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Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used BYD Seal U I: the buying guide

SUV · since 2023 · Hybrid, Electric

✓ 14 sources cited · updated on 14 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.5/5
Limited hindsight: recent model, score capped at 4.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€558/month
Indicative prices
€34,000 – €36,800

1 known fault

Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

BYD Seal U I, front three-quarter view

Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Chinese family SUV rated five stars by Euro NCAP in 2023, sold as a plug-in hybrid DM-i (218 hp, 80 km of WLTP electric range) and as a battery-electric version with an 87 kWh battery (up to 500 km WLTP). Experience so far is limited: the only fault documented by several sources is software-related (multimedia, driver assistance). Buy with a BYD workshop history and warranty in hand.

Reliability
4.5/5
Indicative prices
€34,000 – €36,800
Monthly cost
€558
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: Seal U DM-i 218 ch (hybride rechargeable), Seal U électrique 87 kWh 218 ch.

  • Seal U DM-i 218 ch (hybride rechargeable)

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 218 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid: 1.5 petrol engine (98 hp) and electric motor (197 hp), 218 hp combined, 18.3 kWh LFP battery, 80 km WLTP electric range (Automobile Propre, Autotijd). Consumption and CO2 figures vary between listings.

  • Seal U DM-i 4x4 324 ch (hybride rechargeable)

    Hybrid · Automatic · 324 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid, 324 hp and 400 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 s (Fiches-auto).

  • Seal U électrique 87 kWh 218 ch

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 218 hp · 20.5 kWh/100 km · 0 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air green

    Design trim: 218 hp (160 kW) and 330 Nm in front-wheel drive, 87 kWh LFP battery announced for up to 500 km WLTP, rapid charging up to 140 kW (Autotijd, Auto-Selection, Journal de l'Automobile); WLTP consumption of 20.5 kWh/100 km (MeilleurÉlectrique). The version with a 71.8 kWh battery is rated at 420 km WLTP.

Market prices

€34,000 – €36,800

Indicative range: 2024 to 2026, yearly medians of 312 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Multimedia and driver assistance still need refining

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

L'argus' road test found a ventilation menu accessible only through the steering-wheel buttons with Android Auto, a speed alert that cannot be switched off, and a semi-autonomous assistant that is sometimes sluggish, with unwanted braking. Car Checker points to software maturity that is still limited, often corrected by a remote update or under warranty.

Versions
Seal U DM-i 218 ch (hybride rechargeable), Seal U DM-i 4x4 324 ch (hybride rechargeable), Seal U électrique 87 kWh 218 ch
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “BYD Seal U”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€46
Insurance€133
Maintenance€39
Depreciation€340
Total per month€558

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Electricity€46

Seal U électrique 87 kWh 218 ch version: combined consumption of 20.5 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.

20.5 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €46

Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).

Insurance€133

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€39

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€340

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Ask a BYD dealer for the workshop history, the software updates carried out and any recalls, using the serial number (VIN).
  • Read the fault codes: no engine warning light should be on, and the petrol engine must start properly once the battery is empty (DM-i).
  • Test the multimedia screen, Android Auto / CarPlay and the driver-assistance systems (audible alerts, unwanted braking).
  • Check the charging: cable, AC charging and, on the electric version, DC charging.
  • Check the remaining warranty, including on the battery, and the distance to the nearest BYD dealer.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Has a warning light come on, or has the car been taken into a BYD workshop and immobilised? Do you have the repair orders?
  • Have the software updates and any recalls been carried out at BYD?
  • For the plug-in hybrid: was it charged regularly from a socket or wallbox?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0

BYD Tang

I · since 2023

Buy with care
Price
€42,490 – €55,900
Reliability
not rated
Fuel types
Electric

Photo: Hubert Berberich (HubiB), CC BY 4.0

BYD Atto 3

I · since 2022

Good choice, check first
Price
€27,000 – €27,400
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Electric

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0

Kia Sportage

V · since 2021

Good choice, check first
Price
€18,240 – €34,880
Reliability
5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hyundai Tucson

IV · since 2020

Good choice, check first
Price
€17,700 – €35,000
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the BYD Seal U I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the BYD Seal U safe?

It achieved five stars at Euro NCAP in 2023: 90% for adults, 86% for children, 83% for vulnerable road users and 77% for safety assist systems (La Tribune Auto).

What is the electric range of the Seal U DM-i?

80 km WLTP in 100% electric mode with the 18.3 kWh battery (Automobile Propre, Autotijd).

What is the boot capacity of the Seal U?

425 litres according to the Confort version listing (Wandaloo). Some listings give other figures (552 or 570 litres): check the specific version you are considering.

Found a listing?

Soon, we will analyse your BYD Seal U listing: price, mileage, watch points.

Get notified at launch