BYD Seal 6 EV: a budget-friendly ‘sporty’ sedan – first drive

Sporty.

At least, that’s the characteristic BYD aims to highlight with its latest electric sedan, the BYD Seal 6, launched two months ago.

With a competitive price starting at RM100,000, the BYD Seal 6 successfully recorded sales of over 100 units in the first week following its launch.

A few weeks ago, BYD Malaysia invited us for a brief test drive to Janda Baik and Genting Highlands to experience the Premium variant of the BYD Seal 6 first-hand.

Here are our brief notes:

Dimensions and Design

The BYD Seal 6 is positioned as a C-segment sedan, significantly larger than competing models such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Its body design is less sporty compared to the more premium Seal, reminding the author of electric sedan models from Mercedes, namely the EQE and EQS.

However, a notable advantage of the Seal 6 is its cargo capacity of 525 liters, consisting of a 460-liter trunk and a 65-liter frunk.

Additionally, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm, the Seal 6’s cabin feels spacious and comfortable, enhanced further by its flat rear floor structure.

On-Road Performance

The Premium variant we tested is equipped with a rear-wheel-drive electric motor producing 215 hp and 330 Nm of torque.

Driving is aided by MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, tuned for Malaysian road conditions.

Acceleration feels relatively linear, with no sudden jolts that might strain the driver’s neck. With responsive throttle control, the Seal 6 can achieve desired speeds smoothly.

The suspension tuning effectively minimizes vibrations and road irregularities from disturbing passengers’ comfort.

Although it features a rear-wheel-drive setup, the Seal 6 does not exhibit a sporty character when driven aggressively.

This is due in part to the steering feel, which the author found underwhelming, and the rubber tires at all four corners, which felt less confident, especially in corners.

The benefits of the mentioned suspension tuning also diminish when driving up Genting Highlands, where the sedan can feel a bit floaty in most corners.

Cabin Experience

This sedan may not be the best choice for those seeking high-performance driving.

However, for most users, it offers more than adequate comfort.

The synthetic leather seats are sufficiently comfortable, providing ample support for the driver, with cushion dimensions that adequately support the thighs.

Rear seating is spacious and comfortable, complemented by a flat floor design.

The minimalist dashboard layout houses a 12-inch central screen that is non-rotatable but includes essential vehicle functionalities.

Importantly, it features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are essential in any modern car.

There are still some physical function buttons on the center console, along with a smartphone holder that includes wireless charging capabilities.

Fortunately, the side mirror adjustment function is still maintained on the door panel.

However, it’s unfortunate that despite having advanced safety features like AEB, FCW, LDW, and a 360-degree camera, the sedan lacks blind-spot monitoring (BSM) even in higher variants.

An Alternative to C-Segment Sedans?