BYD Sealion 7 review

March 21, 2025 Matt Allan

The BYD Sealion 7 aims to bring performance and value to the mid-sized SUV segment, but does it succeed?

BYD is not holding back. The world’s biggest global ‘new energy vehicle’ brand (that’s EVs and hybrids) has plans to get bigger and bigger, including two, perhaps three new factories in Europe and an expanding range of models.

In the UK, we already have the Dolphin and Seal EVs and the Seal U hybrid SUV, and now the Sealion 7 has arrived to challenge in the packed mid-sized all-electric SUV segment.

Intended as a high-performance premium family machine, the Sealion 7’s price, size and power put it in the mix with everything from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y to the VW ID.5, Ford Capri and the leftfield Genesis GV60.

So how does it meet BYD’s ambitions and the talents of its rivals?

Design, interior and technology

The Sealion 7 is part of BYD’s ‘Ocean’ family that also includes the Seal saloon and Seal U hybrid SUV.

There’s a definite family resemblance in the X-shaped face and flared outer edges of the bonnet, as well as in the overall slippery body design. Thankfully it has more of the sleek lines and sharp design of the saloon rather han the rather bloated Seal U SUV.

That said, the sleek coupe-style profile can’t disguise the fact this is a big car – 4.8m by 1.9m – and it looks it on the road. The good news is that this translates to a hugely spacious cabin with room for five. BYD claims class-leading knee and shoulder room, and at 6’ 5” I could fit easily behind a driver of the same height, although the high floor means an odd knees-up seating position. The other issue is the sloping rear roofline, although you need to be over 6’ before that’s a problem. The boot, too, at 520 litres is a big, practical space with a two-level floor.

BYD-sealion-7-design-interior — The Sealion 7’s interior is simple and spacious

Like the outside, the cabin’s design uses organic, flowing lines to create a soft, welcoming feeling. That’s enhanced by solid built quality and materials, with a fit and finish exactly as you’d expect at £50k+, and big comfy seats with heaps of adjustment.

As with all BYDs, the Sealion 7’s dashboard is dominated by a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen. This runs a new operating system but is still beset by the problems of trying to control everything through a screen littered with menus and sub-menus. There is now a drop-down shortcut menu and permanent air con controls on the screen but they’re still small and hard to use on the move. Options like adjusting the temperature by dragging your hand across the screen are still no substitute for proper physical controls. On top of that, the ADAS systems continue to be overbearing and inaccurate, and a pain in the neck to deactivate because – surprise surprise – it’s done via multiple on-screen menus.

BYD Sealion 7 battery, motor and performance

Later in the spring, BYD will add a cheaper, less powerful Comfort model to the Sealion 7, which will offer a single 308bhp rear-mounted motor.

That will be mated to a 82.5kWh battery that’s also used in the Design specification. Design, however, gets a faintly ridiculous 523bhp all-wheel-drive setup. The same motor is used in the Excellence trim but that gets a battery bump to 91.3kWh.

In either Design or Excellence, there’s no doubt that the Sealion 7 packs a punch in a straight line. Zero to 62mph takes just 4.5 seconds. Regardless of which drive mode you choose, a heavy right foot will launch the car forward with breathtaking pace, making overtaking, joining a motorway slip road or burning off a BMW M3 at the traffic lights a piece of cake.

But the Sealion 7 is a bit of a Jurassic Park car for me. They were so busy wondering if they could cram 523bhp into a 2.5-tonne SUV that they never stopped to consider if they should.

Or, more accurately, if they should bother. Because beyond its straight-line pace, the Sealion is rather dull to drive. It grips well enough and body roll is acceptable but the steering has as much life as roadkill and the suspension is calibrated for comfort. That results in a mostly calm ride on motorways but an unpleasant chopiness on more challenging routes.

sealion-7-driving-image — The Sealion 7 is fast but uninvolving

So a fast car, but not a fun one.

There are four drive modes and two stages of brake regeneration, none of which make much difference to the experience.

On the battery front, BYD says the Comfort spec should offer up to 300 miles of range when it goes on sale, and the Design just 283 miles. The 91.3kWh Excellence will manage 312 miles, which is still short of most rivals, who are knocking on the door of 350 or more.

BYD is very proud of the fact that the Sealion 7’s charging power has jumped to 230kW in the Excellence (the other two stick with the 150kW from the Seal). That’s faster than most rivals apart from Tesla and the South Koreans, and should mean a 10-80% charge in 24 minutes.

BYD Sealion 7 price and specification

The Comfort grade Sealion 7 will cost from £46,990 when it goes on sale in the coming months, putting it in the same sphere as the basic Model Y, Enyaq Coupe and EV6.

Above that, Design costs £51,990 while Excellence is £58,990. Like other BYDs, there are no options packs, everything is standard.

All versions come with the awful ADAS, a huge panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, full LED lights and alloy wheels. Inside, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control, and the swivelling screen are standard. A heat pump and vehicle-to-load power are also standard.

byd-sealion-7-touchscreen — BYD’s user interface and ADAS systems continue to frustrate

Design grade has the same equipment as Comfort but with 20-inch wheels in place of 19s, and the second motor. Excellence adds the bigger battery and replaces the vegan ‘leather’ with proper Nappa hide. It also gets a head-up display.

Such hefty kit levels mean the Sealion & offers decent value compared with its competitors, and more power too. But they counter with better range and efficiency, and less hateful infotainment systems.

Verdict

I came away from the Sealion 7 largely unmoved. It’s neither a bad car, nor a great one.

On the plus side, it’s spacious, mostly comfortable, well equipped and competitively priced.

On the downside, it’s dull to drive, rivals beat it for range and BYD’s insistence on burying everything in touchscreens and including pointless tech you’ll never use continues to frustrate.