There are many criteria for a good car, but only one standard for success: sales. No matter how well a car is praised or hyped, without sales, it will eventually be discontinued. On the other hand, a car that receives constant criticism online but has strong sales is, by definition, successful. According to sales data from Dongche Di, the BYD Seagull has held the top spot in the sedan sales rankings for six consecutive months. Over the past six months, its average monthly sales have exceeded 30.000 units, with an impressive 47.915 units sold in September alone. While one might argue that the Seagull isn’t a high-end car, its success as a model is undeniable.
This review isn’t a promotional piece. Let’s dive into the real pros and cons of the BYD Seagull, so you can decide whether these issues are acceptable before purchasing.
As usual, let’s start with the drawbacks before moving to the positives. The Seagull has four main shortcomings. The first is that it only has a single front windshield wiper, with no rear wiper at all. This poses a significant safety hazard when it rains heavily, as visibility can be compromised. The second issue is its low ground clearance, with the minimum ground clearance at just 16 cm. This means drivers need to be extra cautious to avoid hitting the battery. Additionally, the car doors are quite low, so if you park on the side of the road, there’s a risk of scraping against the curb.
The third issue is that the car isn’t suitable for highway driving—not due to range concerns, but because the motor and battery overheat at high speeds, causing the charging power to drop dramatically. Although the entire Seagull range supports fast charging, the charging power can decrease by nearly half after highway use. The actual charging power for the 305 km range version is around 15 kW, while the high-spec versions only reach about 20 kW. The last problem is the quality of the parts used. The sound of the horn is particularly weak, similar to that of a two-wheeled electric scooter. The headlights are not very bright, resulting in average illumination. Additionally, the stock tires are of low quality, with many owners reporting issues such as air leaks, bulges, and punctures.
However, when considering the low price of this electric vehicle, these issues are relatively minor as long as the car doesn’t have more severe problems like spontaneous combustion. At this price range, whether it’s a fuel vehicle or a new energy vehicle, it’s unrealistic to expect premium build quality.
The high sales figures of the BYD Seagull may be attributed to recent trends of reduced consumer spending or the desire of the average person to try out electric vehicles at the lowest cost of trial and error. In such a context, an affordable, technically reliable, and market-recognized model like the BYD Seagull becomes the best choice. Despite its compact length of less than 3.8 meters, it has a wheelbase of 2.5 meters, comparable to the Honda Fit. The actual interior space is also quite generous, comfortably accommodating four to five adults without significant issues. As a second car for a household, used for grocery shopping, picking up children, or commuting to work, it’s highly suitable.
The Seagull’s running costs are incredibly low, even making the Honda Fit pale in comparison. According to feedback from owners, the 305 km range version consumes only 7–8 kWh per 100 km for city driving during spring and fall, with a fully charged range comfortably exceeding 300 km. In northern winters or for highway driving, the actual consumption rises to around 14–15 kWh per 100 km, with a full charge covering about 200 km. If you can charge at home, the electricity cost per kilometer is approximately 0.5 yuan. This translates to around 4–5 yuan per 100 km for city driving in spring and fall, and 8–9 yuan per 100 km for winter or highway use.
In conclusion, the BYD Seagull enables ordinary consumers to enjoy the affordability and benefits of an electric vehicle at an extremely low cost. Despite its various drawbacks, its position as the current sales champion is well deserved.
