Verdict
At RM294,800, the BMW i4 costs RM123,000 more than the BYD Seal. Its 180 kW DC and 11 kW AC charging rates beat the Seal’s 150 kW and 7 kW, while the 470-litre five-door boot is more useful than 400 litres through four doors. But the Seal brings 570 km from 82.56 kWh, against 500 km and 70.3 kWh, plus 308 hp and a six-year manufacturer warranty. For Malaysian buyers, the BMW’s charging and load-space edge is real; the Seal is the sharper spend.
Pick the BMW i4 if faster 180 kW DC charging, 11 kW AC charging, a 470-litre boot and auto parking matter more than the RM123,000 saving.
Pick the BYD Seal if you want 570 km of range, 308 hp, a six-year manufacturer warranty and 3.3 kW V2L for far less money.
Key differences
- Price — BMW i4 RM294,800 vs BYD Seal RM171,800
- Battery and range — BMW i4 70.3 kWh and 500 km vs BYD Seal 82.56 kWh and 570 km
- Charging — BMW i4 11 kW AC and 180 kW DC vs BYD Seal 7 kW AC and 150 kW DC
- Performance — BMW i4 282 hp, 400 Nm and 6.0 seconds to 100 km/h vs BYD Seal 308 hp, 360 Nm and 5.9 seconds
- Boot and doors — BMW i4 470 litres and five doors vs BYD Seal 400 litres and four doors
- Manufacturer warranty — BMW i4 two years vs BYD Seal six years
i4
- 11 kW AC and 180 kW DC charging rates
- 470-litre boot with five-door access
- Auto parking and six front plus six rear parking sensors
- RM123,000 pricier
- 500 km range trails the Seal’s 570 km
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is four years shorter
Seal
- 82.56 kWh battery and 570 km range
- 308 hp and 5.9-second 0-100 km/h time
- Six-year manufacturer warranty and 3.3 kW V2L
- 7 kW AC and 150 kW DC charging rates are lower
- 400-litre boot and four-door body are less practical
- No auto parking; it has two front and four rear parking sensors
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM294,800 | RM171,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM305✓ | RM335 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 800V architecture |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 282 hp | 308 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 400 Nm✓ | 360 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 70.3 kWh | 82.56 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 500 km | 570 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW✓ | 7 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 180 kW✓ | 150 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 5.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 190 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,783 mm | 4,800 mm |
| Width | 1,852 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,460 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,856 mm | 2,920 mm |
| Weight | 2,075 kg | 2,055 kg |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 470 litres✓ | 400 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R19 | 235/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/40R19 | 235/45R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | Continental EcoContact 6 Q |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Frequency Selective Damping |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd Row Seats | Available on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | BMW Laser LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver's Side Memory | Power-adjustable Front Seats, Ventilated with Driver's Side Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB-A Front, 1 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 2 Wireless Chargers |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 10-Speaker HiFi Loudspeaker System | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 12-speaker Dynaudio HiFi Audio System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 6 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used i4 & Seal for sale
i4 vs Seal FAQ
Is the BMW i4 or BYD Seal better?
The BYD Seal is the better rational buy, with RM123,000 saved, 570 km range and a six-year manufacturer warranty. Choose the BMW i4 instead for quicker AC and DC charging, a larger boot and auto parking.
What is the price difference?
The gap is RM123,000: the BMW i4 costs RM294,800 and the BYD Seal costs RM171,800.
Which one charges faster?
The BMW i4 charges faster on both inputs, at 11 kW AC and 180 kW DC. The BYD Seal is rated at 7 kW AC and 150 kW DC.