Should you buy one?

It’s a qualified yes. The Seal feels good, drives well and looks suitably upscale both inside and out. The warranty cover is generous, and BYD has managed to sign up some very important dealer groups to sell and maintain them. What we’re waiting to see are some more tempting finance numbers, as at this stage in its life, it’s more expensive to lease and PCP than its direct rivals.

The $64,000 question is whether you would take one over a Tesla Model 3. In the Seal’s favour, its interior is more welcoming, it’s better built and there’s more room inside. It’s a close call. Of its other rivals, the BMW i4 outdrives it, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is more comfortable and solidly built, and the Polestar 2 has a funkier interior and better infotainment. But its strength across the board is genuinely surprising.

So, BYD could be onto a winner that really cracks open the UK EV market, just as long as some more competitive lease deals come on stream quickly. Tesla’s recent price drop has put this one into focus, but the entry-level Seal is a closer rival to the range-topping Long Range Model 3, which it usefully undercuts.

It’s easily the best product that BYD makes though, and is the most impressive start-up product we can remember since Tesla or Polestar – and that alone makes it very tempting indeed.

What we like

The interior is impressively trimmed and roomy, and the infotainment is responsive and works better than just about any of its rivals. It drives competently, performs well, and perhaps most eye-opening of all, it just feels like a well-screwed-together fully-fledged product from a carmaker that’s been doing it for decades.

What we don’t like

It’s a saloon, which means it lacks the practicality of its hatchback rivals – even if it has a roomy interior and folding rear seat. Potential owners may also baulk at the prospect of buying a car from an unknown brand, and would rightfully expect lower pricing than this one offers.