BYD decided it was time to upgrade its Tang electric SUV for European customers. Despite entering the European market less than a year ago, BYD is fitting the Tang with a more potent battery, hoping this will be enough to rival the ever-so-popular Tesla Model Y. The Tang EV, which first debuted in Norway in 2020, expanded its market to Germany, the Netherlands, and other European markets in the past year. With pre-sale prices announced at a rather steep € 72,000, the Tang EV apparently wanted to be seen as a strong contender in the electric SUV segment. That was always going to be tricky with the Tesla Model Y starting at € 42,990 in Germany.

In terms of dimensions, the Tang EV stands at 4,870 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width, and 1,725 mm in height. Notably, Tesla's best-selling Model Y is 120 mm shorter but even the 534 hp Performance version starts at € 55,990 making the Tang look expensive. Tesla's Model Y made history as the best-selling car in Europe last year, and the best-selling car worldwide, marking a significant milestone for electric vehicles. However, in the last three months of 2023, BYD managed to surpass Tesla as the world's leading EV manufacturer, setting the stage for further competition.

 

The key upgrade for the Tang EV is a larger battery, increasing its capacity from 86 kWh to an impressive 108 kWh. This translates into extra 130 km more range on the WLTP cycle. While the previous range was already decent 400 km, the upgraded Tang can now travel up to 530 km on a single charge, according to BYD. The battery refresh is rather comprehensive. The new Tang EV features an 11 kW AC charging capacity, a much-appreciated boost from the previous 7 kW, as well as a fast-charging option of up to 190 kW DC. The 517 hp powertrain remains unchanged but it didn’t really need any upgrades - 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds in a 2,489 kg SUV is plenty enough. But the suspension did need upgrades and BYD listened to its customers - new active dampers promise a more composed and controllable behavior.

Despite the much larger battery, Tang’s range still falls short of Model Y’s 565 km (WLTP) but the Chinese SUV is just as fast as the Long Range version of Tesla’s SUV. If only the BYD was cheaper. Well - while BYD has not officially disclosed any price adjustments, the company intriguingly stated, "Be prepared for a surprise." BYD is trying to challenge Tesla's dominance with the upgraded Tang electric SUV. With a larger battery, extended range, enhanced charging capabilities, and decent performance, the Tang just may have a chance of snatching up a few customers. Providing the price is right.