Electric car giant BYD has revealed further details of its upcoming Seal U plug-in hybrid, which arrives this autumn in the UK.

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Debuted earlier this spring at the Geneva Motor Show, it stands out for being the first BYD vehicle in Europe to use the brand’s plug-in hybrid ‘Super DM Technology’ – providing an alternative to its fully electric offering.

The Chinese brand – winner of the Fleet Rising Star accolade at last month’s Great British Fleet Awards – is well known for its electric car models and overtook Tesla as the world’s top-selling EV maker in the last quarter of 2023.

But the new Seal U SUV recognises that not everyone is ready to go fully electric yet and offers a halfway house solution.

Starting deliveries in mainland Europe from June and in the UK from the autumn, the Super DM-i (Dual Mode) Technology is said to be ideal for eco-conscious mobility and long-range journeys.

The technology prioritises electric power “with minimal reliance on fuel, making it kinder to the environment, with greater energy efficiencies and lower fuel consumption”.

The powertrain will be available in front- and all-wheel drive versions and two different battery packs. The front-wheel drive model uses a 98hp 1.5-litre hybrid engine teamed up with a 197hp motor and either an 18.3kWh BYD Blade battery for entry grade Boost variants or 26.6kWh for Comfort models. Boost variants have 50 miles’ pure electric range and a total range of 671 miles (WLTP), while the Comfort trim – which will be available after the summer – extends this to 78 and 684-plus miles respectively.

The Design version adds in a rear-mounted motor for four-wheel drive, teamed up with the 18.3kWh battery, giving “adaptability to diverse driving conditions”. It has a full electric driving range of 43 miles (WLTP) and a total range of 540 miles (WLTP).

Official WLTP fuel economy is 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.

BYD says the shifts between different modes are smooth and the driving experience is akin to a fully electric car.

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

Design features include 19-inch alloy wheels with black wheel spokes, an X-shaped front-end and LED taillights that reference the brand’s ‘Ocean Aesthetics’ design language, while the cabin comes with vegan leather using double contrasting stitching and a crystal gearshift knob that also reflects the ocean-inspired design theme.

There’s also a panoramic electric sliding sunroof and a PM2.5 interior filter – including an air purification system in the extended trim level.

The five-seater D-segment SUV is also designed for plenty of onboard space, thanks its 4,775mm length, 1,890mm width and 1,670mm height, along with a 2,765mm wheelbase and flat floor design. The rear seat splits 60:40. With the seats fully down, cargo volume extends from 425 to 1,440 litres.

BYD’s Intelligent Cockpit System is operated by the 15.6-inch BYD-signature rotatable screen – enabling drivers to choose from landscape or portrait format for the screen – and also includes a 12.3-inch full instrument LCD panel. The Intelligent Cockpit System also offers a 4G connection, integrated Spotify and Here navigation, smartphone integration via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and intelligent voice control that can be activated with the voice command “Hi BYD”. The system uses over-the-air (OTA) updates to keep itself fully up to date and drivers can use the BYD app on smartphones for remote smart connectivity and infotainment.

Advanced driver assistance systems include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, intelligent speed limit control and blind spot detection system, amongst others. The Design version also features head up display.

The Seal U DM-i will be offered with a six-year/150,000km (93,750 miles) full manufacturer’s warranty, eight-year/200,000km (125,000 miles) warranty on at least 70% of the battery’s original capacity, as well as eight-year/150,000km (93,750 miles) warranty on the electric motor as standard.

Pricing of the vehicle will be announced in the run-up to the market launch.