# BYD Seal — Used Car Buying Guide AutoScout's analysis of the BYD Seal on the UK used-car market. Backed by 33 million DVSA MOT tests, current AutoTrader pricing, and depreciation curves derived from CAP/Glass's Guide data. Live interactive report: https://autoscout.fyi/cars/byd-seal ## Verdict - **Best value year**: 2023 - **Ideal trim**: Design - **Target mileage**: 5,000–15,000 miles - **Max previous owners**: 1 - **Target price**: £29,993 ## Why this model ⚠️ Limited UK data — BYD only arrived in the UK in 2023, so we have fewer MOT tests and less resale history than established brands. The BYD Seal is a fantastic entry into the UK EV market, offering a compelling blend of performance, range, and advanced technology. It boasts a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating (2023) and is backed by a generous 6-year/150,000-mile warranty, showing BYD's confidence in its product. As China's #1 EV brand, with 1.76 million EVs sold in 2023 globally, parts supply and service network growth are well-supported. Owners in European markets like Norway and the Netherlands have reported broadly positive experiences since 2020. It's a stylish, well-equipped, and competitive EV. ## What you should pay The BYD Seal, being a relatively new entrant, will see its first used models appearing on the market around February 2026. Based on the average used EV price for a 3-year-old mid-trim model, a 2023 BYD Seal Design (RWD) with around 10,000-15,000 miles could be found for approximately £29,993. However, due to limited UK data for this specific model, expect a wider price range of £23,994 to £35,992 (an uncertainty band of ±20%). The market is still softening for used EVs, so there may be opportunities for good deals. ## Which trim to buy The 'Design' trim offers an excellent balance of range (354 miles WLTP), performance (308 hp RWD), and premium features like the rotating touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, and heated/ventilated seats, all at a more accessible price point than the 'Excellence' AWD model. It provides plenty of power for everyday driving and long journeys without the added cost and complexity of the more powerful AWD system, making it the best value for most buyers. ## What to check before you buy - ⚠️ Limited UK data — As a new model, long-term common issues are not yet established. General EV checks include ensuring the battery health (SoH) is good (expect around 91% after 5 years, but a 2023 model should be much higher). - Check all electrical systems and infotainment for glitches, as new models can sometimes have software quirks. - Inspect tyres for uneven wear, especially on higher-performance AWD models. - Ensure all advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are functioning correctly during a test drive. ## Running costs Running an electric car like the BYD Seal is generally cheaper than petrol or diesel. With its 61kWh usable battery and liquid cooling, expect good long-term battery health. Real-world efficiency is around 3.7 mi/kWh. Using a standard home rate (Ofgem cap 24.5p/kWh), you're looking at about 6.7p/mile, which is roughly £670 a year for 10,000 miles. If you switch to a smart EV tariff like Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus (around 9p/kWh overnight), this drops significantly to about 2.5p/mile, or just £246 a year for 10,000 miles – a saving of over £400 annually! Just remember, public rapid chargers (70-85p/kWh) are much more expensive, costing around 18.9–23p/mile, so try to stick to home charging for daily use. Road tax for EVs is currently free until April 2025. From then, all EVs will pay £195/year. For the Seal, which had a new price over £40,000, it will also incur the 'expensive car' supplement of £390 for five years from the second year of registration, making it £585 annually for those years. Insurance costs will vary but expect it to be moderate to high for a new, performance-oriented EV, likely in the £700-£1200 range annually depending on your personal circumstances. ## Key stats - **Fuel Type**: Electric - **Horsepower**: 308 hp (Design RWD) to 523 hp (Excellence AWD) - **Mpg**: N/A (Electric) - **Reliability Score**: Untested in UK, strong 6yr/150k mile warranty suggests confidence. European market feedback is broadly positive. - **Safety Rating**: ★★★★★ (Euro NCAP 2023) ## Trim comparison | Trim | Price new | Price used | Key features | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Design | £45,695 | £29,993 | 308 hp RWD; 354 miles WLTP range; 15.6" rotating touchscreen | | Excellence-AWD | £48,695 | £33,000 | 523 hp AWD; 323 miles WLTP range; 15.6" rotating touchscreen | ## Depreciation forecast | Year | Estimated value | Retention | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026 | £29,993 | 100% | | 2027 | £26,094 | 87% | | 2028 | £22,582 | 75% | | 2029 | £19,578 | 65% | | 2030 | £17,070 | 57% | The BYD Seal is a relatively new model, so buying a 2023 model in 2026 means you're already past the steepest initial depreciation curve. The depreciation from 2026 to 2030 shows a steady decline, typical for EVs as technology advances and battery health naturally degrades. The sweet spot for buying is now (2026) as it represents a significant saving from new, while still offering a substantial portion of its warranty and battery life. For selling, holding onto it for 2-3 years (until 2028-2029) would see a further loss of around 25-35% of your purchase price, which is a reasonable retention for an EV in this segment. Total value lost since new: 43.1%. ## Alternatives to consider - [Tesla Model 3](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/tesla-model-3.md) - [Hyundai IONIQ 5](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/hyundai-ioniq-5.md) - [Polestar 2](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/polestar-2.md) --- Source: AutoScout (https://autoscout.fyi). Part of a review of the UK used-car market across 500+ models.