Verdict
The Optima has a 22% bigger boot, while the Seal is 21% more powerful. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
What the Seal has over the Optima
What the Optima has over the Seal
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Seal's wheelbase is 115 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. Boot space favours the Optima: 510 litres against 400.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM171,800 | RM165,030✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM335✓ | RM379 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,755/mo | RM1,685/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM4,715 | RM4,604✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,287✓ | RM3,383 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.44✓ | RM16.92 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM31,683✓ | RM41,829 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 11.8 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 40 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 800V architecture | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 242 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | — | 350 Nm at 1,350 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 86 mm × 86 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 308 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 360 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 82.56 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 570 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 150 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 6-Speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Hyundai |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.9 seconds✓ | 7.4 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 8.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h | 240 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 191 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,800 mm | 4,855 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,455 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm | 2,805 mm |
| Weight | 2,055 kg | 1,580 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 70 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 400 litres | 510 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/45R19 | 235/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/45R19 | 235/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Full Size 18" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Michelin Pilot Sport 3 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Frequency Selective Damping | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee Airbag) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| 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 on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Dynamic LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats, Ventilated with Driver's Side Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats, Heated and Ventilated, with Memory Function for Driver |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 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 Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 2 Wireless Chargers | 1 Front, 2 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | Manual rear door window shades |
| Audio | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 12-speaker Dynaudio HiFi Audio System | 7.0" touchscreen with 6 speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and 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 with Stop and Go | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used Seal & Optima for sale
Our reviews & guides
BYD Seal
Seal vs Optima FAQ
How long does charging take?
The Seal's 82.6 kWh battery takes about 11.8 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 40 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 150 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The Optima is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the Seal is fully imported (CBU) from China. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.
Which has the better warranty?
The Seal carries a 6-year manufacturer warranty against 5 years for the Optima. Seal: 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty.