B
BYD SEAL
Reference variant
SEAL 82.5 kWh RWD Design (MY26)
Current
Available from February 2026
Vehicle data sourceBYD SEAL vs Tesla Model 3
Compare the selected reference variants, then check the specifications, family prices and other versions below.
Reference variant
Model 3 Premium RWD (Highland)
Current
Available from December 2025
Vehicle data sourceData updated 17 July 2026. Headline figures use the available longest-range variant on each side. Range and charge times are real-world estimates.
Key differences
These differences apply to the reference variants above. Missing values and ties are omitted; the figures do not establish an overall winner.
Estimated range
Tesla Model 3 has 100 km more estimated range.
- BYD SEAL
- 480 km
- Tesla Model 3
- 580 km
Estimated 10–80% DC time
Tesla Model 3 has an estimated 10–80% charging time 8 minutes shorter.
- BYD SEAL
- 35 min
- Tesla Model 3
- 27 min
Efficiency
Tesla Model 3 uses 36 Wh/km less in the stored estimate.
- BYD SEAL
- 172 Wh/km
- Tesla Model 3
- 136 Wh/km
Cargo volume
The reference variant of Tesla Model 3 lists 125 L more cargo space.
- BYD SEAL
- 557 L
- Tesla Model 3
- 682 L
Charging time is estimated from usable battery energy and typical DC power. Temperature, charger limits and the charging curve can change a real session.
Data-led verdict
PlugSphere Smart Score
A transparent score for this comparison pair only, calculated from available range, charging, efficiency, performance, practicality and EV-capability data.
A
BYD SEAL
81
/100
Smart Score verdict
Tesla Model 3 leads
13-point advantage in this pairing
Pair-relative, not a universal vehicle rating. Missing categories do not become zero.
B
Leads
Tesla Model 3
94
/100
| Score category | A · SEAL | B · Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Range 25% weight | 83/100 | 100/100 Leads |
| Charging 25% weight | 79/100 | 100/100 Leads |
| Efficiency 15% weight | 79/100 | 100/100 Leads |
| Performance 10% weight | 88/100 | 100/100 Leads |
| Practicality 15% weight | 94/100 | 100/100 Leads |
| EV capability 10% weight | 60/100 Leads | 40/100 |
Compared 13 of 13 possible metrics. The strongest value in a numeric pair receives 100 and the other is scaled proportionally; capability features use present/not-present values. Categories without comparable data are excluded and remaining weights are renormalized.
Side by side
Full specification comparison
Every available field for the two reference variants, grouped so differences are easy to scan.
| Specification | A Reference model BYD SEAL | B Reference model Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Range & energy | ||
| Estimated real-world range* | 480 km | 580 km Better |
| Useable battery | 82.5 kWh | 79 kWh |
| Efficiency | 172 Wh/km | 136 Wh/km Better |
| One-stop range | 507 km | 688 km Better |
| Charging | ||
| Onboard AC charger | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Typical DC charging power | 100 kW | 125 kW Better |
| Estimated 10–80% DC time | 35.0 min | 27.0 min Better |
| Charge port | Type 2 CCS | Type 2 CCS |
| Plug & Charge | No | No |
| Battery preconditioning | No | Yes Better |
| Body & practicality | ||
| Body style | Sedan | Sedan |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Cargo volume | 557 L | 682 L Better |
| Curb weight | 2,130 kg | 1,822 kg |
| Dimensions | Not available in source data | Not available in source data |
| Roof rack possible | No | Yes Better |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.9 s | 5.2 s Better |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
| Capability & battery | ||
| Towing capacity | 1,000 kg | 1,000 kg |
| Towbar approved | Yes | Yes |
| Heat pump | Yes | Yes |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NCM |
| Vehicle-to-load (V2L) | Yes Better | No |
| Vehicle-to-home (V2H) | No | No |
| Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) | No | No |
| Bidirectional charging | Yes Better | No |
| Availability | ||
| Current status | Current | Current |
| Available from | February 2026 | December 2025 |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP safety rating | 5 stars | 5 stars |
*Estimated mixed-condition real-world range. “Better” appears only where direction is generally useful; neutral characteristics do not receive simplistic winner labels.
Market by market
Price comparison
Compare the lowest stored current or upcoming trim price for each supported market.
These are family starting prices and may belong to a different trim than the reference variants above.
| Market | A BYD SEAL | B Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Country Germany | From €41,990 | From €37,970 |
| Country Netherlands | From €41,690 | From €36,990 |
| Country United Kingdom | From £45,730 | From £37,990 |
Prices include VAT where supplied by the source. “From” is the lowest current or upcoming trim price stored for that market; estimates are explicitly marked.
Versions at a glance
Variants and model years
Each side uses the same labels and order, making trims easier to scan without decoding a compressed specification line.
Model family
BYD SEAL trims
-
SEAL 82.5 kWh RWD Design (MY26)
Current- Model years
- 2026–present
- Range
- 480 km*
- Battery
- 82.5 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
SEAL 82.5 kWh RWD Design (MY23-25)
Current- Model years
- 2023–2026
- Range
- 480 km*
- Battery
- 82.5 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
SEAL 82.5 kWh AWD Excellence (MY26)
Current- Model years
- 2026–present
- Range
- 445 km*
- Battery
- 82.5 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
SEAL 82.5 kWh AWD Excellence (MY23-25)
Current- Model years
- 2023–2026
- Range
- 445 km*
- Battery
- 82.5 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
SEAL U 87 kWh Design
Current- Model years
- 2024–present
- Range
- 425 km*
- Battery
- 87 kWh
- Drive
- FWD
-
SEAL 61.4 kWh RWD Comfort (MY26)
Current- Model years
- 2026–present
- Range
- 365 km*
- Battery
- 61.4 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
SEAL 61.4 kWh RWD Comfort (MY23-25)
Current- Model years
- 2025–2026
- Range
- 365 km*
- Battery
- 61.4 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
SEAL U 71.8 kWh Comfort
Current- Model years
- 2024–present
- Range
- 360 km*
- Battery
- 71.8 kWh
- Drive
- FWD
Model family
Tesla Model 3 trims
-
Model 3 Premium RWD (Highland)
Current- Model years
- 2025–present
- Range
- 580 km*
- Battery
- 79 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Premium AWD (Highland)
Current- Model years
- 2025–present
- Range
- 555 km*
- Battery
- 79 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Performance (Highland)
Current- Model years
- 2025–present
- Range
- 515 km*
- Battery
- 79 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 RWD (Highland)
Current- Model years
- 2025–present
- Range
- 450 km*
- Battery
- 60 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Long Range RWD (Highland)
Archive- Model years
- 2025–2025
- Range
- 580 km*
- Battery
- 79 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD (Highland)
Archive- Model years
- 2025–2025
- Range
- 555 km*
- Battery
- 79 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range RWD (Highland)
Archive- Model years
- 2024–2025
- Range
- 550 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD (Highland)
Archive- Model years
- 2023–2025
- Range
- 525 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range RWD
Archive- Model years
- 2023–2023
- Range
- 495 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Performance (Highland)
Archive- Model years
- 2024–2025
- Range
- 490 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD
Archive- Model years
- 2021–2021
- Range
- 490 km*
- Battery
- 76 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD
Archive- Model years
- 2021–2023
- Range
- 485 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range RWD
Archive- Model years
- 2019–2019
- Range
- 475 km*
- Battery
- 73.5 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Performance
Archive- Model years
- 2020–2022
- Range
- 470 km*
- Battery
- 76 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD
Archive- Model years
- 2020–2022
- Range
- 465 km*
- Battery
- 72 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Performance
Archive- Model years
- 2022–2023
- Range
- 460 km*
- Battery
- 75 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 Long Range AWD
Archive- Model years
- 2019–2020
- Range
- 455 km*
- Battery
- 73.5 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 RWD (Highland - CATL 6M)
Archive- Model years
- 2025–2025
- Range
- 440 km*
- Battery
- 60 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Performance
Archive- Model years
- 2019–2020
- Range
- 440 km*
- Battery
- 73.5 kWh
- Drive
- AWD
-
Model 3 RWD (Highland - CATL 6L)
Archive- Model years
- 2023–2025
- Range
- 420 km*
- Battery
- 57 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 RWD (CATL 6L)
Archive- Model years
- 2021–2023
- Range
- 400 km*
- Battery
- 57 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Standard Range Plus (PANA 2170L)
Archive- Model years
- 2021–2021
- Range
- 350 km*
- Battery
- 51 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Standard Range Plus (CATL 6C)
Archive- Model years
- 2020–2021
- Range
- 350 km*
- Battery
- 52.5 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
-
Model 3 Standard Range Plus
Archive- Model years
- 2019–2020
- Range
- 320 km*
- Battery
- 49 kWh
- Drive
- RWD
SEAL vs Model 3 — common questions
Answers derived from the current PlugSphere vehicle records.
Which has more range: BYD SEAL or Tesla Model 3?
BYD SEAL has an estimated 480 km of mixed-condition range and Tesla Model 3 has 580 km. These figures refer to the selected reference trims; weather and driving speed change actual range.
Which charges faster: BYD SEAL or Tesla Model 3?
BYD SEAL is listed at 100 kW typical DC power and Tesla Model 3 at 125 kW. Actual charging time also depends on battery size, temperature and the charging curve.
Which should I choose: BYD SEAL or Tesla Model 3?
Start with the differences that matter for your trips: range and charging for long journeys, efficiency for energy costs, and seats and cargo for everyday use. The Smart Score is relative to this pair, not a road test or a universal recommendation.
Do the prices match the reference trims?
The price table shows the lowest recorded current or upcoming price in each model family, by market. It may refer to a different trim from the headline specifications. No local price is inferred when a market is missing.