Jan 22, 2025 by admin

The BYD Seal has gained a handful of new features in Australia for 2025, but the popular electric sedan misses out on desirable changes made to the Chinese-market model.

Earlier this month, BYD announced it was cutting Seal prices by between $2808 and $3758, while also making standard across the range an electric sunshade for the panoramic glass roof plus Digital Key functionality.

The flagship Performance also gains BYD’s DiSus-C adaptive damping system, while the mid-range Premium now gains the Frequency Selective Damping shock absorbers that were previously exclusive to the Performance.

While this means the Seal will have more features for less money, prospective buyers are still missing out on upgrades made to the Chinese-market model.

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It’s unclear when these changes, which range from superior charging ability to an overhauled interior, will be introduced Down Under.

“It generally takes a period of time for new product to make its way from China to Australia in right-hand drive,” a BYD Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.

“We’re always looking to improve the spec on our vehicles and will continue to push for the latest in BYD’s innovation and technology.”

BYD revealed the updated Chinese-market Seal last August, adding a prominent LiDAR sensor on its roof which enhances the capabilities of its semi-autonomous driving systems.

The biggest changes occurred underneath the skin, where the Seal moved to BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 Evo architecture, rather than the non-Evo platform of the current model.

This platform supports an 800V electrical system, unlike the 400V system of the current Australian-spec Seal, allowing it to handle higher charging rates.

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The Chinese-market Seal has a maximum DC charging power of 180kW with the standard 61.4kWh battery and 230kW with the newly available 80.6kWh battery.

In contrast, the Australian-market 2025 Seal can be charged at up to 110kW on DC power with the base battery, with the unchanged 82.5kWh battery capable of accepting up to 150kW.

While charging rates are up in Chinese-market models, range fell from 550km to 510km for base rear-wheel drive examples, and 700km to 650km for more powerful rear-drive versions – both based on China’s lenient CLTC lab test cycle.

Entry-level Australian examples retain a 150kW/310Nm rear motor, though Chinese versions score a more potent 170kW/330Nm unit.

Extended Range and Performance grades retain their respective 230kW/360Nm and 390kW/670Nm outputs.

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The Chinese-market Seal also gained Frequency Selective Damping across the range, with the flagship model getting the DiSus-C body control system with more advanced electronic dampers.

As mentioned, the former was made standard on the Australian-market Premium for 2025, with the latter added to the Performance.

BYD also made some significant changes to the Seal’s interior in China, with a redesigned dashboard, a four-spoke steering wheel and concealed air vents.

There’s now a full-width assembly that incorporates a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver and a wave pattern graphic in front of the passenger, while a free-standing 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen carries over.

While the Australian-market Seal also has 10.25-inch and 15.6-inch screens, they have a less integrated look.

All Chinese variants now get a head-up display – reserved for the mid-spec Seal Premium and Performance in Australia – and 13 airbags.

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A new Coral Orange upholstery colour is available to buyers in China, teamed with re-patterned seats.

The update coincided with a price cut in China, but only by about two to four per cent. 

Meanwhile in Australia, local versions of the updated BYD Seal will be about five per cent less expensive than before.

Deliveries of the 2025 BYD Seal are due to begin in March, however recent industrial action at Australian ports could affect this timing.

The Seal was the fourth best-selling EV in Australia last year, behind only the Tesla Model Y and rival Model 3, as well as the MG 4.

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