Review | BYD Seal U DM-i

As an automotive writer, reviewing your first car is a momentous occasion. From here on in, it doesn’t matter if I’m lucky enough to drive a LaFerrari, Bugatti Chiron or Nissan R-34 Skyline, I’ll always remember my experience in the BYD Seal U DM-i with fondness.

Practicality, comfort and strong levels of tech are what sells the BYD Seal U DM-i, all in plug-in hybrid form. Until its release, BYD had launched solely electric cars to the UK market with the Atto 3, Seal and Dolphin. This isn’t the company’s first PHEV though, having released the F3DM back in 2008. Its brand strategy suggests that more will be offered over the coming years.

The launch of Chinese brand BYD’s latest offering took place just down the road from where I currently live in Farnham at the Farnborough International Centre, on the boundary of Farnborough Airport and its multitude of private jets. With John Marcar only able to attend the evening event and Miles Lacey busy on a last minute mission in Mexico, I was given the call up.

Taking my ‘Guest of BYD’ lanyard from reception, I made my way into the large hall where the launch was taking place, passing through a darkened tunnel and towards a giant screen with a dizzying sci-fi swirling motion. Inside, the futuristic theme continued as high energy house music was pumped into a room containing popcorn makers, arcade claw grabber machines with dolphin and seal (BYD car names) toys, an R2D2-style robot wandering freely around at its leisure and most importantly, examples of BYD’s latest car - the U DM-i.

What is the meaning behind the U DM-i name I hear you ask? U stands for Utility while DM is short for Dual Mode, referencing the powertrain that uses both an engine and electric motors. According to BYD, the i refers to “the vehicle's smart, energy-efficient driving capabilities.” Oh, and in case you didn’t know. BYD stands for Build Your Dreams.

BYD’s journey

Written on one of the walls was a brief timeline of BYD’s history as a relatively young brand, only forming in 1995 and entering the automotive industry in 2003. The brand was responsible for the first plug-in hybrid electric PHEV in 2008 – the F3DM and in 2021, the release of its pure EV platform saw the production of ICE vehicles cease a year later. In 2023, 3.02 million vehicles were sold, and throughout its history, eight million new energy vehicles have rolled off the production line. BYD had been on my radar previously, having edited a review of its Seal from Graham Courtney and read through John’s piece on the brand. And of course, it was difficult to miss the BYD logo as one of the sponsors plastered around stadiums during Euro 2024 matches in the summer.

Sitting down for the official presentation from some of BYD’s key figures, we were given a rundown of the car and further insight into the history of the company. Spelled out plainly, the ethos of BYD is to collect, store and use energy. It has 700,000 employees, files 32 new patents every day and, in 2023, generated an impressive turnover.

While cars are what BYD is best known for, the brand operates across various forms of transport and was instrumental in getting electric London buses onto the road. All batteries, chips, and electronics are manufactured by the brand, with factory sites increasing yearly worldwide.

It is the hope that the brand’s DMI technology in fully electric and hybrid models will be implemented across the entire market, as BYD eventually hopes to end range anxiety with vehicles capable of 900 miles of distance. The Seal U DM-I is the first model to use this technology, and more are scheduled for release in 2025 onwards.

At the heart of the Seal U DM-i is its 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol PHEV engine, generating 319bhp and 550Nm of torque. The new model will accelerate 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 112mph. Charging the SEAL U DM-i with an 18 kW DC rapid charging feature enables a 30% to 80% charge in just 35 minutes.

Trim Levels

The BYD Seal U DM-i comes in three different trim levels; Boost, Comfort and Design.

Entry-level Boost (£33,205) is a front wheel drive version that comes with an 18.3 kWh battery, 49 miles of electric range and 671 miles of combined range overall. Comfort (£35,205), also front-wheel drive, ups the stakes somewhat, containing a 26.6kWh battery, 77 miles of electric range and 699 miles of combined overall range. Top of the range Design (£39,905) adds an extra electric motor for all-wheel drive, with 43 miles of electric range and 540 miles of combined overall range.

Out on the road

It was time to take it for a spin. We were given the choice between driving either Boost or Design trim example. I went for the Boost, curious to see how the most affordable model stood up to the test and whether it was really necessary to go for the pricier versions. For my first review, I wasn’t going to go full Mat Watson, poking and prodding every facet of the car to see if it stayed intact. The most prominent thought I had and kept telling myself repeatedly was, “just don’t clip any curbs”. After being given a brief rundown on the basics of the car by one of BYD’s team and given a sat-nav route to follow, I placed my phone on the wireless charging pad and slowly pulled away, exiting the airport gates and into Farnborough Business Park.

Thanks to a good 15 minutes stuck behind a learner driver, I wasn’t initially able to experience the full capabilities of the Seal U DM-i, so switched between Normal, Eco and EV mode.  My first impressions were positive, though. The ride height gave you a feeling of presence on the road and boxy door mirrors gave a clear view of my surroundings. Combined with the abundance of space in the cabin, this made a leisurely drive more akin to a Sunday afternoon lying on the sofa. I know hybrids are smooth in general, but this felt positively tame, especially pulling away in EV mode.

My relaxed state was soon to be broken, however. The learner driver had finally decided to pull over into a hard shoulder near the Berkshire countryside, and I was met with a national speed limit stretch of road to fully test out its speed. Switching from Normal to Sport mode, I lightly compressed the accelerator and raced to 70mph in what felt like rapid quick time. To continue the sci-fi theme from earlier, I imagine it was how it felt to be racing through the galaxy on the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars or even just looking at that screen on the way into the event. Ok, that’s enough excitement for the time being. Navigating through the delightful high street in Crowthorne, passing parked cars and negotiating tight gaps was a breeze. As an mid sized SUV, it has a tardis-like effect, feeling significantly larger on the inside than it appears on the outside.

Any nerves I felt coming into the day were quickly alleviated with the smooth driving experience and any corrections that needed to be made, whether it be passing a cyclist or negotiating a tight bend, were done with ease thanks to the Seal U DM-i’s responsiveness - which BYD claims is around 10 milliseconds in EV mode. The initial issues I had with the braking response were adjusted in the settings on the 15.6” touchscreen and while I was there, I selected Spotify to test out the 10-speaker sound system which sounded great and had plenty of bass. Despite a few niggles, like stiff indicators and a slightly uninspiring screen display, I was struggling to find too much wrong with the car and had a pleasant driving experience.

As I made my way back through the gates of Farnborough Airport, I saw a black private jet taking off, presumably owned by Donald Trump. Could this car be the sort of car to suit the top 1% of wealthy customers? Parking up and having a follow up chat with the same BYD staff member from earlier, he remarked how, in black, friends of his had mistaken the car for a Porsche Cayenne. But this was less than half the price of a Cayenne. Earlier, while waiting in the queue to collect keys for the Boost trim Seal U DM-i, I spoke with a couple of fellow reviewers who both remarked on how affordable they felt the entry-level version was in a packed SUV field. This may be what sets it apart in the market.

Interior and infotainment discoveries

I was given a further insight into the interior and infotainment system. So eager I was to get out on the road, only now did I realise that the large iPad style screen could rotate and that the panoramic roof could open to opaque and fully open levels - my bad. The rest of the settings could be considered complicated for a beginner, although in time you would get used to them and more experienced journalists said they’d used similar tech for a while with no issues.

Voice assist can operate various features and command windows to open and close. A W-HUD display showing information like speed and range was projected onto the windscreen, although due to my sitting position, I missed this feature during the drive. I didn’t require it though, as the 12.3” LCD display was sufficient enough. Lifting up the armrest between the front seats opened a storage compartment that could fit my entire arm. I noticed the flat floor in front of the sporty rear seats. Going and sitting there was comfortable and roomy and stretching out my legs made me realise how annoying that middle separation actually is. Why don’t all cars have this?

While it is modern, it feels understatedly modern, simple and fully justifies its price. The vegan leather used for the interior feels as luxurious as the real thing and the car isn’t bogged down by endless gimmicks and gadgets. There is a host of safety features, countless cameras and 1,400 litres of space with the rear seats folded down, making it a perfect family car. In terms of style, it sits on 19” wheels, looks smoother and less boxy than a lot of SUVs on the market. Out on the road, it didn’t garner many looks from people passing by, but that’s not the point. It does what you need it to do and it does it well.

BYD as a major player

Graham Courtney remarked in his review for the Seal that BYD could become a major player in the market, and if my experience is anything to go by, I have to say I agree. It is premium quality at an affordable price and there’s a reason why BYD is hitting so many market targets in such a relatively short lifespan. With four different brands (Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao, along with BYD) as part of its automotive sector, the company isn’t limited to simply churning out an endless line of efficient SUVs, offering sports cars and saloons as well. 

I took the Design trim version for a spin quickly after but can’t see the justification for spending the extra £6,000. The Boost trim is sufficient. I can’t remember how many miles I drove for certain, but the equivalent in my petrol Polo would probably have left my back, briefly, in pieces. For the Seal U DM-i, I’m sure I could have continued driving it up to the Highlands in a perfectly comfortable state with little to no breaks, I’d just have to keep an eye on that range meter. All in all, it was a relaxed, practicle and comfortable experience, which is certainly what BYD was going for with this model.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: BYD & Mike Booth