BYD SEAL PERFORMANCE MODEL

You only need to spend a minute by the side of any road to know that sedans don't sell nearly as well as they used to. SUVs now rule the roost, which is why BYD's first serious foray into our market was with the Atto 3 a compact SUV.

- KENNY YEO

Still, no car lineup can be complete without a refined family sedan and so BYD's latest offering is the new Seal, a sedan that is arguably the Tesla Model 3's keenest rival.

The Seal is offered in three variants here: Dynamic, Premium, and Performance. The three have largely similar features and the key difference is in their battery capacity and drivetrain.

The unit I'm testing is the flagship Performance variant. 

The Performance variant has dual motors on the front and rear axles, which together develop about 523hp and 670nm of torque.

Let's be honest, one of the main reasons why you might want a Seal Performance is because of how fast and affordable it is. It must be one of, if not the most, affordable new cars on sale with over 500hp. That's a very compelling proposition.

Despite weighing well over two tons, 0-100km/h is claimed to be dealt with in just 3.8 seconds and it certainly feels that quick. Like most EVs with big power and torque figures, the Seal Performance feels rapid.

Anyone new to highperformance EVs will be in for an eye-popping experience.

Happily, this isn't just a straight-line monster.

It's no canyon-carving sports car, but it steers accurately enough to give you confidence to speed through turns and feels engaging enough to make you feel like you are piloting something a little special. There's a surprising amount of suspension travel, so there is noticeable roll through turns, but it also means it soaks up road imperfections well.

POWER 523HP /670NM
ACCELERATION 3.8 S (0-100KM/H)
STARTING PRICE $226,888 (SGD)