2024 BYD Seal v Tesla Model 3 Comparison | Can the new Seal topple the reigning EV king?

Until now, Tesla has been the dominant player in the electric car space, both locally and internationally, but Chinese giant BYD is making big inroads.

Last year, BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest producer of electrified cars – although Tesla held sway with pure battery-electric vehicles – and the new Seal, on paper at least, looks extremely competitive against the big-selling Model 3.

With more power, a longer range and a lower price, can the BYD Seal dethrone the EV king? And will this be enough for sales success?

Fast Forward
00:00 Intro
00:56 Pricing and specs
02:27 Model 3 interior review
05:10 Seal interior review
06:50 Infotainment
06:59 Passenger space
08:13 Safety tech
08:24 Luggage space
08:54 Model 3 road test
10:34 Seal road test
12:22 Verdict

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[mokahome]

They recently did a major OTA for the Seal that fixes many of the ADAS issues with the car.
As an owner of a Seal, I can confirm that the ADAS significantly better than before

[isaak]

First and foremost, everything you've mentioned about the BYD ADAS system, is now irrelevant. The resent OTA update has fixed all that.

Getting an EV, was at the back of my mind for a while as it seems like a perfect fit to my commuting routine. However, all the EV's available were either too expensive or too ugly or both! And then came the Seal...
When you want to grab the attention (and the business) of all of those who are sitting on the fence between ICE and EV, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!!!! By offering them something which feels upmarket and familiar. Not but forcing them to change their whole nature by cutting costs and calling them innovations! I honestly don't know how the Model 3 is street legal in Australia when you have to constantly take your eyes of the road for as much as checking your speed! That's not innovation, that's a bloody scandal. In fact, if the Model 3 came with an MG or LDV or BYD or GWM badge, you'd be pushing them cars back into the ocean with your bare hands!!!! So, spare me the hypocrisy. This is not innovation. This is cost cutting at its finest.

Stop comparing such a beautiful car to an esky on wheels. Lucky they didn't take out the steering wheel so you don't forget you're in a vehicle!
And before I get all the "you bloody commie" replies, I have no relation to China whatsoever (actually, both cars are fully made there anyway). But I wont deny my own eyes because of political correctness

[peterc]

Please fix your spec details on video. Tesla does not have 360 camera as stated.

[tommylou]

BYD Seal more acceptable in every portions 👍

[chickenguts]

More negative comments it seems with the Tesla yet you gave the Seal no chance.
A couple of tweaks with the driver assistance parameters on the Seal and it looks by far the better choice to me.

[ehoss]

I test drove both the base Seal and the standard 2024 Model 3, both are good cars but I preferred the Seal by a long shot. The Tesla was bordering on minimalism taken too far. Also the glass roof on the Seal looked more impressive (one peice) and didn't get as hot as the Tesla. I'd go Seal as a first EV.

[qilu]

If you want a decent interior, then Tesla is out of the question.

[mustangx]

Seal is much better and I own a Tesla 3. The seal is a better drive and smoother and as he mentioned the space is ample vs the Tesla which is cramped. I’ll be swapping soon

[Tubaluc]

So you have to accept the M3's "quirks" (12:55), like worse performance, worse warranty conditions, no gauge cluster, no stalks, no AA or Apple Car Play, phantom collision warnings, lane assist wrestles, ... and that's why it is clearly the better car?
OK TESLA Stan.

[sem]

Excellent video, it’s definitely the seal for me by a long shot

[tonywei]

The way Tesla cutting the cost is outrageous, nothing inside is not acceptable.

[bruce_g]

I test drove both yesterday (BYD Performance and Model 3 Long Range), and tbh I am still having trouble choosing between the two. I can definitely say the Tesla out classes the BYD in refinement and "premium" feeling, however not by much. The BYD does feel noticeably more powerful, it is much easier to drive and get used to (because of the traditional buttons and stalks), the regenerative breaking isn't as harsh as the Tesla's, it's got Android Auto/Apple Car Play, which is honestly a deal breaker for some people.

Where the Tesla has the upper hand is just when you sit in both cars, you do notice Tesla just feels more premium, less hard cheap plastics being used, it's autopilot features are lightyears ahead of everyone else and I do feel when we finally get FSD capability, a lot of people will regret not buying a Tesla, but honestly the lack of stalks such and you'll need to get used to it. However, surprisingly, I don't mind swiping the screen for drive and reverse functions.

Once I discovered you can get an after-market digital dash for the Tesla (hate looking at the center screen all the time), it made me a lot accepting to buying the Tesla, otherwise, I would have gone BYD for sure, now it's still a hard choice.

[freightcompaniesaustralia]

Good review. I've ordered a Seal Dynamic. Stepping up to EV from a Commodore, so even the base model is full luxury!

[chrisjenkins]

Owned the Tesla for a few months now, love the indicators on the wheel, haven’t missed stalks at all. It’s an amazing car.

[josephhall]

"clear winner" - surely not by that wide of a margin when the winner is debatable

[davidpearn]

Sold the Tesla and now have the Seal Premium and will keep the 'clutter' thank you very much. No stalks > no thanks.
And no unfortunate association

[jamesjarman]

the base seal dynamic is $9k cheaper, very similar and big price advantage over the tesla

[robleacock]

The Seal looks good, but it will never drive you autonomously.

[carsella]

Had an couple of Octavia wagons over the years. Amazing the difference a pack of dynamat made when applied to the doors and sides of the boot area. A weekend and couple hundred dollars and it was a different feeling car.

[kenkan]

The BYD has voice control or assistance, you do not have to touch a button or the screen to do anything that is adjustable, like the windows, air-condition fan speed, temperature, car speed, navigation, weather reporting, seat ventilation, heating, messaging, steering wheel heating, etc. So no need to keyin the destination you are going or the name of the song you want to play. Just say "hea BYD" to activate the voices assistance, and tell it what you want.