The Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) evaluated two further BYD models after testing the Atto 3 last year. Both these models- the Seal electric sedan and the Dolphin electric hatchback achieved a full 5-star rating in the latest crash test results.
The BYD Seal was launched in Australia on 17th October to compete with the Tesla Model 3. Its entry-level model costs $49,888 AUD which is $12,102 AUD cheaper than the Model 3. The Seal received full marks for protecting the driver in the oblique pole test and the child passengers in the side impact test, according to an ANCAP press statement. It was determined that its protection rate was adequate.
In terms of numbers, the Seal scored 89% in the area of adult occupant protection. It scores 6/6 in the side impact, 7.63/8 in the full-width frontal test, 5.92/8 in the frontal offset test, and 6/6 in the oblique pole test. The child occupant protection of the BYD Seal was assessed as good. However, it hasn’t achieved the highest score because of the absence of ISOFIX anchorages, airbag disabling features for the front passenger, etc. The Seal’s overall result in this area stood at 87%.
The BYD Seal received an 82% rating for protecting vulnerable road users. Its shortcomings included an average performance in situations when cyclists were doored and average to subpar protection against pedestrian heads striking front pillar windshields. Aside from that, ANCAP rated it as good.
In terms of safety assist functions, the BYD Seal scored 75%, with the AEB Head-On system showing marginal performance. Nonetheless, the BYD Seal’s overall performance is favorable. It can prevent collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, according to ANCAP.
On the other hand, the BYD Dolphin which is priced from $38,890 AUD also got 5 stars in the ANCAP test results. The adult occupant protection segment achieved 89% with a marginal protection level of the driver’s chest in the frontal offset. This explains why the Dolphin’s frontal offset score was 5.68/8.
The child occupant protection of the Dolphin got 86%, scoring maximum points in both frontal and side-impact tests. In the vulnerable road users segment, the Dolphin achieved marginal and poor results for protecting the pedestrian head hitting the windshield of front pillars. And still, its performance is slightly different from the Seal’s score.
And the safety assist of the BYD Dolphin got 77%. In contrast with the Seal, its AEB Head-On system showed adequate performance.
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