Summary
The BYD Seal U – launched in the UK as the Seal U DM-i – is a mid-sized plug-in hybrid SUV that is based on the same foundations as the all-electric BYD Seal saloon.
Now on sale in the UK, the Seal U is its Chinese manufacturer’s first hybrid model to arrive on British roads – the rest being electric cars – and the reviewer response has been a mixed bag so far. Car’s Jake Groves highlights the SUV’s key criticism – “the Seal U isn’t remotely exciting to drive.”
Parker’s Luke Wilkinson, who describes the BYD as “deeply uninspiring to drive”, explains that the car has a “vague steering setup and unsettled suspension that never instils a great deal of confidence”, also adding that other mid-sized SUVs offer more in the practicality department.
“It’s not all bad”, Charlie Harvey of Carbuyer notes, arguing that “it’s priced well considering its size, with a generous amount of kit and high material and build quality on the inside.” The Seal U also has some commendable safety credentials, as it has been awarded a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
As of February 2026, the BYD Seal U holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 75%. Despite poor media review scores, the Seal U’s overall rating is aided by excellent safety and eco ratings.
Seal U highlights
- Well-equipped as standard
- Competitively priced
- Long electric-only range
Seal U lowlights
- Underwhelming driving dynamics
- Rather stiff ride comfort
- Rivals have more boot space
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV
Engines: plug-in hybrid
Price: From £33,205 on-road
Launched: Summer 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The BYD Seal U is a spacious, super-affordable plug-in hybrid SUV that’s let down by the way it drives.”
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
Read full review
Carwow
Darren Cassey
More reviews
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s a lot going for the BYD Seal U. It has a spacious cabin and comes with plenty of tech, but there are compromises to be had in terms of the way it drives. You don’t expect a family SUV to deliver sports car-like handling, but the Seal U fails to get the basics right, with vague steering and an inconsistent ride being the real disappointments. Boot space is behind the class leaders, too.”
Author: Dean Gibson
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“A new a plug-in hybrid crossover from BYD, the Seal U is big, has LOADS of kit and is surprisingly well-priced.”
Author: Mark Nichol
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Business Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“You do get the sense that the Seal U DM-i’s driving dynamics may have been signed off in a bit of a hurry.”
Author: Pete Tullin
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Rear space is good and the interior quality feels competitive against pretty much all its rivals. But the Seal U isn’t remotely exciting to drive – to the point that it’s dynamically soggy in places.”
Author: Jake Groves
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The driving experience is vague, dissatisfying and not especially comfortable, so keen drivers ought to look elsewhere. However, it’s not all bad; it’s priced well considering its size, with a generous amount of kit and high material and build quality on the inside.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“BYD’s relentless product offensive continues with the Seal U – another oddly-named model aimed right at the core of the electric car market. It gets everything just about right but doesn’t excel in any area.”
Author: Thomas Geiger
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Seal U DM-i is the first plug-in hybrid car to arrive in the UK from BYD, which has quickly forged a name as a leading EV maker. Why the introduction of a plug-in hybrid? Well, it widens the range and appeal of BYD and taps into the vast market for SUVs.”
Author: Al Suttie
Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Amidst the large shoal of plug-in hybrid family SUVs already out there, the BYD Seal U DM-i represents notably good value for money. It’s practical, spacious and particularly well-equipped, while the cabin’s levels of perceived quality are high. It’s largely quiet on the move but the over-soft ride quality is uncomfortably unsettled and occasionally crashy, making it less fun to drive than a ride-on lawnmower.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Seal U is also packed with interesting technology and powered by some efficient powertrains. But it’s deeply uninspiring to drive, with a vague steering setup and unsettled suspension that never instils a great deal of confidence. Practicality is only average at best, too.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Seal U might not be the sharpest handler in its crowded SUV category, but razor-sharp handling isn’t really the top priority for buyers in this segment. So if you’re you’re after comfort, quietness, high levels of equipment and low running costs, and are happy buying Chinese, then the Seal U could be just what U R looking for.”
Author: Dave Humphreys
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“BYD’s most convincing entry into Europe yet. It’s a long way from exciting but it should prove cheap enough to compensate.”
Author: Stephen Dobie
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 90%
Child protection: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 83%
Safety assist: 77%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: Seal U Design Electric FWD Automatic
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2024
Read the full Green NCAP review
Energy Efficiency Index: 8.9 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.1 / 10
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the BYD Seal U to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Seal U, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 285 mpg | A |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 23 g/km | A |
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 55 miles | D |
The BYD Seal U should be a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Only available as a plug-in hybrid, the Seal U’s average fuel consumption of 285mpg (ranging from 257 to 314mpg) is excellent. That said, this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. It is very unlikely that you will ever travel for 285 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…
When it comes to electric-only battery range, the plug-in hybrid’s range of 55 miles (ranging from 43 to 71 miles) is rather average when compared to other PHEVs of this size.
As the BYD Seal U is a brand new model, we don’t quite have the full running cost picture just yet. Check back soon to see how the car’s insurance and maintenance affect its running costs.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the BYD Seal U
As of February 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the BYD Seal U. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BYD dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BYD Seal U, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Citroën C5 Aircross | Ford Kuga | Honda CR-V | Hyundai Tucson | Jeep Compass | Kia Sportage | Mazda CX-5 | MG HS | Nissan Qashqai | Peugeot 3008 | Renault Kadjar | SEAT Ateca | Skoda Karoq | KGM Korando | Subaru XV | Suzuki S-Cross | Toyota C-HR | Vauxhall Grandland | Volkswagen Tiguan
More information
More news, reviews and information about the BYD Seal U at The Car Expert
Buy a BYD Seal U
If you’re looking to buy a new or used BYD Seal U, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a BYD Seal U
If you’re looking to lease a new BYD Seal U, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Subscribe to a BYD Seal U
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
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Car subscriptions from Flexible Vehicle Contracts.
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