Should you buy one?

If you place safety and value for money above all else in your hunt for a new car, you’ll find a lot to like about the BYD Seal U DM-i. Prices start from £32,995, which is £5,500 cheaper than the most affordable Ford Kuga PHEV and £6,000 cheaper than the most basic Hyundai Tucson PHEV. And it’s more lavishly equipped.

The Seal U is also packed with interesting (albeit slightly busy) technology and powered by some efficient powertrains. But it’s deeply uninspiring to drive, with a vague steering setup and unsettled suspension that never instils a great deal of confidence. Practicality is only average at best, too.

What we like

We love how quiet the BYD is on the move. It prioritises electric power, which means it’s near silent unless you’re hoofing it to get past a wagon on the motorway. Performance is perfectly smooth, with good acceleration and the potential for big electric driving range and fuel economy figures. In fact, the Seal U-DM-i drives like an electric car, despite featuring an engine.

It’s also remarkably well equipped, offering a huge amount of standard equipment for its price. The interior is neatly laid out and feels a good enough quality for the money.

What we don’t like

Our largest criticisms are centred on the car’s handling. The steering is vague and the suspension is fidgety at low speeds and unsettled on the motorway. It also doesn’t seem capable of handling potholes in the road without jiggling and jolting. It simply isn’t as sophisticated as a European SUV.

The digital gauge cluster and infotainment system will also take a lot of getting used to. They have far too much information on them to be easy to read. Boot space isn’t all that competitive when compared with fellow PHEV-powered family SUVs.