A 305 km range EV for around $25,000 CAD. Here's what the Seagull offers — and where it falls short.
Overview
The BYD Seagull is the EV that has the entire Canadian auto industry paying attention. At an estimated starting price of around $25,000 CAD, it would be the most affordable new electric vehicle available in Canada by a significant margin. For context, the cheapest new EV currently on sale in Canada is the Nissan Leaf at roughly $40,000 CAD.
The Seagull is already a massive seller in China, where it retails for the equivalent of around $13,000 CAD. Canadian pricing will be higher due to tariffs, shipping, homologation costs, and market positioning — but even at $25,000, it rewrites the math on EV affordability.
Key Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated price | ~$25,000 CAD |
| Range (CLTC) | 305 km |
| Estimated real-world range | 240-270 km |
| Motor | 55 kW (75 hp) |
| Torque | 135 Nm |
| Battery | 30.08 kWh (Blade Battery, LFP) |
| 0-100 km/h | ~12 seconds |
| Top speed | 130 km/h |
| Charging (DC fast) | 30 kW (30-80% in ~30 min) |
| Dimensions | 3,780 x 1,715 x 1,540 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm |
| Cargo | 300 L |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
Note: Specs based on global models. Canadian specifications may vary. CLTC range figures are typically 15-20% higher than real-world driving.
Design: Small but Not Cheap-Looking
The Seagull is a subcompact hatchback — think slightly smaller than a Honda Fit. BYD's design team has done a solid job making it look like a proper modern EV rather than a budget penalty box. The front end features BYD's current design language with split headlights and a clean, sealed grille area. The profile is upright and practical, maximizing interior space from a compact footprint.
Available in several colour options globally, including a distinctive coral orange and seafoam green that lean into the ocean naming theme.
The honest assessment: it looks good for the price. Stand it next to a $40,000 Nissan Leaf and the Seagull holds its own on exterior design.
Interior: Functional, Not Fancy
This is where the price shows. The Seagull's interior is clean and usable, but materials are hard plastics throughout. BYD has focused the budget on what matters — the infotainment system and digital displays — while economizing on touch surfaces.
What you get:
- 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen (portrait/landscape)
- Digital instrument cluster
- Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (in global markets — Canadian connectivity TBC)
- Cloth seats
- Keyless entry and push-button start
- Rear parking sensors
What you don't get:
- Leather or soft-touch materials
- Heated seats (a notable absence for Canada)
- Adaptive cruise control (basic cruise only)
- Powered seats
The rear seats are usable for two adults on short trips but tight for longer journeys. The 300-litre cargo area is adequate for groceries and daily errands but won't swallow a family's road trip luggage.
Battery and Range
The Seagull uses BYD's Blade Battery technology in a 30.08 kWh pack. That's a small battery by modern EV standards — the base Tesla Model 3 has roughly twice the capacity. But smaller battery plus lower price equals a different value proposition.
Range expectations for Canada:
The 305 km CLTC rating translates to roughly 240-270 km in temperate real-world driving. In Canadian winter conditions (-15 to -25 C), expect that to drop further to approximately 160-200 km. LFP chemistry loses more capacity in extreme cold than nickel-based batteries, though BYD's thermal management system with battery pre-conditioning helps mitigate this.
For commuters driving 40-80 km daily, the winter range is workable. For anyone regularly driving 150+ km per day in winter, the Seagull will be a stretch.
Charging
Here's a consideration for Canadian buyers: the Seagull's DC fast charging tops out at approximately 30 kW. That's slow by current standards — most modern EVs offer 100-150+ kW DC charging. A 30-80% DC fast charge takes about 30 minutes, but you won't be adding 200 km of range in a quick highway stop.
Level 2 (home) charging: 0-100% in approximately 5-6 hours on a 240V, 32A home charger. For most daily use, overnight charging at home will cover your needs easily.
The practical takeaway: The Seagull is a daily driver, not a road tripper. If your routine involves city driving and home charging, the slow DC charging won't matter. If you need to make regular long-distance trips, look at the BYD Dolphin instead.
Winter Considerations
Canadian winters are the biggest question mark for the Seagull. Several factors to consider:
- Range loss: Expect 25-35% range reduction in deep cold. A 240 km real-world range becomes roughly 160-180 km.
- Heating: The Seagull uses a heat pump for cabin heating, which is more efficient than resistive heating — a good sign.
- No AWD: Front-wheel drive only. For most Canadian conditions with proper winter tires, FWD is perfectly adequate. But no AWD option exists.
- Heated seats: Likely not available on the base model globally. This would need to be added for Canadian-spec vehicles — heated seats are not optional in this country.
- Ground clearance: Standard hatchback ride height. Not an SUV, but reasonable for plowed roads.
Real-world Canadian winter data doesn't exist yet. Norway and northern European markets will provide the closest comparable data as BYD expands there.
Canadian Availability and Pricing
As of February 2026, BYD has not confirmed official Canadian launch dates or pricing for the Seagull. The $25,000 CAD estimate is based on:
- Chinese retail pricing (~$13,000 CAD equivalent)
- 6.1% Canadian tariff on Chinese-manufactured EVs
- Shipping and logistics costs
- Homologation and certification expenses
- Market positioning and margin expectations
The final Canadian price could be higher — possibly $27,000-$30,000 CAD — depending on how BYD prices for this market and what equipment level is offered. Even at $30,000, the Seagull would still be the most affordable new EV in Canada.
Provincial incentives could further reduce the effective price. If the Seagull qualifies for Quebec's $7,000 rebate or BC's $4,000 rebate, the out-the-door cost becomes genuinely unprecedented.
Who Is the BYD Seagull For?
Great fit:
- Urban and suburban commuters with daily drives under 100 km
- Households looking for an affordable second car
- First-time EV buyers who want to minimize upfront cost
- Anyone with reliable home charging access
Not the best fit:
- Families needing cargo space or rear-seat room
- Drivers making regular long-distance highway trips
- Buyers who want premium interior materials
- Anyone without home charging (the slow DC charging becomes a real limitation)
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Estimated price point that no competitor can touch
- BYD Blade Battery with strong safety record
- Clean, modern design for the segment
- Heat pump standard for winter efficiency
- Low operating costs (small battery = cheap to charge)
Cons
- Slow 30 kW DC fast charging
- Limited range for Canadian winters
- Interior materials reflect the price point
- No AWD option
- Unknown Canadian dealer and service network
- Heated seats may not be available on base model
The Verdict
The BYD Seagull isn't trying to be everything to everyone. It's a compact, affordable city EV that does one thing really well: makes electric vehicle ownership accessible at a price point Canada has never seen.
The limitations are real — modest range, slow fast-charging, basic interior — but they're honest trade-offs for a vehicle that costs $15,000-$20,000 less than the next cheapest EV in Canada. For urban commuters with home charging, the Seagull makes compelling financial sense.
The biggest risk isn't the car itself — it's the uncertainty around Canadian service infrastructure, exact pricing, and availability timeline. As those details become clear, the Seagull could become one of the most significant new vehicles to arrive in the Canadian market.