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BYD Seal vs VW ID.4
Selected trimDesignChange trim354 mi · 82.5 kWh · £45,730
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Seal stays competitive across the board, while the VW ID.4 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.4 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.4 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
BYD
6.3
VW
7.4
Motorway RangeVW
BYD
3.1
VW
6.7
FamilyVW
BYD
6.7
VW
8.1
ChargingVW
BYD
2.4
VW
5.7
Cost Per MileVW
BYD
3.4
VW
7.5
City DrivingVW
BYD
3.6
VW
6.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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BYD Seal
VW ID.4
Length
BYD Seal4,800mm
VW ID.44,584mm-216mm
Width
BYD Seal1,875mm
VW ID.41,852mm-23mm
Height
BYD Seal1,460mm-174mm
VW ID.41,634mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | VW ID.4Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,800 mm | 4,584 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,150 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,634 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m | 10.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Seal
- One of 33 of 232 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.
VW ID.4
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Seal Design |  VW ID.4 Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.80m | 4.58m-216mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.85m-23mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.15m | Not available |
| Height | 1.46m | 1.63m+174mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.92m | 2.77m-149mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 400L | 533L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1575L |
| Frunk | 53L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.2m | 10.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,055kg (better) | 2,136kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,000kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.5kWh (better) | 79kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 354 mi (better) | 352 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 165kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £45,730 | £36,995 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £45,730 (not eligible) | £35,495 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | SUV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD SealDesign | VW ID.4Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 354 miles (better) | 352 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 244 miles | 293 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 37 min | 29 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 165 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 166 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.5 kWh (better) | 79 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BYD Seal
Design
VW ID.4
Pro Essential
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.
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.
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 - VW ID.4 Pro Essential
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users84%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Seal
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD Seal
- £28,5822025Car360View
- £30,6992025Car360View
- £29,6822025Car360View
VW ID.4
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Seal worth the extra £8,735 over the VW ID.4?
The BYD Seal costs £8,735 more than the VW ID.4. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The VW ID.4 is not just cheaper - it also offers 133 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.4 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD Seal or the VW ID.4?
The VW ID.4 is £8,735 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.4 is cheaper to charge, roughly £152 a year versus £184 for the BYD Seal, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.4 comes out roughly £8,895 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 244 miles for the BYD Seal and 293 miles for the VW ID.4 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.4 goes roughly 49 miles further between charging stops. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 37 minutes in the BYD Seal and 29 in the VW ID.4, so the VW ID.4 loses less time at each stop. That makes the VW ID.4 the stronger long-distance car.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Seal or the VW ID.4?
The two are within 23 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.4 and about 525 mm of total clearance for the BYD Seal. The VW ID.4 also turns in a 1.0 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 VW ID.4?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Seal and 84% for the VW ID.4. 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 VW ID.4'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 VW ID.4 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 VW ID.4 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 rank among long-range EVsWhere the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Seal and VW ID.4 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 VW ID.4 (2021 on): Pure, Pro or GTX, the Recall, Range & What to Check
A used VW ID.4 buyer’s guide: 52, 58, 77 or 79 kWh and the 204PS vs 286PS motors explained, the seat-bolt recall, warranty left, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay, used vs new, and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .