The fully electric 2024 BYD Seal is a five-seat fully electric sports sedan. Let's see how it fares as a BabyDrive and put it through our family car testing with child seats and Thule prams…
BabyDrive Verdict
I’m driving the top-spec performance grade, which does 0>100 in 3.8 seconds, costs just under $70K, and has a 520km range. The cheapest model (just under $50K) has a 460km range, and the longest range Seal available has a 570km range.
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 BYD Seal EV, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are within plastic guides, and they have little rubber flaps you push back to access the ISOFix anchorages. It's a lovely little mechanism, it means you don't lose the plastic covers, and they are nice and easy to connect to.
All three rear seats have top tether anchorages, which are easily accessible on the fixed parcel shelf behind the headrests.
Three Infasecure child seats fit really nicely across the rear seats of the 2024 BYD Seal. I installed the Infasecure Momentum More and Quattro Onyx forward-facing, and the Infasecure Adapt More Infant Capsule, rear-facing behind the driver. They fit very comfortably.
Legroom is very good in the BYD Seal; the rear footwell is flat, which makes it easier for passengers to move to and from their seats and gives a central passenger good foot room.
We could fit a 186cm driver or taller in front of the Infasecure Adapt More Infant Capsule.
The BYD Seal has rear air conditioning vents, so rear passengers can stay comfortable while driving. The central console box also has a phone storage shelf.
Rear passengers have good storage in the BYD Seal, with cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit well.
There are multiple pockets on the back of the front seats. The large pockets will hold and conceal an iPad, and the smaller pockets are good for phones, toys, books, etc.
The BYD Seal's rear door bins can hold a refillable water bottle and iPad, and the handles have storage wells.
The storage in the front of the 2024 BYD Seal is also very good. The central console has two cup holders that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup, a good-sized central console box, and two phone charging pads. Underneath the central console bridge, there is a good storage area for an iPad or wallet, and there are charging sockets, too.
The glove box is a practical size, too.
Like the back, the front door bins have plenty of storage, too.
Storage in the boot of the BYD Seal is very practical for families. The boot floor is nice and flat for an emergency nappy change…
… and has a small underfloor storage for the charging wires.
From empty, the 2024 BYD Seal's boot space fits thirteen shopping bags, which is comparable to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BMW 3 Series that both hold fourteen while the Toyota Camry‘s boot takes sixteen bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the BYD Seal boot with four shopping bags.
The Thule Urban Glide 2 single is the ultimate all-terrain stroller…
… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the 2024 BYD Seal boot with three shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the BYD Seal with seven shopping bags beside it.
The BYD Seal's boot can also accommodate one 90L, one 70L, and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
You can't transport dogs in the boot because of the fixed parcel shelf.
The BYD Seal has a small Frunk. Where you can fit a 40L Thule Chasm Duffel Bag.
The BYD Seal has a large media screen and a bright and modern media system, just like the BYD Dolphin and BYD Atto 3. You can control nearly everything in the car through its large media screen.
The enormous screen can be rotated landscape or portrait to suit your preference.
The screen needs to be in landscape mode to use Apple CarPlay, which allows you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.
You can customise many aspects of the car, including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off. Also, for families with allergies, you can use air purification to keep it as allergen-free as possible.
You can also customise the car's driver and safety assist system to turn off the ones you don't want.
The energy screen in the BYD Seal allows you to monitor your battery usage and see exactly how much range you have left.
The climate controls are within the media screen, too, but it would be much easier to have them as physical dials on the dash.
You can swipe down from the top of the screen for a shortcut to the most common functions.
When you put the car in reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear and fill the lovely large screen.
There are lots of angles you can choose to view from too.
The Seal has a voice function, too. You can say, “Hey, BYD,” and ask it to do something like turn the fan speed up, etc. Which is great entertainment with the kids onboard!
The 2024 BYD Seal is a spacious, fast, practical and relaxed electric car to drive your family around in. Being a sedan it has a generous size boot and great legroom throughout. The interior space and quiet drive, along with the seating position, make it a relaxed car to drive, and it's enjoyable on the highway as well as in cities and towns. The acceleration is instant, and the turning circle is nice and tight, so maneuvering around tight multi-storey and school car parks is easy.
With three Infasecure child seats in the back of the 2024 BYD Seal, there's a bit of visibility above them; however, the cameras are excellent, so I didn't find visibility to be a problem.
Overall, the 2024 BYD Seal makes a very practical and fun BabyDrive for those looking at electric family cars. Three Infasecure child seats fit comfortably in the back with excellent legroom, and the boot can hold a double Thule Sleek pram.
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags are standard. A centre airbag, which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes, is also standard.
The Seal has child lock buttons for each of the rear doors individually, which you can turn on in the driver's door control panel.
BabyDrive Indepth
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the 2024 BYD Seal?
The boot of the BYD Seal is spacious, being a sports sedan.
Storage in the boot of the BYD Seal is very practical for families. The boot floor is nice and flat for an emergency nappy change…
… and has a small underfloor storage for the charging wires.
When empty, the 2024 BYD Seal's boot space fits thirteen shopping bags, which is comparable to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BMW 3 Series that both hold fourteen while the Toyota Camry‘s boot takes sixteen bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the BYD Seal boot with four shopping bags.
The Thule Urban Glide 2 single is the ultimate all-terrain stroller…
… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the 2024 BYD Seal boot with three shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the BYD Seal with seven shopping bags beside it.
The BYD Seal's boot can also accommodate one 90L, one 70L, and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
You can't transport dogs in the boot because of the fixed parcel shelf.
The BYD Seal has a small Frunk. Where you can fit a 40L Thule Chasm Duffel Bag.
How good is storage in the 2024 BYD Seal?
The storage in the front of the 2024 BYD Seal cabin is very good. The central console has two cup holders that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup, and two phone charging pads.
It has a good-sized central console box…
… and underneath the central console bridge, there is a good storage area for an iPad or wallet, and there are charging sockets, too.
The glove box is a practical size, too. Holding an iPad and wallet easily.
The front door bins have plenty of storage and will hold a refillable water bottle and iPad.
The BYD Seal's rear door bins similarly can hold a refillable water bottle and iPad, and the handles have storage wells.
Rear passengers have cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit well.
The back of the central console box has a phone storage shelf. and there are multiple pockets on the back of the front seats. The large pockets will hold and conceal an iPad, and the smaller pockets are good for phones, toys, books, etc.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2024 BYD Seal, and how easy is the media screen to use?
Being fully electric, the BYD Seal is a lovely, quiet and smooth car to drive. You can drive your kids to sleep and sit with the aircon running if you get caught out with a napping child without churning through fuel, polluting the local environment and no noisy engine.
The BYD Seal has a large media screen and a bright and modern media system, just like the BYD Dolphin and BYD Atto 3. You can control nearly everything in the car through its large media screen.
The enormous screen can be rotated landscape or portrait to suit your preference.
The screen needs to be in landscape mode to use Apple CarPlay, which allows you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.
You can customise many aspects of the car, including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off. Also, for families with allergies, you can use air purification to keep it as allergen-free as possible.
You can also customise the car's driver and safety assist system to turn off the ones you don't want.
The energy screen in the BYD Seal allows you to monitor your battery usage and see exactly how much range you have left.
The climate controls are within the media screen, too, but it would be much easier to have them as physical dials on the dash.
You can swipe down from the top of the screen for a shortcut to the most common functions.
When you put the car in reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear and fill the lovely large screen.
There are lots of angles you can choose to view from too.
The Seal has a voice function, too. You can say, “Hey, BYD,” and ask it to do something like turn the fan speed up, etc. Which is great entertainment with the kids onboard!
The 2024 BYD Seal's indicator sound is not too loud, so it did not disturb my kids while they were sleeping in the back.
The windows and doors in the BYD Seal are not too loud or noisy to open and close, and they do not baby-wake!
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The BYD Seal is a quiet and smooth drive, and there are no real baby-waking noises.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child/baby seats can you fit in the 2024 BYD Seal?
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 BYD Seal EV, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are within plastic guides, and they have little rubber flaps you push back to access the ISOFix anchorages. It's a lovely little mechanism, with no removable caps that get easily lost, and they are nice and easy to connect to.
All three rear seats have top tether anchorages, which are easily accessible on the fixed parcel shelf behind the headrests.
Three Infasecure child seats fit really nicely across the rear seats of the 2024 BYD Seal. I installed the Infasecure Momentum More and Quattro Onyx forward-facing, and the Infasecure Adapt More Infant Capsule, rear-facing behind the driver. They fit very comfortably.
Legroom is very good in the BYD Seal; the rear footwell is flat, which makes it easier for passengers to move to and from their seats and gives a central passenger good foot room.
We could fit a 186cm driver or taller in front of the Infasecure Adapt More Infant Capsule.
There is room to insert Bub into their child's seat from outside the car and from inside and there is room to feed Bub in the back if there is only one child seat installed.
Australia being a country of weather extremes- blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfy is the 2024 BYD Seal EV?
The BYD Seal EV's back seats have air conditioning vents in the back of the central console box, so rear passengers can be kept comfortable while driving along.
The rear seats are very comfortable for passengers not in child seats…
… with good legroom with a flat floor in the footwell.
The upholstery is classic throughout the BYD Seal I tested. With plain grey panels and diamond quilted perforated sections for the ventilated seats. Contrast piping and stitching add a little highlight.
The front seats and rear seats are equally as comfortable.
The interior dash of the BYD Seal is minimal and sleek. There are four air-conditioning vents across the front of the dashboard: small ones on either side of the media screen and a larger one at each end of the dashboard.
The air-con controls are within the media system…
… and along the bottom of the media screen. I found them a little tricky to use while driving. I prefer a physical button or dial because of how frequently they need to be used.
Visibility in the BYD Seal is compromised with three child seats installed in the back. When there are only two child seats in the back then you can see out of the centre of the rear windscreen.
Excellent cameras in the BYD Seal compensate for the lack of rear visibility, making maneuvering and parking easy.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually, I dread parking in our tight apartment block carpark, but the BYD Seal is easy to reverse park!
BabyDrive Indepth - Safety
How safe is the 2024 BYD Seal EV?
The BYD Seal has been given a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 87% for child occupancy protection and 89% for adult occupancy protection.
Of the child occupancy testing, ANCAP wrote:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and maximum points were scored in these tests. The BYD SEAL is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the rear outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions. A direct child presence detection (CPD) system, which provides an alert when a child has been left in the vehicle, is fitted to all passenger seats as standard. However, the system did not meet ANCAP’s requirements and was not rewarded with points. Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that all of the selected child restraints could be accommodated in all rear seating positions and full points were scored for this assessment.
Seven airbags are standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags are standard. A centre airbag, which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes, is also standard.
The BYD Seal EV comes with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – Car-to-Car and vulnerable road user/pedestrian/cyclist/motorcycle/backover/junction/junction pedestrian/junction cyclist/junction motorcycle/crossing. Blind spot monitor (BSM), child presence detection and alert, cyclist dooring detection and alert and indirect driver monitoring system. Forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist (LKA) – LKA Car-to-Car & Car-to-Motorcycle, secondary multi-collision brake, speed assistance – intelligent adaptive cruise control (iACC) and speed assistance – speed sign recognition and warning as standard.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
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About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.
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