BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring review: Is the family estate back in business?

Join us as we take a closer look at the BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring, the plug-in hybrid estate making a case against the family SUV

SUVs have been taking over the school run for years now, but the humble estate is quietly making a comeback. And the BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring is a fine specimen indeed.

After all, not everyone hopped on the SUV train. Estates offer all the practicality families need, without the extra height and bulk.

Chinese estates are still a rare breed, although MG (with its British roots) got there first with the MG5 EV. The SEAL 6 DM-i Touring is the plug-in hybrid family car in BYD’s fast-growing line-up, and with up to 839 miles of combined range (WLTP Comb), it can certainly go the distance.

It’s taking on the likes of the SKODA Superb Estate and the Volkswagen Passat eHybrid, so it has a lot to live up to.

On paper, it ticks plenty of boxes for families: Space, comfort, safety and efficiency.

But does it deliver on the road? Or are the headline figures just hype?

We took it for a spin to find out.

What we drove

• Model: BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring Comfort
• Body Style: Estate
• Power: Plug-in Hybrid Electric (212 PS)
• Battery: 19 kWh
• Range: Up to 839 miles (WLTP Comb). Up to 62 miles electric-only (WLTP Comb)
• Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds
• Colour: Black

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Understated, but built for the job

The BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring is a classic estate: Long and low with a flat rear window. At 4,840mm long and 1,505mm tall, it’s certainly long, but without the height or bulk that comes with an SUV.

BYD’s signature Ocean X design language runs throughout. It’s smooth and pebble-like, clean rather than dramatic.

Up front, a wave-inspired grille sits above a sculpted lower grille with chrome detailing. It’s flanked by crystal-inspired headlights carrying BYD’s Double-L light signature.

Along the sides, flush door handles and sculpted dual waistlines keep the profile tidy. Around the back, a full-width light bar with layered LED-matrix taillights and dual C-shaped elements gives the car its most distinctive angle.

On top, aluminium roof rails mean it’s ready for bikes, roof boxes, camping gear and whatever else family life throws your way. Another welcome family touch? Privacy glass on the rear windows and rear windscreen.

It might not turn heads, but it’ll look brilliantly smart on your driveway.

Light, bright and built for family life

Step inside and the cabin is light and airy, especially with the stunning grey interior.

That said, a light interior in a family car could get messy fast. If you’d rather not risk it, there’s a black interior option too.

Look up and the panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with light. Its electric sunshade gives you plenty of control, and you can open it slightly to let in some fresh air.

Soft-touch materials sit where you touch most often, with harder plastics lower down where you won’t notice them as much. There’s also rhythm-reactive multicolour ambient lighting, perfect for turning the school run into a concert.

Dominating the dash is a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen that’s quick and responsive. Apple CarPlay connects easily, but if you’re not an Apple fan, Android Auto comes as standard too.

Both front seats are heated and ventilated (perfect for those chilly Sunday-morning football matches), and there’s a heated steering wheel too. The driver’s seat also has a memory function, so it remembers your position and there’s no faffing before you set off.

Physical buttons are few and far between, with most controls handled through the touchscreen. A clever three-finger swipe adjusts the temperature and fan speed, and the “Hi BYD” voice assistant is a useful touch.

There are a lot of sub-menus though, which makes the system a bit fiddly to use, especially on the move.

Little details count too, like the handy glasses case on the driver’s side door frame. You can also unlock the car with your phone, thanks to the NFC smartphone key.

In the back, the flat floor gives good foot space, while rear air vents and USB-C ports keep everyone comfortable and charged up.

ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats and front passenger seat make fitting a car seat as easy as parking a Volkswagen up!. There’s plenty of room too, so even the bulkiest rear-facing seats fit in.

In the boot, you’ve got 500 litres up to the parcel shelf, or 675 litres to the roof. Fold the rear seats down and that grows to a whopping 1,535 litres.

The square estate shape makes it easy to load too. Prams, large suitcases, camping gear: All a breeze.

Underfloor storage is perfect for tucking cables out of the way. There’s also a 12V outlet, luggage hooks, a boot light and quick-release seat-fold handles.

The ski hatch means you can slide in long items without folding the rear seats down, which is ideal when the kids need to come along on a flat-pack furniture run.

The hands-free electric tailgate has an adjustable opening height too. Toddler in one arm and the shopping in the other? Opening the boot is no problem.

When it comes to practicality, the estate shape beats an SUV-coupé hands down, and arguably matches a regular SUV. A lower loading height, a long, square boot and loads of space? Perfect.

Comfortable cruiser, reluctant climber

Put your foot down and the SEAL 6 Touring is smooth and quiet in EV mode, with the electric motor doing most of the work.

Once the battery’s flat though, the 1.5-litre engine gets thrashy under acceleration. It never feels especially powerful either; take it up a hill at higher speeds and it very clearly struggles.

The light steering makes town driving and parking easy, and Comfort trim adds front sensors and a 360-degree camera to make life that bit easier.

On twisty roads, there’s little steering feedback, even in Sport mode. The ride can be fidgety too, and sharp speed bumps are definitely felt throughout the cabin.

The low seating position means your knees sit high, which taller drivers may find uncomfortable on longer journeys.

The driver monitoring system can be a bit oversensitive, but you can switch it off if it becomes distracting.

It’s not exciting, but it’s not trying to be. It’s built to be a family companion: School runs, commutes and holiday miles.

Where the SEAL 6 DM-i Touring earns its keep

Pair the battery with the petrol engine and you get a combined range of up to 839 miles (WLTP Comb). In the real world, that works out at around 700-800 miles, which is still seriously impressive.

On a single charge, it can manage up to 62 miles of pure electric range (WLTP Comb). Real-world range sits at around 30-45 miles, with the Comfort trim nearer the top end.

Around town it holds back a reserve of charge, so you can glide through traffic without the engine kicking in.

Official fuel economy is 166.2mpg (weighted), or 58.9mpg combined on petrol alone. In the real world, expect around 40-55mpg without charging.

Home charging runs at up to 6.6kW, and both a three-pin (Mode 2) and a wallbox (Mode 3) cable are included, so you can plug in from day one. Out and about, DC charging at up to 26kW takes it from 30-80% in around 23 minutes.

There’s also Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) with a UK three-pin power strip included, so you can power camping kit, a laptop or even a coffee machine straight from the car.

Under the floor sits BYD’s signature Blade Battery, a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that has passed the notoriously tough nail penetration test.

Fewer fuel stops mean more time with your family, and more money left in your wallet.

Safety and warranties

The SEAL 6 Touring earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2025, with strong scores across the board:

• Adult Occupant: 92%
• Child Occupant: 90%
• Vulnerable Road Users: 84%
• Safety Assist: 85%

It scored maximum points in the side barrier and side pole tests, and the doors and windows stay operable if the car is submerged.

Child Presence Detection comes as standard, along with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, front and rear cross traffic alert, and door opening warning.

The only caveat? Some of the safety systems can be a little overzealous.

BYD backs the car with a six-year or 93,750-mile vehicle warranty, while the electric drive unit is covered for eight years or 93,750 miles.

The Blade Battery gets eight years or around 155,000 miles (250,000km), with a guarantee that it keeps at least 70% of its health.

There’s also a 12-year, unlimited-mileage anti-corrosion warranty. For anyone nervous about a newer brand, that’s serious reassurance.

What’s good, and what’s not

The good bits:

• Up to 839 miles combined range (WLTP Comb)
• Up to 55mpg in the real world, even uncharged
• Up to 675 litres of boot space (to the roof)
• Hands-free electric tailgate

The not-so-good bits:

• Struggles on hills
• Fidgety ride
• Thrashy engine once the battery’s flat
• Oversensitive driver monitoring

What’s the verdict?

Overall Rating: 7/10

The BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring is a head-over-heart choice, and that’s no bad thing.

It excels at what matters most to families: Space, range, safety and peace of mind. A 675-litre boot, 839 miles of combined range (WLTP Comb) and a five-star Euro NCAP rating make a seriously convincing case.

Driving enthusiasts might look elsewhere. The SKODA Superb and Volkswagen Passat are nicer to drive, and the SEAL 6 Touring’s hill climbing and fidgety ride won’t win any awards.

But for families covering big miles who’d rather spend weekends away than at the pumps, it’s a welcome alternative to an SUV. It’s a considered choice that makes the monthly budget work that bit harder.

Five reasons to lease the BYD SEAL 6 DM-I Touring

1. Up to 675 litres of boot space plus roof rails, so family holidays are sorted
2. Up to 839 miles of combined range (WLTP Comb) means fewer fuel stops
3. Five-star Euro NCAP safety for peace of mind on every journey
4. Six-year warranty and eight-year battery guarantee for extra reassurance
5. Leasing removes any worry about how a newer brand holds its value

Should you lease the BYD SEAL 6 DM-I Touring?

Absolutely, especially if your family covers big miles and wants space without an SUV.

Up to 839 miles of combined range (WLTP Comb), a boot that swallows family life and a five-star safety rating make it a genuinely practical choice. And with low running costs, more of your monthly budget stays where it belongs.

Yes, it struggles on hills. And yes, the ride could be smoother. But for the right driver, those are easy trade-offs.

Plus, leasing lets you try a newer brand without the long-term commitment.