Seal

Oosh purchased this BYD SEAL new for $72,163 (including all on-road costs). Oosh would buy this car again because: “There’s nothing else on the market which offers the performance and features for the money when you take in to account the tax benefits available to those of us lucky enough to be able to novated lease and charge at home.”

How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.

In only two weeks of ownership it’s too early to say. But I do have a hyperactive passenger seat belt warning that goes off with the smallest object on the seat and sometimes with nothing at all.

Hopefully it can be recalibrated when I take it in for its 5000 km inspection.

What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?

Their dealership is in a word. Spartan. It didn’t appear to have any where I could wait comfortably, let alone spend some time getting work done, during a service for example.

I understand they’re building a new dealership now they’re established which will hopefully address this.

How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?

The dealership was a bit disorganised during the purchase process. Which I put down to the growing pains of a new brand unprepared for an unexpectedly high level of popularity.

I hope they’ve studied the cautionary tale that is Jeep in Australia and do not follow in their tracks.

Are you happy with the price and features of your car?

Very much so. The benefits of novated leasing an EV under the LCT threshold plays a big part in the value proposition.

Add to that I’ve been able to keep running costs very low because my usage patterns allow me to charge at home and often when I have excess solar generation.

What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?

As the 0-100 times of my previous ICE vehicles became reliant on launch control, and early upshift gearbox programming to hit economy figures, accessing their potential became annoyingly involved for day-to-day driving.

EVs have no such problems with the considerable performance always on tap. As for economy, its less of a concern for me, the range estimator has proven accurate enough that I’m confident I’ll get there and back before my next charge.

What do you think of the technology in your car?

It’s a mixed bag. The ability to pre-condition the car remotely via the app on a hot Australian summer day is a feature I’m not sure I’d ever want to give up.

But having to disable the brain dead traffic sign recognition, and associated incessant inaccurate speed warnings, every time you start the car is mildly infuriating. I can only hope an OTA update will improve it or allow a permanent disable.

What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?

Fixed headrests look cool but they all sit too low for my 194 cm height, the lumbar support could be a bit more aggressive for my tastes, and the seat cushion needs a bit more padding to support my [REDACTED] weight.

Thankfully it’s not something I intend to do road trips in. Handling is fine but there’s no hiding the mass of an EV.

Do you have any additional comments about your car?

The second car in our family with remain an ICE for the foreseeable future.