Verdict
The BYD Seal costs RM22,800 more, but brings an 82.56-kWh battery, 570-km range and a 308-hp rear motor, against the Tesla Model 3’s 62.5 kWh, 534 km and 279 hp. It is also 0.3 seconds quicker to 100 km/h. For a Malaysian buyer, that premium also covers a six-year/150,000-km vehicle warranty rather than four years/80,000 km. But the Model 3 charges faster at 11 kW AC and 170 kW DC, and its 594-litre boot is far more useful than the Seal’s 400 litres.
Pick the BYD Seal if you want the longer 570-km range, quicker 5.9-second sprint and a much longer vehicle warranty.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if lower purchase cost, faster 11-kW AC charging and a 594-litre boot matter more than extra range.
Key differences
- Price: BYD Seal RM171,800; Tesla Model 3 RM149,000.
- Battery and range: BYD Seal 82.56 kWh and 570 km; Tesla Model 3 62.5 kWh and 534 km.
- Charging: BYD Seal 7 kW AC and 150 kW DC; Tesla Model 3 11 kW AC and 170 kW DC.
- Performance: BYD Seal 308 hp, 360 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds; Tesla Model 3 279 hp, 420 Nm and 6.2 seconds.
- Boot space: BYD Seal 400 litres; Tesla Model 3 594 litres.
- Vehicle warranty: BYD Seal six years/150,000 km; Tesla Model 3 four years/80,000 km.
Seal
- 570-km EV range from an 82.56-kWh battery.
- Quicker 5.9-second 0-100 km/h time and 308 hp.
- Six-year/150,000-km vehicle warranty, plus ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM22,800 more.
- 7-kW AC and 150-kW DC charging trail the Tesla’s 11 kW and 170 kW.
- 400-litre boot is 194 litres smaller.
Model 3
- RM149,000 entry price.
- 11-kW AC and 170-kW DC charging.
- 594-litre boot and 420 Nm of torque.
- 534-km range is 36 km behind the Seal.
- 6.2-second 0-100 km/h time is slower than the Seal’s 5.9 seconds.
- Four-year/80,000-km vehicle warranty is shorter than the Seal’s six years/150,000 km.
What the Seal has over the Model 3
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Model 3 is 214 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Model 3: 594 litres against 400.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM171,800 | RM149,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM335 | RM280✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,755/mo | RM1,520/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM4,715 | RM4,122✓ |
| Electricity / year (est.) | RM1,287 | RM1,040✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.44 | RM5.20✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM31,683 | RM27,209✓ |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 11.8 hours | 5.7 hours✓ |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 40 min | 25 min✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 800V architecture | 400V architecture |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 308 hp✓ | 279 hp |
| Motor Torque | 360 Nm | 420 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 82.56 kWh✓ | 62.5 kWh |
| EV Range | 570 km✓ | 534 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | 11 kW✓ |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 150 kW | 170 kW✓ |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | Yes |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | Single-ratio Transmission |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Tesla |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.9 seconds✓ | 6.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h | 201 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,800 mm | 4,720 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 2,089 mm |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,441 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm | — |
| Weight | 2,055 kg | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 400 litres | 594 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/45R19 | 255/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/45R19 | 255/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Bridgestone Turanza T005 EV |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 19 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloys | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloys | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Frequency Selective Damping | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee Airbag) | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | 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 on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| 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 |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with HEPA Air Filter |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 2 Wireless Chargers | 1 Front, 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 12-speaker Dynaudio HiFi Audio System | 16" Touchscreen with Navigation, Bluetooth and 7 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 (Depress Brake to Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 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 | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Dual Wireless Qi Chargers, Powershare V2L via Tesla Outlet Adapter (RM350, sold separately) on cars built from October 2026 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 80,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty | 8-year/160,000 km Battery and Drive Unit Warranty, No fixed service schedule (condition-based maintenance) |
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. 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 & Model 3 for sale
Our reviews & guides
BYD Seal
Tesla Model 3
Seal vs Model 3 FAQ
Is the BYD Seal or Tesla Model 3 better?
The BYD Seal is the better-equipped long-range choice, with 570 km, 308 hp, a 5.9-second sprint and six-year/150,000-km vehicle warranty. Choose the Tesla Model 3 for its lower cost, faster charging and much larger 594-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The BYD Seal costs RM171,800 and the Tesla Model 3 costs RM149,000, so the Seal is RM22,800 more expensive.
Which one charges faster?
The Tesla Model 3 charges faster on both listed inputs: 11 kW AC versus 7 kW for the Seal, and 170 kW DC versus 150 kW. The Seal uses 800V architecture, while the Model 3 uses 400V architecture.
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. The Model 3's 62.5 kWh battery takes about 5.7 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 170 kW peak.