Colour makes a huge difference when buying a new car. With second hand cars you don’t really have as much of a choice, when you are probably looking for a bargain.
Two weeks back, I was driving a black Tesla Y, and I didn’t think black was a great colour for that car. Then last week the BYD Seal 6 also came in black, and I think it looked much better. With the Tesla, the exterior was completely black, whereas the Seal 6 had nice touches of chrome on the windows, which to my eye made a big difference when looking at the car externally.
No doubt about it, the Chinese brand BYD has ‘bucked up’ the old traditional car manufacturers supplying the Irish market. The company is relatively new; it was formed in 1995 and Motor Distributors Limited (MDL) brought in the first BYD car to Ireland in June 2023.
When the brand was launched here with the Atto 3, Ciaran Allen MD of MDL said that “BYD was the biggest car brand we had had never heard of.” How right he was. BYD stands for Build Your Dreams, and over the past three years it has helped many Irish motorists to buy their first fully electric car.
The Atto 3 was quickly followed by the Dolphin, and we have had two or three new models every year since then. Now throughout 2026, BYD will introduce Irish motorists to six more new models.
My test car last week was the Saloon version of the BYD 6 Super Hybrid. It’s also available in a Touring version, which is a modern term for an Estate car. Both have 1.5-litre engines.
BYD describe their Super Hybrid which has a DM-I drivetrain, with the ‘I’ standing for intelligence, as an efficient, practical, and eco-conscious solution for daily mobility needs and long worry-free journeys. And they claim a range of close to 1,500km with a full tank of petrol.
However, when you take a press car, the range will depend on the driving habits of the previous driver/drivers. When I picked up the BYD Seal 6 last week, the range read 1,050km, which I was not complaining about. So, if you have a home charger you should be close to 100km in full electric mode. Then if you charge every night and with a full tank of petrol you should be able to drive for a month without visiting a petrol station, assuming you are not driving from Malin to Mizen every week.
Black on the outside, but the interior is very bright thanks to the lovely cream seats and a sunroof. As usual with most new cars, the interior is dominated by a large screen on the dash, in this case a 15.6-inch version. It worked okay and thankfully there are also a few slave controls on the steering wheel, which can be used without taking your eye off the road.
Naturally in a large car like this there is plenty of boot space, officially it’s 491 litres increasing to 1,370 litres with the rear seats folded down. There is plenty of head and leg room for five well-built adults and the floor mats are tough and easily cleaned.
Prices start at start at €37,490 for the Saloon body style and €38,999 for the Touring model. Definitely a black beauty and with some nice touches of chrome to compliment Henry Ford’s favourite colour.
