BYD's bigger second-gen Seagull launches from 65,900 yuan

BYD has launched the second-generation Seagull, its best-selling small electric hatchback, at the Zhengzhou International Circuit. The surprise is the price. The official range starts at 65,900 yuan (about $9,800), and BYD's "super trade-in" offer brings it down to 62,900 yuan, IT Home reports. The outgoing model started at 69,900 yuan. Dealer pre-order quotes circulating before the launch started at around 85,000 yuan, so the final figure is well below what many expected.

Prices by trim

A bigger car, not just a facelift

This is a new car rather than an update. It measures 4,205 × 1,810 × 1,570 mm with a 2,650 mm wheelbase, making it 425 mm longer than the 2026 Seagull with a wheelbase stretched by 150 mm. The extra length pays off inside: there are now five seats instead of four, more rear legroom, a new 94-litre front trunk and up to 1,380 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded.

The biggest technical change is the layout. The old Seagull drove its front wheels. The new one has a 95 kW rear motor (up from 55 kW) and a top speed of 150 km/h (up from 130 km/h). A multi-link independent rear suspension replaces the torsion beam, and the tyres grow to 205/60 R16.

Batteries, charging and driver assistance

• Battery: BYD's Blade LFP (lithium iron phosphate) packs, with 320 km or 420 km of CLTC range. CLTC figures are optimistic, so expect less on European WLTP terms.
• Flash charging: higher trims support BYD's flash charging, which the company says takes the battery from 10% to 70% in five minutes on its dedicated chargers.
• Lidar: top versions can be ordered with lidar and BYD's God's Eye B (DiPilot 300) system for highway navigation assistance and automatic parking.
• Cabin: a large floating centre screen with no separate driver display, physical climate buttons, ventilated and heated front seats, a massage function for the driver, 50 W wireless charging and eight speakers.

Every version gets a system designed to keep the car stable after a tyre blowout at up to 140 km/h.

Why it matters

The Seagull is one of the world's best-selling EVs, and this launch shows how hard BYD is pushing on price. It now offers a larger five-seat car, rear-wheel drive and optional lidar for less money than before. Rivals feel it too. Geely's Xingyuan just reached one million units, and in Europe Volkswagen's cheapest ID. Cross with a 37 kWh battery costs about three times as much. If you're wondering what an LFP battery means for range and charging habits, our new LFP vs NMC battery explainer covers it.