iCAUR 03T vs BYD SEAL

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

iCAUR 03T in South Africa

iCAUR 03T

2WD Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 639,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 220 Nm ⛽ Not applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l
VS
BYD SEAL in South Africa

BYD SEAL

Performance AWD 3.8S Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 1,211,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 390 kW 🔧 670 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

iCAUR 03T vs BYD SEAL: the short answer

SEAL has a modest catalogue-index lead, while 03T remains close.

03T starts ZAR 368,000 cheaper 03T from ZAR 639,900 · SEAL from ZAR 1,007,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification 03T SEAL
Maximum Power 03T135 kW SEAL390 kW
Maximum Torque 03T220 Nm SEAL670 Nm
Engine Size 03TNot Applicable SEALNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy 03TNot applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l SEALNot Applicable
Ground Clearance 03T190 mm SEAL145 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

iCAUR 03T

2WD

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BYD SEAL

Performance AWD 3.8S

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

03T

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

SEAL

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

03T

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEAL

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec 03T SEAL
Model Introduced Year 2026 2024
Generation South African May 2026 local specification sheet for the current 03T generation. First South African SEAL generation
Body Style SUV Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Published Active
Segment Electric SUV Medium Sedan
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger vehicle
Facelift History - No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since - Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending - Current
Spec 03T SEAL
Length 4433 mm 4800 mm
Width 1916 mm 1875 mm
Height 1741 mm 1460 mm
Wheelbase 2715 mm 2920 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 190 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 165 mm 120 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity Not applicable — battery electric vehicle 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 450 L rear seats up; 1,238 L with rear seats folded; 40 L rear storage box 400 l
Kerb Weight 1600–1950 kg 2185 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2173 kg 2631 kg
Payload Capacity 350–650 kg 446 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.9 m 5.7 m
Front Headroom 1020 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 990 mm 920 mm
Front Legroom 1060 mm 1110 mm
Rear Legroom 970 mm 810 mm
Towing Capacity - 1500 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

This 03T and SEAL comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: 03T 51 vs SEAL 100.

Efficiency index: 03T 99 vs SEAL 90.

Safety-equipment index: 03T 93 vs SEAL 98.

Practicality index: 03T 64 vs SEAL 57.

Ownership-cover index: 03T not separately scored vs SEAL not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

SEAL leads by 11 points

SEAL has a modest catalogue-index lead, while 03T remains close.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 68% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

SEAL

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 57
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 57
Leads by 11 points
75
#2

03T

67% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 99 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 99
Safety 93
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SEAL +49 Efficiency 03T +9 Safety SEAL +5 Practicality 03T +7

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

SEAL

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 57/100

03T

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 99/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 64/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD SEAL leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 75 pts for 03T

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SEAL leads. However, 03T may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

03T vs SEAL questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.