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Although BYD might lead globally in electric vehicle sales, not all of their offerings are captivating.
China's BYD is making a splash globally. It grabbed attention by outperforming Tesla in their specialty. The company is showing substantial earnings and continues to grow. promised megawatt charging (although this is currently only applicable in China) which is unprecedented. In Europe, The company is rapidly broadening its scope. , offering affordable electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid models to everyone interested.
BYD's technology is robust, their software functions well, and the build quality is consistently good. To some, this new player is difficult to overlook, as several of its vehicles stand out remarkably.
BYD Sealion 7 review
The Sealion 7 introduces BYD’s technology into the family SUV market. It's spacious, loaded with features, and boasts an impressively large battery... Is the established competition concerned?
( Full Disclosure: BYD lent me a Sealion 7 for this evaluation.
What Is It?
The BYD Sea Lion 7 is a large SUV sporting an oddly silly name. Despite sounding more at home in a children's storybook, it boasts quite remarkable performance specifications and ample interior space. By equipping the Sea Lion 7 with these features, BYD aims to make a strong impression. Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 , and Hyundai Ioniq 5 directly into their eyes and waiting for them to look away first. All things considered, it appears quite impressive, largely due to the company's flowing design style.
What Are The Specs?
Two drivetrain options are offered. The initial one features rear-wheel drive, delivering 318 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, equipped with an 82.5 kWh battery for a maximum range of 300 miles (482 km, WLTP). Alternatively, you can opt for dual-axle power, which boosts performance to 530 hp and 509 lb-ft. For all-wheel-drive variants, there’s an option between an 82.5 kWh battery in the Design AWD configuration or a larger 91.3 kWh unit in the Excellence AWD variant. These configurations offer ranges of approximately 283 miles (455 km) and 312 miles (502 km), correspondingly.
BYD Sealion 7 review
Each model features BYD’s advanced Blade Battery technology. This allows them not just to withstand extreme conditions such as direct penetration from nails—though where this happens frequently remains unclear—but also integrates into the vehicle structure enhancing rigidity. The maximum charging capability varies based on your choice of battery size; smaller units support up to 150 kW, whereas larger ones accommodate an impressive 230 kW.
Performance is a key aspect for BYD, and the Sealion 7 embraces this ethos without hesitation. This rear-wheel-drive vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 133 mph—quite respectable performance. However, the model with an enhanced battery and all-wheel drive can achieve the same top speed but does so much quicker, hitting 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Similar to the swift seal, BYD highlights its impressive acceleration time by displaying it on the trunk lid as evidence of its brisk capabilities. It seems some individuals appreciate such attributes.
In the UK, the starting price for the rear-wheel-drive model is £46,990 ($61,000 based on current exchange rates), while the highest price reaches up to £58,990 ($76,000) for the 'Excellence' trim equipped with every possible feature. That exceeds the specifications of the Tesla Model Y. , and neither variant provides greater versatility than the American model. However, for certain individuals, the reality that it doesn’t belong to a Tesla brand none of that makes a difference.
How Does It Drive?
The Design AWD model comes packed with features and offers impressive performance, making it quite appealing. This was the version we tested. However, those anticipating an exhilarating driving experience might find themselves let down. Given its sizeable stature as a high-riding SUV weighing over 5000 pounds, it certainly won’t remind you of a nimble sports car like a Caterham. While it provides a smooth, quiet ride and accelerates swiftly in sport mode, it fails to engage the driver or provide a sense of urgency at any stage. Essentially, this vehicle is designed for families rather than aiming to compete with Ferraris—despite BYD emphasizing its substantial horsepower output. Approach it with appropriate expectations.
You can select among several driving modes: normal, snow, eco, and sport. If you're not pressed for time, it's advisable to keep it set to either normal or eco mode. Both provide very smooth power delivery; however, in eco mode, the responsiveness is somewhat reduced to help maximize battery life.
The experience of riding this vehicle varies. It performs well on highways and smooth surfaces without any issues, but it feels somewhat soft when taking turns, and surprisingly harsh on bumpy terrain. In terms of the UK’s road conditions, it offers a varied driving experience.
BYD’s expectation that the Sealane’s velocity will transform it into a sportscar is misguided. This vehicle isn’t likely to impress those who discuss terms like apexes, lap times, and similar concepts. The steering fails to invigorate, and its handling does little to stir excitement. Frankly, driving it feels tolerably unremarkable. Without some thrilling pursuit involving dragons or ogres during part of your trip, chances are high you won’t recall much about your journey once you exit. It’s merely A Car, which should suffice for most potential purchasers.
What’s Good?
Although the performance may not be remarkable, there are several appealing features worth noting. With a spacious 18.3-cubic-foot cargo area capable of accommodating plenty of items for up to five passengers, loading and unloading should be hassle-free as long as your back allows it. The large opening makes handling bulky objects relatively easy.
Next up are the gadgets. BYD sees itself not only as an automobile manufacturer but also as a technology firm. You might be familiar with their impressive supercar navigating through potholes or perhaps even self-driving on a racetrack. Although the Sealion 7 cannot perform jumps like that supercar, it still boasts some cool features.
The vehicle features a 15.6-inch infotainment display that rotates between portrait and landscape orientations with just a button click (or through voice commands). This allows for personalized use preferences. Although vertical orientation doesn’t support Apple CarPlay, the system remains functional regardless of rotation. However, utilizing this feature requires accepting an entirely touch-based interface. Navigating to the air conditioning settings involves accessing another screen where adjustments must be made manually. The absence of physical buttons makes this process somewhat cumbersome.
However, BYD includes numerous innovative features. On the Seal 7 model, if you put three fingers on whatever display you're using—whether for music, navigation, or anything else—and slide them vertically, it adjusts the temperature; sliding horizontally changes the fan speed. This is quite an elegant feature, one that other brands with touchscreen-centric designs ought to adopt promptly.
In conclusion, the construction quality and internal components are showing signs of wear. While you might anticipate this level of durability for a vehicle in this price range, identifying the areas utilizing 'economy' materials requires a thorough inspection.
What’s Not Good?
Like many contemporary vehicles, the Sealion 7 has poor rear visibility. Although it includes a backup camera and various sensors, which should help, craning your neck to check behind you only reveals a small, elevated window of glass that doesn’t offer much assistance for those who prefer traditional methods.
In addition, the Sealion 7 performs adequately across most areas. While it doesn’t stand out particularly in any domain, it also doesn’t fail miserably anywhere. The vehicle is rather unremarkable, though this isn’t entirely bad. However, when investing substantial amounts in a car, one would expect to have some distinct memories associated with it once parked.
Equipped with an 82.5kWh battery, achieving a range of only 283 miles doesn't seem impressive enough. While this figure comes from the WLTP test (during testing for the Design AWD variant under various driving conditions, it achieved approximately 2.8 miles per kWh—slightly below BYD's stated estimate of 2.9 miles but still quite close), come on, BYD. Considering your position as the global frontrunner in electric vehicle sales, one would anticipate greater innovation.
Although having the most advanced features like ADAS is beneficial, the Sealion 7’s fatigue detection camera tends to be overly sensitive. Located on the A-pillar, this system checks whether your gaze strays from the road ahead and alerts you accordingly. It can become quite annoying when you glance at the large display to adjust navigation or audio settings, as doing so often triggers these warnings. This becomes particularly frustrating since interacting with various functions requires glancing at the same screen that sets off these alerts.
What Is It Like as an Electric Vehicle?
It's all good. Although the charging speed doesn't match up with some competitors, it still suffices for the majority of users. The technology within is sleek and functions reliably without unnecessary complications. BYD has clearly honed its skills in manufacturing reliable electric vehicles nowadays. It's merely disappointing that this particular model lacks excitement.
BYD Sealion 7: Verdict
Pricier than a Tesla and slightly less efficient, coupled with a brand prestige that falls short... these elements suggest this vehicle might struggle for attention. However, its appealing design and the novelty factor of being non-Tesla could provide significant advantages, particularly considering recent market trends.
For driving enthusiasts, this won’t be appealing. However, for individuals looking for a vehicle that performs all tasks effortlessly and without excitement, it will serve well.
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| 2025 BYD Sealion | |
| Battery | 82.5 kWh (Comfort, Design AWD), 91.3 kWh (Excellence AWD) |
| EV Range | 300 miles (Comfort), 283 miles (Design AWD), 312 miles (Excellence AWD) |
| Drive Type | Rear-wheel drive with a single motor or all-wheel drive with dual motors |
| Output | 312 horsepower (Comfort), 530 horsepower (Design AWD, Excellence AWD) |
| Maximum torque | 280 lb-ft (Comfort), 509 lb-ft (Design AWD, Excellence AWD) |
| Charge Time | 10-80% in 32 minutes (Comfort, Design AWD), 24 minutes (Excellence AWD) |
| Base Price | £46,990 ($61,000 based on current exchange rates) |
