BYD Sealion 7 (2024 - )

Sea lions, especially the California marine versions of the marine mammal, are vocal, to say the least. The grunts, growls and barking they make are nothing like the near silence you get driving the Sealion 7. The name isn’t exact, either - BYD prefers to join the words ‘sea’ and ‘lion’ – it’s not a typo, writes Tim Barnes-Clay.

Anyway – what’s the Sealion 7 all about, then? As you may have guessed from the hint about ‘silence’ – this new car from BYD is all-electric – and it’s an SUV. 

The Chinese brand tells us it's a premium model - and it has a point. The Sealion 7 is well-built, looks nice enough, and has a spacious, pleasant interior. The five-up, five-door vehicle is quick and rides nicely, too. It certainly isn't a boneshaker, and BYD clearly has Tesla in the crosshairs - more precisely, the new Model Y.  Pricing starts at £46,990 for the entry-level Comfort rear-wheel drive (RWD) trim, £51,990 for the mid Design all-wheel drive (AWD) and £58,990 for Excellence AWD. For comparison, the Tesla Model Y’s price range is £44,990 - £60,990.

With whopping charging speeds of up to 230 kW and a good range peaking at 312 miles, this potent fourth member of BYD's Ocean Series - following the finned trail of the Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U - is well-equipped to travel long distances without compromising performance. With its 133mph performance and 0-62 mph time of just 4.5 seconds, the 7 is not just a high-end electric family car – it's a statement of eco-friendliness. So let, ahem, dive in… and look at the Sealion 7 in more detail.
 

Designed by the company's Global Design Director Wolfgang Egger, the Sealion 7 embodies the Ocean Series design language applied to the Dolphin hatchback and Seal saloon in a sporty SUV body format. This translates to a car that is assertively powerful and athletic looking in its stance but equally a remarkably efficient form, enabling it to return good range on its Blade Battery.

The 7’s front has an 'X face' design pattern, which is also used in other Ocean Series cars. It is designed to appear as though it is moving forward, highlighting the Sealion’s performance capabilities. The Ocean theme is kept by using Dual U 'floating' LED headlights and drastically sculpted curves resembling the fluidity of waves.

The side profile is tidy but assertive, the low front supplemented by a curvaceous roof and swooping fastback broken by a demure ducktail rear spoiler. Subtly understated surfacing, with a sharp crease driving up along the flanks, produces a twin waistline, which helps to preserve an athletic stance despite the SUV body. A streamlined look and economical running costs are additionally enhanced by flush handles that are swallowed up by the door when the Sealion 7 is in transit.

Still further back, there's a strapping haunch over the rear wheel to match the EV’s performance potential and then a wide light signature along the back of the tailgate featuring the latest development of the Ocean Series 'water-drop' taillights. The vehicle's total length is 30mm longer than its BYD Seal counterpart, but the 7's roofline is 160mm higher than its sibling's.

The vehicle's dashboard has a 15.6-inch screen that accommodates both portrait and landscape orientations. It is fitted with the latest software that BYD offers and also comes with a new user interface that provides a 3D representation of the vehicle. This allows you to activate functions with just a touch of some visual cues, which is handy.

Other changes include expanded Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities for music streaming directly from BYD menus. The 10.25-inch digital instrument display and head-up display in the Excellence AWD model, tested here, can show navigation directions and song titles, as well as speed and corresponding speed limit, lane departure, and blind-spot monitor alerts.

The new voice command system is now on a four-zone footing, with rear-seat passengers able to input commands for cabin temperature, entertainment, and navigation.

The Sealion 7 also has advanced driver-assistance and safety technologies. Its BYD DiPilot 10 package has wave radar sensors and a video camera system to support features like traffic jam assist and adaptive cruise control, which improve driving.

Some prominent safety features include front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning. The vehicle also offers blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and driver-distraction warning.

Regarding in-cabin safety, 11 airbags, ISOFIX connectors for child seats, child-presence detection, and an e-call emergency system offer complete protection.

Performance is rapid – and certainly faster than an actual sea lion. No surprise there, after all, despite these marine mammals being quick and graceful under the water, they can only get to around 25mph for a short distance. The Sealion 7 EV, however, will, as we mentioned in the intro, rocket to 62mph in 4.5 seconds and get to 133mph. The entry-level Comfort edition is the only version that’s slightly slower to that hallowed figure – managing it in 6.7 seconds.

The car is big, so it squeals and leans in the corners if you push it. At 2.5 tonnes, it's a heavy car – and you can tell – especially loaded with occupants. The day we drove the vehicle was favourable – it was sunny and dry – so we could take the 7 to its limits. The steering feels a bit light sometimes, though, so you don’t always sense you know what’s going on beneath the tyres.

The all-wheel drive models, such as the flagship £58,990 Excellence model driven for this review, have several driving modes. These include Eco, Normal, Sport, and a Snow setting. The acceleration is as fierce as a hungry sea lion - especially in the Sport setting - and creates a grin. But it can equally wipe the smile off your face because nausea can kick in. That’s quite typical of pacey EVs, though – that instant start and stop motion isn’t great for full tummies. Speaking of which, the Sealion has great brakes - it needs to - because 2.5 tonnes is around the same weight as a Rhinoceros. You wouldn’t want that charging at you. 
 

The Sealion 7 is a family EV because of its room and usability. It measures 4,830 mm in length with a 2,930 mm wheelbase and accommodates five grown-ups well. The architecture boasts a flat rear floor, allowing ample leg space and headroom despite its stylish roofline.

Comfort is close at hand, with the steering wheel adjustable in four positions and the driver's seat electrically adjustable in eight positions with lumbar support. The BYD front seats are ventilated and heated, and the rear seats are styled to minimise fatigue during long journeys.

The cabin blends roominess with sound and heat insulation via double-layered laminated glass at the front and privacy glass at the back. A panoramic sunroof lets in natural light, while an electric blind keeps it out. Luxury materials and finishes help to create a homely atmosphere.

Storage-wise, the Sealion 7 has a 520-litre boot, which becomes 1,789 litres if the rear seats are folded in. It features a handy 58-litre front boot (frunk) for storing charging cables or small amounts of luggage - and there are over 20 cubbyholes to keep things stashed safely away. There is also a special phone slot at the foot of the dashboard with a wireless charger installed.

The BYD Sealion 7 offers competitive running costs with its battery choices. There's an option of an 82.5 kWh Blade Battery, giving an official range of around 300 miles in Comfort trim and 283 miles in Design AWD, or a larger 91.3 kWh battery in Excellence AWD, with a maximum range of 312 miles.

All models feature three-phase AC charging at 11 kW. Comfort and Design models support fast charging at a maximum of 150 kW for a 10% to 80% charge in just 32 minutes, whereas the Excellence AWD can be charged at 230 kW in just 24 minutes.

Every version of the BYD Sealion 7 is backed by a six-year manufacturer's guarantee and an eight-year battery and electric motor warranty.

The Sealion 7 may not be able to balance a ball on its nose, but it's an electric vehicle bound to worry Tesla. 

BYD seems set on EV world dominance – and judging by the media events it has held recently, it’s not short of a bob or two. This means the Chinese manufacturing conglomerate has money to keep improving the cars it has launched rapidly into the UK over the last two years. 

The Sealion 7 is stylish, roomy and has really good range. It’s also competitively priced. The SUV is heavy, and the steering feels a little too light on dual-carriageways – artificial even – but that makes it easy to manoeuvre the big Chinese car around town.

While the cabin is lovely and will seat five people without an issue, the finish doesn't quite feel as plush as some German premium brands' offerings. That said, it's better than Tesla's plasticky and basic interiors.

The Sealion 7’s name is funky – and the car turned some heads as we whooshed around our test route. It certainly got us smiling – and we can see it working as real-world high-end family electric transport for many people. The Sealion will also look good in the company carpark.