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BYD Seal vs Polestar 2 (2020-2023)
Selected trimDesignChange trim354 mi · 82.5 kWh · £45,730
Selected trimLong range Dual motor 78 kWh · 2020-23Change trim303 mi · 78 kWh · Not available
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Seal leads on value for money and family practicality, while the Polestar 2 leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BYD Seal if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
Choose the Polestar 2 (2020-2023) if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.2p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Polestar 2 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueBYD
BYD
6.3
Polestar
0
Motorway RangePolestar
BYD
3.1
Polestar
4.4
FamilyBYD
BYD
6.7
Polestar
5.8
ChargingPolestar
BYD
2.4
Polestar
3.5
Cost Per MilePolestar
BYD
3.4
Polestar
4.2
City DrivingPolestar
BYD
3.6
Polestar
4.3
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 2
Long range Dual motor 78 kWh
- 9 min quicker 10-80% rapid charge
- 70 kW more power
- 1.2s quicker 0-62 mph
- 750 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £45,730 | Not available |
| Official range | 354 miles (better) | 303 miles |
| Boot space | 400 L | 405 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 37 min | 28 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 5.9 sec | 4.7 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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BYD Seal
Polestar 2
Length
BYD Seal4,800mm
Polestar 24,606mm-194mm
Width
BYD Seal1,875mm
Polestar 21,859mm-16mm
Height
BYD Seal1,460mm-19mm
Polestar 21,479mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,800 mm | 4,606 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,859 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,150 mm | 1,985 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,479 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m (better) | 11.5 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 541 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 (better) | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 400 L | 405 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1097 L |
| Frunk | 53 L (better) | 35 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 1,500 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Seal
- One of 33 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 11.2 m turning circle, tighter than 85% of saloon EVs in our database.
Polestar 2
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Seal Design |  Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.80m | 4.61m-194mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.86m-16mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.15m | 1.99m-165mm |
| Height | 1.46m | 1.48m+19mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.92m | 2.73m-185mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 151mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 400L | 405L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1097L |
| Frunk | 53L (better) | 35L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.2m (better) | 11.5m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,055kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,500kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.5kWh (better) | 78kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 354 mi (better) | 303 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 150kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £45,730 | Not available |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2023+ | 2020–2023 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 354 miles (better) | 303 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 244 miles | 253 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 37 min | 28 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 150 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 166 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.5 kWh (better) | 75 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 5.9 sec | 4.7 sec (better) |
| Power | 230 kW | 300 kW (better) |
| Torque | 360 Nm | 660 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BYD Seal
Design
Polestar 2
Long range Dual motor 78 kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £30,677 | £17,500 |
| Average used price | £31,449 | £21,000 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 16 listings | 46 listings (better) |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 1.4% over ~6 months | Down 1.8% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD Seal Design
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users82%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor 78 kWh
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | Polestar 2Long range Dual motor 78 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km (better) | 160,934 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software, real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BYD Seal
Design
Owners love
- Owners rate the Seal as excellent value: equipment and performance comparable with Mercedes or BMW for far less, with no option-pack creep.
- It is quick (the Excellence especially), quiet and comfortable on long journeys, with good rear seats and space.
- The exterior design and well-built interior impress, and owners prefer the interior to a Tesla Model 3's.
Watch out for
- Driver-assistance warnings and lane-keeping are intrusive and often need turning off at every start.
- Winter range falls to about 200-250 miles, and 150 kW peak charging is only average.
- Too many functions are in the touchscreen, which can be laggy.
Owner tips
- Charge to 100% when you need it: the LFP battery is designed for it.
- Turn down the safety-system alert volume and set your preferred assists at the start of each drive.
Polestar 2
Long range Dual motor 78 kWh
Owners love
- Excellent build quality with solid construction, tight panel gaps, and no rattles despite compact dimensions
- Impressive acceleration and performance with 402hp dual motors (0-62mph in 4.7 seconds) offering engaging driving dynamics
- Strong real-world range of 220-250 miles on mixed driving with negligible battery degradation over time
Watch out for
- Range significantly reduces in cold weather to 150-170 miles, making winter motorway driving challenging
- Rear seating very cramped with high door card tops restricting headroom for taller passengers and limiting child seat placement
- Firm suspension setup trades comfort for precision, causing harshness over poor road surfaces and expansion joints
Owner tips
- Home charging with dedicated off-peak tariff like Octopus Go is essential to realize 5p-per-mile running cost advantage
- Cap charging at 90% and monitor 12V battery health regularly to maximize battery longevity and avoid discharge issues
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Seal
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Polestar 2
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD Seal
- £28,5822025Car360View
- £30,6992025Car360View
- £29,6822025Car360View
Polestar 2
- £22,1002020EV ExpertsView
Frequently asked questions
What are the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 244 miles for the BYD Seal and 253 miles for the Polestar 2 - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 37 minutes in the BYD Seal and 28 in the Polestar 2, so the Polestar 2 loses less time at each stop.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Seal or the Polestar 2?
The two are within 16 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 541 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 2 and about 525 mm of total clearance for the BYD Seal. The BYD Seal also turns in a 0.3 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BYD Seal or the Polestar 2?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Seal and 84% for the Polestar 2. That gives the BYD Seal a modest edge in retained real-world range. The BYD Seal's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Polestar 2's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BYD Seal comparisons
More Polestar 2 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among long-range EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Seal and Polestar 2 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BYD Seal (2023 on): Design vs Excellence, the Long Warranty & What to Pay
A used BYD Seal buyer’s guide: Design RWD vs Excellence AWD, the 2026 update, BYD’s 6-year warranty and 8-year / 250,000 km battery cover, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay (nearly-new ones are about a third off) and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Polestar 2 (2020-2023): Which Version, Range, Warranty & What to Check
A used Polestar 2 buyer’s guide: Standard range vs Long range Single motor vs Dual motor, the Plus Pack heat pump, warranty left, recalls, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .