2024 BYD Seal U SUV set to take on Model Y in Australia

The BYD Seal U electric SUV is set to arrive in 2024 as a direct sales threat to the popular Tesla Model Y.

BYD is fast expanding its line-up in Australia, having debuted with the Atto 3 compact electric SUV in 2022 via importer EV Direct.

The Dolphin hatch and Seal sedan are due to go on sale in the last quarter of 2023, and EV Direct has now confirmed a larger SUV and a ute will make it five electric vehicles in the showroom before the end of next year.

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The company is currently tight-lipped about naming the SUV in question but strongly hinted to Wheels that it is indeed the Seal U that has been spotted undergoing local testing in Australia.

"For 2024 we are bringing two vehicles into the country, the [new] ute and another SUV that is larger than the Atto 3," said EV Direct CEO Luke Todd. "I can't comment on which [SUV] that is as yet, but you're right, there are sply shots [of the Seal U] floating around."

Details of the five-seater Seal U are limited despite the SUV being displayed at the recent IAA motor show in Germany (where we took the images featured in this article).

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We know it is based on the same E-Platform 3.0 used by the Seal sedan, which we recently tested in the UK.

Two versions will reportedly be introduced in Europe – a Comfort model featuring a 72kWh battery and a Design model with a larger, 87kWh battery. The SUV has also been confirmed for the UK, another RHD market like Australia.

Each Seal U model is driven by a single electric motor – 150kW/310Nm for the Seal U Comfort or 160kW/330Nm for the Design. (The Seal sedan is more powerful and offers AWD - 230kW in RWD form or 390kW in AWD guise.)

BYD Europe has stated the Seal U offers a 420km WLTP driving range for the 72kWh Comfort model and 500km maximum for the 87kWh Design.

The Seal U is expected to share 150kW charging capability with the Seal sedan.

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Car News China reports the following dimensions for the BYD Seal U, which is called the Song Plus EV in China: 4775mm long, 1890mm wide, 1670mm high, with a 2765mm wheelbase.

That puts the Seal U right in the ballpark of the 4750mm-long Model Y, though the Tesla has a longer wheelbase of 2890mm. The Atto 3 compact SUV is a touch short of 4.5 metres in length.