Seal SUV plugs gap

FIRST DRIVE: BYD launches PHEV with electric range of 125km and it is super refined, writes Philip Hedderman

If you thought BYD (Build Your Dreams) made only battery electric vehicles, you’d be very much mistaken. Granted, the Chinese car giant is only in the Irish market just over 12 months and has already launched three hugely successful EVs – Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal – but now it has announced the arrival of its first plug-in hybrid.

Called the Seal U-DM-i (a bit of a mouthful, I know), the new offering is a mid-sized crossover that is gunning for the top sellers – namely the Hyundai Tuscon, VW Tiguan and Audi Q3.

We learnt at the press conference in Rome last week that BYD had, in fact, launched the first mass-produced PHEV in 2008, called the F3DM (now the name makes sense), but it was only sold in Asia and wasn’t particularly attractive.

This time, though, the styling is very upmarket, and dare I say it, Germanic. The design stays very close to the sleek Seal saloon with the same C-shaped LED headlights, while the horizontal slats in the grille give it a more aggressive look.

At the rear, it’s a more sombre affair, with a coast-to-coast 3D lightbar complementing sporty air scoops in the lower bumper, while the name is confined to one corner.

The boot release may grate with some as it’s an actual button in the middle of the handle and on lighter-coloured cars sticks out like a sore thumb.

The same cannot be said for the interior, which is simply sumptuous and would shame some so-called luxury brands.

It’s wall-to-wall faux leather, soft-touch materials, polished chrome inserts and the gear select is encased in crystal.

Wrap-around multi-colour ambient lighting bathes the cabin at night and during the day, the panoramic roof lets the light flood in.

Like its all-electric siblings, you’ll also get a super-snazzy head-up display, chunky threespoke sports steering wheel and of course the gargantuan 15.9in colour touchscreen.

This rotating display is home to all of the infotainment, apps, Apple CarPlay, plus an array of colour cameras for reversing. This compensates for the narrow rear window and proved a godsend when manoeuvring the 4.8-metrelong SUV.

Thanks to the longer wheelbase, head and legroom for passengers is among the best in class and the boot is a decent size too, swallowing 425 litres of luggage – and with the 60/40 seats folded flat, it expands to 1,440 litres.

The new offering is powered by a petrol/electric motor combo with two battery sizes (18 and 26kWh) and boasting EV ranges of between 80km and 125km on a single charge.

Under the bonnet lies a 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine, which acts more as a generator, and both motors drive the front wheels and generate 218bhp.

This combo comes in Boost and Comfort trim, with the latter offered with a larger battery and longer EV range.

The flagship model is called Design and comes with a turbocharged engine and twin motors driving all corners.

Both are capable of fast charging and juicing it up to 80pc takes just 35 minutes.

Drive-wise, the Seal U really hits the sweet spot between EV and ICE and unlike many of its rivals, it’s hard to decipher when one transitions into the other. It is remarkably refined and only the keenest of ears will pick up the change.

As expected, it is most at home around town in heavy traffic, but short spurts on the motorway were effortless too.

Out test time in Italy proved too short, but on first impressions we left more than impressed.

If the Seal U gets anywhere near its claimed 1.2 litres/100km, it will sell like hot cakes.

Prices announced closer to Irish launch.