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(Image credit: Future)T3 VerdictThe Chinese automaker’s flagship EV provides great looks, a comfortable ride and a whole lot of power. Though there’s some clever tech on board, it comes up a little short on its competitors in places.Reasons to buy+Great looking car+Blistering acceleration+Very comfy rideReasons to avoid-Not class-leading range or charging speed-No wireless Carplay/Android Auto
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
T3 VerdictThe Chinese automaker’s flagship EV provides great looks, a comfortable ride and a whole lot of power. Though there’s some clever tech on board, it comes up a little short on its competitors in places.Reasons to buy+Great looking car+Blistering acceleration+Very comfy rideReasons to avoid-Not class-leading range or charging speed-No wireless Carplay/Android Auto
T3 VerdictThe Chinese automaker’s flagship EV provides great looks, a comfortable ride and a whole lot of power. Though there’s some clever tech on board, it comes up a little short on its competitors in places.
T3 Verdict
The Chinese automaker’s flagship EV provides great looks, a comfortable ride and a whole lot of power. Though there’s some clever tech on board, it comes up a little short on its competitors in places.
Reasons to buy+Great looking car+Blistering acceleration+Very comfy rideReasons to avoid-Not class-leading range or charging speed-No wireless Carplay/Android Auto
Reasons to buy+Great looking car+Blistering acceleration+Very comfy ride
Great looking car
Blistering acceleration
Very comfy ride
Reasons to avoid-Not class-leading range or charging speed-No wireless Carplay/Android Auto
Not class-leading range or charging speed
No wireless Carplay/Android Auto
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The press model I drove for a couple of weeks attracted plenty of attention, from those asking what it was, to those in the know that wanted to know if it was any good. It was also mistaken for a Tesla on occasion, which is likely to be a compliment.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Price and availability
For comparison, theTesla Model 3starts from £39,990 for its rear-wheel drive model and £49,990 for its 4.2-second, all-wheel drive model. There’s also the faster performance edition with a 2.9-second 0-60mph, but that will cost you from £59,990. The Seal is certainly competitively priced to the Tesla, making it a tempting alternative for anyone considering one.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Features and design
Like many recent electric saloon models, the Seal has a fairly generic look. The slick aerodynamic design has elements that look similar to the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model 3, but also a huge number of others that were on display at this year’s China Auto Show.
There’s no fake grill here. Instead, the front comes to a point, like a shark’s nose rather than the soft nose of a seal. The headlights also come down to a point towards the centre, following the smooth lines of the sporty bonnet. Daylight running LEDs extend down at the corners, like teardrops, also providing a welcome light when you approach the car.
There is a choice of five colours for the paintwork, though my test model was in Polar White. Inside you have a choice of a Tahitian Blue or Black for the interior. The alloys have a single 19-inch option, with a fan-like multi-spoke design, which really suits the car.
It’s a well-put-together design and does look very premium, certainly for the price. Arguably, it’s better looking than the Tesla Model 3, especially thanks to the allows and teardrop daylight LEDs.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Interior and tech
Inside the Seal, the central screen dominates. This is a 15.6-inch touchscreen display that can be rotated 90 degrees between vertical and horizontal orientations at the touch of a button. There’s a second 10.25-inch screen behind the wheel for the driving dynamics, and a head-up display to help keep your eyes on the road.
One thing to note is that when the screen is turned into portrait or vertical orientation, it becomes difficult to see wearing polarised sunglasses. The head-up display is also lost when viewed through glasses, which is a shame.
The central screen is used for the majority of functions within the car, aside from a few controls on the steering wheel and the centre console. Climate control, including the positioning of the vents, is all via the screen. There is the option ofAndroid AutoorAppleCarPlay connections, though this is currently wired only, rather than wireless.
The OS is big and clear, though feels more like a giant Android tablet than something integrated. Pressing the square button allows you to cycle through the open apps, while a home button takes you back to the main screen. There is native Spotify integration, so you can log directly into your account and play music without connecting your phone.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Controls like those pesky ADAS beeps are hidden behind a few levels of menu, so if you do want to turn them off, you need to really dig – and as is the case with all new models, it will switch back on every time you start the car. You also get a warning voice if you stay over the speed limit.
The adaptive/intelligent cruise control system works really well, providing both steering assistance and speed control, without too much of a fight with the wheel to prove you’re still holding it on regular occasions. There are also lots of external cameras, giving you a full 360-degree view of the car for parking.
The drive selector in the centre console and the surrounding buttons all provide solid feedback and are pleasant to use. While it doesn’t necessarily feel like a luxury interior, it’s all very premium in its finish, much like a high-specced mid-range brand.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Performance and handling
There’s no denying that the Seal is quick. An acceleration of 3.8 seconds (0-60mph) puts it level with theBMW iX M60and the Mercedes AMG EQS 53, though not as quick as some of the performance spec Teslas. Even in normal mode, there’s tons of power here, but when you switch to Sport mode, the suspension and steering tighten up, and the driver display switches to a red colour to give you the full experience.
Driving through city streets and country roads, the Seal feels really smooth the drive and almost wafts along. Open it up on the motorway, and inside the cabin feels just as calm and collected – It helps that the leather seats are pretty comfortable too.
There are no paddles for the regenerative braking on the Seal. Instead, you need to change this in the settings on the touchscreen, and there are only two options. It’s a shame there’s no option to provide one-pedal driving here.
The Seal uses an 82.5kWh battery, which is a unique blade design to help improve rigidity. This delivers a range of up to 323 miles on the Excellence AWD model or 354 miles on the Design RWD model. It’s a decent performance, if not class-leading, and from the time I had with the car, seems to be pretty accurate.
Charging is up to 150kW for DC, which isn’t up there with some of the 800V EVs, but will top out on most UK fast chargers. For home charging it offers up to 11kW AC, so you can charge it overnight in as little as 8.6 hours.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
There are certainly some benefits to it, such as the huge rotating screen, blistering acceleration and comfortable ride. However, it remains beaten in range, charging speed and some tech options – the lack of wireless CarPlay is likely a deal breaker for some.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
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