HAS THERE EVER been such a turbulent time for new cars? Apart from the invention of the motor car in the late 19th century (and perhaps the oil crises in the ’70s), the landscape has never been as fast-moving or diverse as it is today.
Battery-electric vehicles are making a mark (the Tesla Model Y was Australia’s third best-selling SUV last year) but it’s the proliferation of Chinese automakers on a global scale that’s changing everything. BYD – or Build Your Dreams – may be new to Australia, however its EV sales surpassed Tesla to take number one spot globally in the fourth quarter of last year.
The Atto 3 was invited to Wheels COTY last year and while it didn’t win, the BYD made a solid showing. Then came the smaller Dolphin (occasionally starring as Australia’s cheapest EV), and now it’s the rival for the Tesla Model 3, BYD’s Seal. Oceanic names aside, the Seal has made waves beating Tesla at its own game with a dauntingly aggressive price (from under $50K) and it’ll be joined by the Seal U (BYD’s answer to the Model Y) later this year.
There’s more than just price to whet the appetite: it packs a five-star ANCAP rating from 2023 (the first vehicle with a structural battery to manage the feat), a WLTP driving range of 520km, all-wheel drive, 390kW/670Nm, and a 3.8-second 0-100km/h sprint. Those stats would have it easily see off a $205K Porsche Taycan 4S in a game of Top Trumps.
The Seal’s sharp list price gave us licence to line it up against the base Model 3 RWD. Though the Long Range AWD ($71,900) is our pick, the entry-level Tesla ($61,900 before on-road costs) test car has been optioned with a white interior ($1500), ‘Nova’ 19-inch alloy wheels ($1800), and Stealth Grey paint ($2300) – bringing its list price right
