2024 BYD Seal price and specs: Tesla Model 3 rival starts from ...

The starting price for the BYD Seal electric sedan from China will be $12,000 cheaper than a Tesla Model 3 when local customer deliveries commence by the end of this year.

2024 BYD Seal pricing and specificationsElectric sedan to compete with Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2Three models with up to 570km of claimed driving rangePriced from $49,888 plus on-road costs (about $50,500 to $54,200 drive-away)

Australian prices for the 2024 BYD Seal electric sedan have been announced from $49,888 plus on-road costs – or about $50,500 to $54,200 drive-away – ahead of the first customer deliveries in early December 2023.

The Seal is the third high-volume model from the Chinese electric-car specialist in Australia, and will be between $3100 and $12,000 cheaper than equivalent versions of its main rival, the similarly-sized Tesla Model 3.

Three models will be available to match the three-model range offered by the Tesla Model 3 prior to its recent facelift: the Dynamic rear-wheel drive, Premium rear-wheel drive and Performance all-wheel drive.

The Seal Dynamic – priced from $49,888 plus on-road costs – uses a 150kW/310Nm electric motor powering the rear wheels and a 61.44kWh battery pack with 460km of claimed driving range in European WLTP testing, and an estimated 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds.

Once on-road costs are included, it is priced from $50,554 to $54,210 drive-away, depending on the state and territory in which the vehicle registered.

The rear-wheel-drive Premium – priced from $58,798 plus on-road costs, or about $59,500 to $63,800 drive-away – upgrades to a 230kW/360Nm rear electric motor and 82.56kWh battery, for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds, and a claimed WLTP driving range of 570km.

Meanwhile the top-of-the-range, all-wheel-drive Performance AWD – priced from $68,798 plus on-road costs, which pushes the drive-away price to between about $69,500 and $74,500 – uses 160kW front and 230kW rear motors for 390kW/670Nm combined for a claimed (and as yet untested) 3.8-second 0-100km/h acceleration time.

The headline price means the BYD Seal Performance now offers more power for the money than any other new car on sale in Australia, at $176.41 per kilowatt – beating the current champion, the MG 4 XPower electric hot hatch ($187.47/kW).

The BYD Seal Performance uses the same 82.5kWh battery pack as the Premium, but with 130kg of additional weight, and all-wheel-drive (rather than two-wheel-drive), the WLTP driving range claim drops to 520km.

For context a 2024 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive ($61,900 plus on-roads) quotes 194kW, a 60kWh battery, 0-100km/h in 6.1sec and 513km of WLTP range, while a 2024 Model 3 Long Range ($71,900 plus on-roads) all-wheel drive lists 331kW, a circa-80kWh battery, 0-100km/h in 4.4sec, and 629km of WLTP range.

BYD claims DC fast charging at up to 110kW for the Dynamic, and 150kW for the Premium and Performance. It quotes a 30 to 80 per cent recharge times for the latter of 26 minutes respectively – while both batteries can charge at up to 7kW AC.

Among the differences in standard equipment between the three Seal models is the size of the wheels: 18-inch on the Dynamic, and 19-inch on the Premium and Performance.

All models are fitted with a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, 10.25-inch instrument display, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and a full suite of advanced safety technology.

Other features reserved for higher model grades include a heated steering wheel, memory for the driver's seat and side mirrors, a head-up display, and "genuine" rather than imitation leather seat trim.

The Seal measures 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and 1460mm tall, riding on a 2920mm wheelbase – making it 106mm longer overall, 25mm wider, 17mm taller and 45mm longer in wheelbase than a pre-update 2023 Tesla Model 3, according to Australian government data.

BYD quote 400 litres of boot space, plus a further 53 litres in the front storage area – known as a 'frunk', an abreviated version of 'front trunk' – where the engine would normally be located in a petrol sedan.

Australian customer deliveries of the 2024 BYD Seal are due to commence in early December 2023, according to Luke Todd, CEO of BYD's Australian director EVDirect, with orders open online imminently.

Seal Dynamic Standard Range RWD – $49,888Seal Premium Extended Range RWD – $58,798Seal Performance AWD – $68,798

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs such as registration and stamp duty.

150kW single-motor rear-wheel drive and 61.4kWh battery18-inch alloy wheels with tyre repair kitDusk-sensing LED headlightsLED daytime-running lights and tail-lights (with sequential indicators)15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, over-the-air updates, FM/DAB radio (no AM support)10.25-inch digital instrument displaySynthetic leather-look seat upholstery in black/grey, or Ocean BlueSynthetic leather-look steering wheel trimEight-way driver and six-way passenger power-adjustable seatsHeated and ventilated front seats12-speaker Dynaudio sound systemDual-zone automatic climate control with heat pump, rear air ventsKeyless entry and startWireless phone charging for two devicesPanoramic glass roofPower tailgateTwo USB-C and two USB-A portsRear privacy glassPower-folding heated side mirrorsRain-sensing wipersAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorFront and rear parking sensorsRear-view and 360-degree cameraAutonomous emergency brakingLane-keep assistAdaptive cruise controlBlind-spot monitoringFront and rear cross-traffic alert with brakingDoor exit warningTraffic sign recognitionAutomatic high beamsNine airbags (including front-centre, and rear-side)

230kW single-motor rear-wheel drive and 82.5kWh batteryUpgraded brakes with drilled front rotors and fixed front calipers19-inch alloy wheels with Continental tyresHead-up display"Genuine" leather seat upholstery and steering wheel trimFour-way power driver's seat lumbar adjustmentMemory for driver's seat and side mirrors (also with auto dipping in reverse)

390kW dual-motor all-wheel drive (with 82.5kWh battery)Frequency-selective dampersTorque vectoringHeated steering wheelElectronic child lock

Arctic Blue (all models)Atlantis Grey (all models)Aurora White (all models)Cosmos Black (all models)Shark Grey (Performance AWD only)