BYD goes mainstream! Chinese brand's Seal U electric SUV to launch into one of Australia's most popular segments, where reigning champs the Tesla Model Y and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid await

The BYD Seal U electric SUV has been unveiled for Europe overnight, revealing the vehicle that would cement the Chinese carmaker on the new-car map in Australia.

The mid-size SUV wouldn't just take on the country's best-selling EV in the Tesla Model Y, but would also slot neatly into a category filled with top-ranked rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5.

Unveiled overnight at the German motorshow, the BYD Seal U is the high-riding version of the brand's Model 3-fighting Seal sedan, the latter of which has already arrived in Australia in pre-launch form.

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While Australian specs remain a mystery, don't expect them to stray far from the numbers already confirmed for Europe, where the Seal U will launch in two trim levels, the Comfort and the Design.

It shares its e-platform 3.0 with the Seal and the Atto 3, and will be offered with two battery sizes – a 71.8kWh battery with 420km range and an 87kWh battery with 500km range.

The battery size changes, but the outputs don't, with both Seal U variants producing around 168kW, pushing the Seal U to 100km/h in 9.3sec or 9.6sec, depending on the battery you opt for.

The brand says DC fast charging will take the battery from 30 to 80 percent charged in less than 30 minutes, and inside you can expect BYD's  15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, as well as vehicle-to-load capability.

The BYD Seal U is the high-riding version of the brand's Model 3-fighting Seal sedan, the latter of which has already arrived in Australia in pre-launch form. (image credit: Car News China)

Importantly, it's also a sizeable SUV - meaning ample space for passengers and cargo - with its reported dimensions coming in at 4785mm in length, 1890 in width and 1660mm in height, and with a wheelbase of 2765mm.

While yet to be officially confirmed for Australia, BYD importer Luke Todd says the brand will offer five models here by the end of 2024, including a mid-size SUV – which would see the Seal U fitting the bill perfectly.

This unveiling comes as the brand's next model has been spotted through the window of the soon-to-open BYD flagship in Alexandria, in inner Sydney. The model in question appeared to be the flagship Seal sedan, complete with 19-inch alloys and powerful rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations.

Both are equipped with BYD’s massive 82kWh Blade battery, which the brand says will provide a WLTP driving range of 570kms with the single motor, or 520kms with the more powerful dual-motor setup.