BYD has launched the second-generation Seagull, a compact electric hatchback that brings a larger body, a switch to rear-wheel drive, and the brand's flash charging technology to its smallest model. The new car, unveiled on October 20, is offered in five trims with Chinese guide prices ranging from 65,900 to 99,900 yuan (about $9,300 to $14,100), before taxes and incentives. A promotional 'super trade-in price' starts at 62,900 yuan (about $8,900), according to NetEase Auto.
The new Seagull, nicknamed 'Big Seagull' in Chinese, measures 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. That makes it noticeably longer than its predecessor, with the extra length aimed at improving rear-seat space. The exterior keeps BYD's 'Ocean Aesthetics' design language, with a larger front bumper 'seagull wing' element, trident-shaped position lights, and six color options including lime green, strawberry pink, cream white, mango orange, ice coconut blue and sesame gray.
Inside, the cabin gains new color schemes and a redesigned center console with more practical storage. The seating layout has been upgraded from four seats to five, and both front seats offer three-level heating and ventilation, with the driver's seat adding multi-mode massage. The top trim features a 15.6-inch central touchscreen running BYD's DiLink 150 smart cockpit, which includes AI assistant DeepSeek, customizable widgets, split-screen multitasking, and magnetic attachment points for accessories like a phone charger or action camera.
Flash charging and driver assistance
The second-generation Seagull is the smallest BYD model to feature the company's flash charging technology, which the automaker says can add enough charge for 5 minutes of driving in that time and reach full charge in 9 minutes, with only 3 extra minutes needed at minus 30 degrees Celsius. Buyers of the flash charging version get 12 months of free access to BYD's fast-charging network, which the company says has 12,165 stations nationwide and will expand to 20,000 by year-end.
Two battery options are offered, with CLTC ranges of 320 km and 420 km. For context, CLTC figures are generally 15-20% more optimistic than the WLTP standard, so the equivalent WLTP estimates would be roughly 270-340 km and 350-420 km (est.). The car also benefits from a low drag coefficient of 0.28 and lightweight construction, helping to achieve a claimed energy consumption as low as 9.0 kWh per 100 km.
On the driver assistance front, the top trim comes with BYD's 'God's Eye B' system with lidar (DiPilot 300), supporting urban navigation assistance and highway navigation assistance, as well as full-scenario parking assist that can handle complex spaces, including remote parking where the driver exits the vehicle and the car parks itself. BYD says it will take responsibility for both smart parking and urban navigation performance.
The new Seagull also adopts rear-wheel drive and a rear multi-link suspension, a step up from the previous model's torsion beam setup, which should improve ride comfort and handling. The powertrain upgrade is part of a broader refresh that positions the Seagull as a more capable and tech-forward entry point in BYD's lineup.
