The first-generation BYD Seagull was a phenomenon. Launched in 2023, it became China’s best-selling small EV, a city car that offered four seats, a reasonable range, and a price that undercut almost everything else on the market. It was a triumph of packaging, not ambition.
The second-generation Seagull is a different proposition entirely. BYD officially released design sketches on September 22, 2026, and the headline change is size. The question is whether the Seagull can still do what made it successful – undercut the competition, while competing in a more expensive class.
Design & First Impressions
The new Seagull is 425mm longer, 95mm wider, and has a 150mm longer wheelbase than the car it replaces. It has moved from a micro car to a small car, which is the same segment as the BYD Dolphin. It also gains a fifth seat, more power, and an optional LiDAR system.
The new Seagull removes the instrument cluster screen entirely, moving all driver information to the central display. This reduces cost and clutter, but also presents the compromise of the driver glancing sideways for speed and navigation information.
There is a large central touchscreen, a wireless charging pad, and a hollowed-out storage area beneath the centre console. Physical buttons are retained for some functions.
Powertrain & Performance
The second-generation Seagull remains a pure electric, front-wheel-drive vehicle. The key change is the motor: the new car uses a 95kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, up from 55kW in the current model. That is a 73% increase in power. Top speed rises from 130km/h to 150km/h.
According to MIIT filings, the motor is supplied by Zhengzhou BYD Auto with the model designation TZ164XYB. The battery remains lithium iron phosphate (LFP) – BYD’s Blade Battery.
The second-generation Seagull will offer two battery options: 29.990kWh and 39.225kWh, corresponding to 320km and 420km of pure electric range. The testing cycle is not specified in the filing, but given current BYD practice, it is likely CLTC.
For comparison, the current 2026 Seagull offers 305km with a 30.08kWh battery and 405km with a 38.88kWh battery. The new car’s larger battery option is slightly bigger and offers a modest range increase.
Value & The Competition
The critical unknown is price. The current Seagull starts at ¥69,900 and tops out at ¥85,900 (or ¥90,900-97,900 with LiDAR). The second-generation car is larger, more powerful, and more capable. It will almost certainly cost more.
The risk for BYD is that the new Seagull prices itself into the Dolphin’s territory. The Dolphin starts at around ¥99,800 (based on current market data). If the new Seagull approaches that, buyers may simply choose the Dolphin, which is a more established and slightly larger car.
The Geely Xingyuan is the Seagull’s most direct threat. It is already AO-class, meaning it is larger than even the new Seagull. Real-world testing by Dongchedi found the Xingyuan’s charging is more consistent than the current Seagull’s, and its boot can hold more luggage.
If the new Seagull doesn’t fix its charging curve, the Xingyuan will remain the better choice for buyers who value practicality. The Seagull’s original success came from being the best option at a very low price. The new car is a better car in every way, but it may no longer be the value champion.
Editor’s Take
The first-generation Seagull was a masterclass in doing more with less. It wasn’t fast, it wasn’t spacious, and its charging was mediocre. But it was cheap, reliable, and did everything a city car needed to do.
Now, BYD has made the Seagull bigger. And in growing up, the Seagull risks losing the thing that made it special: simplicity and affordability.
The five-seat layout is a genuine improvement, the extra power is welcome. The optional LiDAR is impressive for the segment. But if the price climbs toward Dolphin territory, BYD will have created a car that competes with itself.
Sources: Autohome, Yiche, Sohu Auto, BYD Official, Dongchedi
Dollars loves following the latest innovations in automobile technology and sharing insights.
When she’s not writing, you can find her playing badminton or diving into a new opera piece.
