BYD’s Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV is available to order in the UK, priced from £33,205.

The Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV is priced from £33,205

The five-seater D-segment SUV bears the distinction of being the Chinese electric car giant’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in Europe, providing a stepping stone for those not ready to go fully electric yet.

The technology prioritises electric power with minimal reliance on fuel, leading to greater energy efficiencies and lower fuel consumption. It’s also said to deliver a quiet, smooth ride that feels more like that of a pure electric vehicle, with powerful acceleration and performance to match.

The powertrain is available in front- and all-wheel drive versions and with two different battery packs.

Priced from £33,205 in Boost grade, the front-wheel drive model uses a 98hp 1.5-litre hybrid engine teamed up with a 197hp/145kW motor and the brand’s 18.3kWh Blade battery. It delivers a total 218hp of power with maximum torque of 300Nm. Its all-electric range stands at 49.7 miles, giving an 8% Benefit-in-Kind rating for the current tax year. Total range is 671 miles with the engine and motor in tandem.

A Comfort version of the front-wheel drive model is expected after the summer, featuring a larger 26.6kWh battery that expands all-electric range to around 78 miles – qualifying for 5% BiK – and extending total range to some 684-plus miles.

Sitting above this is the all-wheel drive version in Design trim. Priced from £39,905, it features a 204hp/150kW front motor and a 163hp/120kW rear motor, giving a total 324hp of power and 550Nm of torque. It’s teamed up with the same 18.3kWh Blade battery as the Boost version and has an all-electric driving range of 43 miles and a total range of 540 miles.

BYD has previously cited official WLTP fuel economy figures of 313.8mpg for FWD variants and 235.4mpg for Design AWD models. The latter also delivers a 0-62mph acceleration of 5.9 seconds.

All versions deliver two driving modes: EV and HEV. In the first mode the driver can select ‘EV only mode’ for daily commuting or city driving. In the second mode the vehicle will mostly use the power that is delivered by the battery but will add in the petrol engine under acceleration to support the battery and boost power to the wheels. The engine also charges the battery (between 25 to 70%, which is adjustable) so electric driving is always available.

The batteries can be charged at up to 11kW AC, while the Seal U also enables DC charging up to 18kW, giving a 30-80% charging time in around 35 minutes. V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) functionality comes as standard, allowing the car to be used as a portable power supply for electrical devices.

As with BYD’s existing Atto 3 SUV, Seal saloon and Dolphin hatchback fully electric models in the UK, the Seal U features an ocean-inspired design aesthetic outside, while the interior comes with ergonomically designed vegan leather upholstered seats, wraparound multi-colour ambient lighting, crystal ‘water-droplet’ gear shift and a 15.6-inch rotatable touchscreen. A panoramic electric sliding sunroof and 10-speaker audio system are available, while head-up display and intelligent voice control are standard.

The BYD Seal U DM-i will be offered with a six-year/93,750-mile full manufacturer’s warranty, eight-year/125,000-mile warranty on at least 70% of the battery’s original capacity, as well as eight-year/93,750-mile warranty on the electric motor as standard.