BYD Seal 08 beats Tesla Model 3 on price, range, and rear-wheel steering

BYD has officially launched the Seal 08, a flagship sedan under its Ocean Network lineup, and its specifications are a direct shot at Tesla's bread-and-butter models. Pricing starts at the equivalent of 28,980 USD for the base configuration, much lower than Tesla's Model 3 RWD that currently opens at around $34,100 in China.

BYD isn't just competing on price, though, but excels in terms of range, charging speed, and features, too. The Seal 08 EV lineup runs on an 800 V platform with flash charging capabilities that uses BYD's second-gen Blade LFP battery in two capacities: a 76.7 kWh pack good for up to 785 km CLTC range, and a larger 92.1 kWh option pushing that to 905 km. much longer than the Model 3 LR's 830 km. The AWD variant pairs the bigger battery with 510 kW of dual-motor output for a 0-62 mph sprint of 3.3 seconds, outgunning the more expensive Model 3 Performance.

On the feature side, BYD is also flexing tech Tesla's Model 3 doesn't offer at this price, such as rear-wheel steering, a dual-chamber air suspension with road-preview sensors, and a 4.95-meter turning radius from a 5.15-meter body.

Inside, the Seal 08 pairs a 15.6-inch touchscreen with a 26-inch augmented reality display and zero-gravity seats with massage for all occupants. Tesla still holds the edge in software polish and self-driving capability, but BYD gives its ADAS for free, and its network of fast chargers is second to none in China, so the Model 3 will have a hard time competing against BYD's flagship sedan specs and pricing range.