BYD Seagull: sole variant on offer

BYD Cars Philippines introduced the Seagull sometime in September as part of its multi-electric vehicle (EV) salvo. The nameplate is poised to act as one of the company’s volume drivers and an amplifier in its bid to make electric cars more accessible to Filipinos. 

In the country, the Ayala-led local arm of the Chinese car manufacturer is offering the BYD Seagull in a sole trim. But is having just one variant of the small electric hatchback enough? Stick around to find out. 

Dimensions 

The BYD Seagull measures 3,780 millimeters (mm) long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,580 mm tall. In contrast to the popular internal combustion engine-powered Toyota Wigo (dimensions 3,760 mm by 1,665 mm by 1,515 mm respectively) the former appears to be slightly larger overall than the latter — which gives would-be owners better road presence. 

In terms of wheelbase, the BYD Seagull measures 2,500 mm and clears the ground by 120 mm. This gives the mini electric car — which has been dubbed the BYD Mini Dolphin in other markets — a decent ride quality. 

Meanwhile, its ground clearance gives it the ability to breeze through shallow potholes and not-too-tall road humps with relative ease. In addition, it adds to its stability when taking on corners at higher speeds. 

For those interested, here is a table showing the BYD Seagull’s measurements against the Toyota Wigo. 

	BYD Seagull	Toyota Wigo
Overall length (in mm)	3,780	3,760
Overall width (in mm)	1,715	1,665
Overall height (in mm)	1,580	1,515
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,500	2,525
Minimum ground clearance (in mm)	120	160

 

Exterior 

Outside, the BYD Seagull boasts an aggressive-looking exterior with plenty of straight lines and sharp angles. It gives it a somewhat sporty look, which gives the vehicle a strong character. 

At the fore, it wears stark headlamps that flank the “BYD” emblem on the car’s nose. Shifting one’s focus a little lower will reveal a small grillework with horizontal slats. 

The side profile of the BYD Seagull is also clean and minimalistic, like the fascia. Its adornments include body-colored door handles and side mirrors as well as a small piece of plastic, which acts as a protective cladding at the bottom of its doors. 

From this angle, one can also notice the car’s blacked-out pillars, which sort of makes the roof float from a distance. The wheel wells also have black plastic covering to help protect it from light scratches. 

At the back, the BYD Seagull gets a spoiler (with an integrated third brake lamp) mounted on the said roof, taillamps that are connected by a long horizontal light bar, reflectors on its lower rear bumper, and a slew of chrome-finished badges. 

Below are the available colors of the BYD Seagull: 

• Apricity White
• Sprout Green
• Delan Black

We talked about the abovementioned hues in one of our feature articles. You can read more about it, here. 

Overall, the exterior of the BYD Seagull looks minimalist, which befits its modern style. 

Interior 

Inside the BYD Seagull, owners will be treated to a modern cabin packed with decent tech. In our experience reviewing cars, we noticed  that automobiles from BYD often come with good appointments. On that note, one may have difficulty finding similar features from other models in the segment. 

A good example is its set of screens. 

Facing the driver is a seven-inch digital instrument cluster that displays relevant driving information. These details are easy to read and understand, which makes the BYD Seagull a good vehicle for first-time EV users. 

Below are some of the information drivers can check out from the digital screen: 

• Speed
• Lighting
• Driving mode
• Time
• Selected gear
• Seatbelt reminder

In addition, some EV-specific data can also be viewed here. These include the following: 

• Estimated range
• Trip computer
• Battery level

Complementing the BYD Seagull’s digital instrument panel is the brand’s 10.1-inch rotating infotainment screen. Now before you raise your eyebrows, the feature is not just a gimmick as switching the orientation of the screen has its benefits. 

For example, the driver can have a better view of navigation applications — such as Waze and Google Maps — when the screen is vertically oriented or in portrait mode. Conversely, the front passenger can enjoy entertainment programs like Spotify or Apple Podcasts with the screen horizontally oriented or in landscape mode. 

Depending on its owner’s needs, the wireless Apple Carplay- and wireless Android Auto-ready infotainment display can offer some sort of solution. 

It is also worth noting that the said screen is capable of gesture controls, which — for example — allows easy adjustment of the car’s air conditioning unit. 

Other notable features offered by the BYD Seagull are listed here: 

• Leather seats
• Leather steering wheel
• Leather accents on dashboard
• Leather accents on door trims 
• Leather accents on armrest
• Automatic air conditioning 
• Bluetooth connectivity 
• Push start / stop system
• Power windows 
• USB charging ports 
• Wireless charging dock 

While not much can be expected with the BYD Seagull’s cabin in terms of space, it does offer premium amenities to make one’s driving and riding experience comfortable and convenient. 

Powertrain 

Propulsion for the BYD Seagull comes from a single electric motor positioned on the car’s front wheel axle. The permanent magnet synchronous motor is powered by a 30-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery to generate some 73 horsepower with 135 Newton-meters of torque.

According to the company’s literature, the BYD Seagull can zoom from a standstill to 50 kilometers per hour in under five seconds. 

Range-wise, the electric hatchback can travel up to 300 kilometers in a single charge. It comes with both AC and DC charging ports, which ensures would-be owners unparalleled flexibility when juicing up their rides. 

These charging ports are compatible with ACMobility’s growing network of charging stations. Relatedy (just in case you missed it), these charging hubs — which were initially available to service EVs at no cost — will now cost owners. 

In a report by Zigwheels Philippines Managing Editor Ruben Manahan IV, the Department of Energy has approved the below charging rates: 

AC charging (per kWh)	P35
DC charging (per kWh)	P28.50

 

The paid EV charging service will start today, December 12.

Safety

The BYD Seagull comes straight out of the factory with these safety features as standard: 

• Cruise control
• Rear parking sensors
• Backup camera
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Anti-lock braking system
• Electronic brake-force distribution
• Electronic stability control
• Hydraulic brake assist
• Traction control system
• Ramp start control

In other vehicles, the advanced safety technologies offered by the brand are oftentimes made available only for higher trims. Since BYD Cars Philippines only has one variant of the Seagull, all these features are fitted in the sole grade on offer. 

Price 

The BYD Seagull is currently priced at P898,000. 

Thoughts

The BYD Seagull, despite being listed in a single trim, gives car buyers almost everything they need in an affordable EV. The move to be sold in just one variant eliminates the difficulty of selecting which grade to pick and allows buyers to enjoy all the features the nameplate has to offer.

Interested to find the top five popular EVs on our website? Here is a quick link to help you get on your sustainable motoring journey.

Also read:

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Zigwheels PH Top 5 most searched models for 2024

BYD Seal 5 DM-i: curated colors