Road trippers compare the Tesla Model 3 with the BYD Seal, and the cost and efficiency results are quite a surprise

  • The Tesla Model 3 could have a challenger for its electric throne
  • Chinese-made BYD Seal is putting up quite a fight
  • But can the notorious Tesla be toppled?

Published on Jan 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Jack Marsh

Last updated on Jan 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Is the Tesla Model 3 in a league of its own? Or is it finally time to start looking at alternatives for the EV throne, such as the BYD Seal?

For years we’ve had the Model 3 up as the poster boy for EVs, and sales have matched its reputation.

However, more recent rivals like the ID.7 and BYD Seal are beginning to put it under pressure.

Now, one group of road trip enthusiasts has run the Tesla Model 3 side-by-side with its close competitors, and the results are closer than you might expect.

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Is the Tesla Model 3 still the best EV?

Tesla has led the charge in the EV industry, but electric supercar makers like Lucid Air are now claiming that the ‘Model 3 walked so they could run’.

On a more practical level, the Tesla Model 3 is being rivaled by an abundance of new EVs.

In the UK, the Volkswagen ID.7 is proving popular, while the Chinese market has already made waves with its IML6 and now the BYD Seal is putting up a fight.

As showcased on a trip from London to Wales, by YouTube car documentary makers ‘What Car?’, the BYD Seal specifically is quite a margin closer to the Model 3.

In terms of design, the refreshed Model 3 is quite sublime for an everyday car.

Its updated aerodynamics and improved range only enhance what was already one of the best-selling EVs in the world.

But the BYD Seal is almost identical in shape and boasts a (claimed) 350-mile range, beating the Tesla.

So, how do they fare against each other on a practical road trip?

Model 3 vs ID.7 and BYD Seal efficiency costs leave surprising results

The creator ‘What Car?’ took all three cars on a 250-mile trip from Twickenham to St David’s, utilizing motorways and country roads, and quickly found that the Seal and the Tesla were a cut above the VW.

With charging anxiety in the UK being quite a cautionary tale for EV users, the team found that the Tesla was much easier to charge thanks to their exclusive Superchargers, but also found the rates could be higher than the regular more competitive chargers that the ID and BYD used.

The trip was driven in cold winter conditions, and the Tesla proved to be the most cost-efficient to run, with the Seal coming in second as the conditions took a huge toll on its range.

The Tesla even proved to be more family-efficient as its boot space eclipsed its rivals in a ‘Christmas tree fitting’ test.

So, even with the Tesla coming out as the cheapest car overall, (£5,000/$6,000 less than the Seal and £15,000/$16,500 less than the ID), it proved insurmountable.

“The Model 3 is still the king of electric cars, and it will take something truly sensational to change that,” the presenters said.

Even with critics claiming that electric cars are about to surpass the Tesla Model 3, it seems that the plucky industry leader is still head and shoulders above the rest.

That’s even before the upcoming Model Y Juniper rolls out

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Jack Marsh is a journalist who started his media career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from the University of Chester. With five years of experience in gaming, and entertainment, he also has a passion for fantasy novels and sports.