ESTATE OF MIND(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 47

BYD enters the estate market with this Seal 6 DM-i Touring. This PHEV mid-sized station wagon isn't a class leader in any particular respect, except one that might really matter - value. And that might be enough to give this smartly-styled Chinese model a useful sales niche.

Background word count: 90

Chinese maker BYD has done a lot to revitalise interest in our market in EVs. Here though, its mission is to reawaken British interest in a somewhat forgotten genre; that of the mid-sized family estate. And do so with this car, the Seal 6 DM-i Touring. This station wagon version of the Seal 6, like the alternative saloon, isn't an EV. Instead, it uses a slightly tweaked version of the Plug-in Hybrid system that's sold so well for BYD with the Seal U DM-i SUV. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience word count: 264

If you're fed up with PHEVs that blow all your battery energy in one hit at the start of your drive, then you'll like the Seal 6 because it's not configured like that. Instead, the powertrain rations out its energy slowly, so it'll feel like the battery is taking you further than it actually is. Exactly how much further will depend on which of the two versions of this PHEV powertrain you choose. In both cases, it's BYD's usual 'Super Hybrid' system, as used by the Seal U DM-i SUV (and various Jaecoo and Chery SUVs); which blends a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a pair of electric motors. Two flavours of this powertrain are available, both slightly differently tuned from what you'll find in the Seal U DM-i SUV. The rather misleadingly-named entry-level 'Boost' version has up to 181bhp, whether it's operating as a full-EV or a Hybrid; and its PHEV system uses a 10kWh battery offering an EV range of 31 miles. Which is all a bit 'five years ago' by PHEV range standards, so you'll properly want one of the longer-range 'Comfort'-spec models. With those, the much bigger 19kWh battery's extra 100kg of weight is compensated for by an increase in powertrain output to 209bhp. Range is 62 miles for this estate. 0-62mph takes 8.5s. As with the SUV version of this car, expect quiet cruising, but unremarkable drive dynamics and a pretty firm ride. Perhaps more significant than all of these though are the rather intrusive ADAS features. With regard to the those, we'd counsel you to try before you buy.