New Tesla Model 3 v BYD Seal: Ultimate review!

BYD hit the headlines recently as it overtook Tesla for the most electric cars sold in Q4 2023. The question is, which of these EV manufacturers makes the best electric saloon - Tesla with the Model 3, or BYD with the Seal?

Well for starters, let’s check out the design. This may be the new Tesla Model 3, but it hasn’t changed a whole lot since the previous edition. There’s a new front & rear bumper, along with a few minor design tweaks, but otherwise, the car looks pretty similar at the front and the rear. Along the side, the car is pretty much identical, apart from a set of new alloy wheel designs!

The BYD is also pretty tidy, although we are getting a few Tesla vibes from the design. Creases along the side help it stand out, and there are some pretty smart fins at the bottom of the rear doors. Otherwise, though, both cars are fairly similar when it comes to their look and design.

Take a step inside, and you’ll find more of the same! Both cars come with a huge 15-inch screen stuck to the middle of the dash, and these are used to control pretty much all the features in either car! However, there are a few features that differentiate the BYD from the Tesla. Not only does it have a normal drive mode selector, but it also comes with traditional indicator stalks! In the Tesla, you have to select drive mode through the screen, and you need to indicate with buttons on the steering wheel.

The BYD is also the only car out of the two to come with both a digital dial and a heads-up display. Everything in the Tesla is housed in the infotainment screen.

When it comes to the price, the two are once again pretty evenly matched. The single motor editions of the Tesla and BYD start at around £40,000 and £45,000 respectively, but when you look at the dual motor editions, expect to spend around £50,000 for the Tesla, and just under £49,000 for the BYD!

So will the Tesla reign supreme? Or will Mat prefer the BYD? You’ll need to watch the video to find out for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:33 Price
01:03 Design
04:37 Drag Race
06:11 Interior
10:31 Sat Nav
12:16 Tesla Autopilot
13:10 Parking
16:57 Back Seats
19:06 Boot
21:22 Charging & Batteries
21:56 Range
23:46 Driving: Model 3
26:47 Driving: BYD Seal
31:59 Verdict

[dominicrusho]

It’s a tough call, but ultimately I’d choose the Fiat Multipla

[thepgo]

6:50 reverse gear on the touchscreen is absolutely insane. Who the hell thought that would be a good idea.

[stevennathanael]

As an Indonesian, I think I would choose BYD over Tesla, you can buy BYD Seal here half the price of the basic Tesla model 3. Tesla infrastructure and support is still considered too remote to beat other competitors like Hyundai or Wuling in terms of infrastructure and support (in fact, almost all electric cars I've seen is Hyundai or Wuling because it is cheap especially Wuling here smashed the electric car market). Tesla is still considered as a luxury car though.

[jackeydu]

The issue of BYD Seal copying Tesla lights, I think you should ask BYD's global design director Wolfgang Josef Egger, who used to be the chief designer of Audi and Lamborghini, so it is hard to convince me that the Germans copied Tesla

[houseoflloyd]

Who at Tesla thought swiping screen to change gear was a brilliant idea

[pttzty]

The BYD seal costs < 30k pounds in China. The single motor version costs about 24k pounds, taxes and fees included. Ultimately I think the EVs in EU are still not that affordable.

[ThanhTran-ssxw]

I just love the way you tested shutting the car doors on both Tesla & BYD Matt. Hahahaha....

[aarondas]

With a car expert like Matt, that 2 min parking was the most stressful thing I’ve ever seen 😅

[Mark-jzye]

The seal here in Aus is considerably cheaper than the 3

[titaniummechanism]

I hate the trend of exchanging physical controls for touch screens or gestures or something. And I will resist it as best I can.

[frederickzhou]

BYD is much better for the one who drove other brand‘s car before. In many ways, BYD seal basically is same as a oil car. Tesla is innovative, maybe too innovative. Old drivers don’t want to change the way to drive. BYD is easier to get used to. However, you need to spend time to learn how to use Tesla.

[officialrosey]

3:47 every time my Uber comes with this car 😂😂😂

[sanderv]

I understand Tesla wants simplicity. But a heads up display would be a great option to offer.

[HellcatM]

Ummm, when he was doing the test drive and he said the Tesla handled better, but when he was driving the Tesla, the road was dry and when he was driving the BYD it was raining and wet. How can you compare?

[michaelroberts]

Does the BYD Seal play "kiss from a rose" on the audio system when you drive it for the first time?

[mickjoebills]

A point of difference is Byd has V2L which is sought after in rural areas.
The Seal AWD as tested is only £35k in Australia. The 2wd long range version is £5k cheaper (5.8sec) Similarly, the BYD Atto 3 is only £27k. Sales tax is lower than in UK at 10% which contributes to lower prices, but it appears byd still have got room to lower prices in Europe when they are ready!

[TheWorldInsider]

as a cartel hitman that is interested in being eco friendly I really appreciate you showing how many bodies can fit in the new BYD trunk. Thank you!

[Wingchowtravelblog]

The exterior design of Seal is designed by JuanMa Lopez from Lamborghini and the interior is designed by Michele Paganetti from Mercedes Maybach 🎉

[xanbertx]

Actually, in China, the cheapest BYD Seal just costs 150k CNY (about 16.5k pounds), and Model 3 costs about 250k CNY (about 27k pounds). So the seal takes more advantages in China lol.

[nigel]

That drag race sounded really exciting.. swoosh swoosh swoosh. 😂