BYD Sealion 7

The BYD Sealion 7 is a pure EV, unlike the Sealion 6 available abroad, which is a plug-in hybrid featuring both a petrol engine and a battery. The Sealion 7 is offered in two variants:

• Premium RWD: It has a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 308bhp and 380Nm torque.
• Performance AWD (Reviewed Here): It has a dual-motor setup producing an impressive 523bhp and 690Nm of torque.

Both variants are offered with an 82.56kWh battery pack.

BYD’s Cell to Body (CTB) technology integrates the battery seamlessly into the body structure. Additionally, the motor speed reaches 23,000rpm higher than the usual 10,000-12,000rpm capacity found in most EV motors. Despite its humongous torque and power output, the Sealion 7 boasts a 567km driving range and supports fast charging at 150kW/11kW. Speaking of fast, BYD markets the Sealion 7 as a performance e-SUV, and it has the power on demand. After all, it boasts a zero to 100kmph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 215kmph. The car never feels slow irrespective of the mode, and the difference between Eco, Normal, and Sports modes is clearly evident, with Sports mode offering the sharpest throttle response. Whether navigating through city traffic or overtaking long trucks on the highway, the Sealion 7 accelerates seamlessly.

As for the ride and handling bit, the steering with 2.5 turns lock-to-lock is quick, and despite its huge size, it is surprisingly easy to park the SUV. Moreover, the high-resolution 360-degree camera assists in showing the surroundings clearly and superimpose images to reveal what's beneath the car as well. This is helpful when you're taking the car across a diversion or off the road. It also managed our inconsistent road conditions well. The front double wishbone and rear multilink suspension with FSD (Frequency Select Damping) help in providing a flat ride. Unless it's a sharp-edged pothole or rut, there are no jolts inside the cabin at high speed. The grip from the tyres is good and the brakes anchor the car quickly even under panic braking. Otherwise, it's nice and progressive with a sufficient bite.

The BYD Sealion 7 closely resembles the Seal, as it follows the same Ocean Series design language. However, it is taller, given that it is a four-door coupe, or as BYD calls it, an e-SUV. Despite its increased height, the Sealion 7 retains an aerodynamic design with sweptback headlamps and a drag coefficient of 0.28. The signature BYD front fascia is evident, featuring LED headlamps with LED DRLs. The minimal cuts in the bumper and lower air dams give it a minimalistic look. From the side, the prominent shoulder line gives it a nice elongated look. The car looks well-polished even in other colours and the flush-fitting door handles give it a sleek look. The flared wheel arches with black cladding get 20-inch alloys that look proportionate. At the rear, the EV features wraparound LED taillights connected by an LED light bar, which adds a striking visual touch. The design is further enhanced by a roof spoiler and a two-tone rear bumper.

Inside, the Sealion 7 boasts a large infotainment screen with slim bezels to maximise the screen area. It also features a flat-bottom steering wheel and a digital instrument cluster. The quality, fit, and finish inside the cabin are impressive. Speaking of the infotainment screen, it is a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen that gets most of the controls of the car including music, AC controls, infotainment, and car settings, even allowing the users to open and close the windows through the interface. This e-SUV is packed with features such as a 12-speaker audio system, electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, two-zone automatic climate control, head-up display, and an ADAS suite. Additionally, it includes a driver fatigue monitoring system, which alerts the driver if his line of vision gets off the road.

You can easily find an ideal driving position, thanks to the tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel. The forward visibility is good, though rearward visibility is somewhat limited. Nevertheless, everything is within reach and easy to operate. The centre console features a jewelled knob, touch panel, and buttons for easy operation, including a volume control knob. Like the Seal, this model also gets a HUD display, which remains clearly visible even in the bright sunlight. Apart from the EV's speed, it projects data like road signs, navigation, and even driver-assist tech. Additionally, the 10.25-inch instrument cluster presents loads of information without confusing the driver with subtle colours and crisp data. Not to forget, there's a 50W smartphone wireless charger that even comes with ventilation to prevent overheating.

With a wheelbase of about three metres, the Sealion 7 offers spacious interiors. While the black interior might make it feel a little less spacious, the panoramic sunroof adds to the delight. The cabin space is generous with good shoulder room, comfortably reclined backrest, and more than sufficient knee and legroom to stretch out your legs. A third person can fit in comfortably as the floor is flat, despite being an AWD. The rear armrest features cup holders and additional storage, while seatback pockets and deep bottle holders further enhance practicality. The front centre console also provides ample storage space with dual USB ports (Type A and Type C), which are also available for passengers in the second row. So, in terms of space, the car gets many storage and stowage options, including a 58-litre frunk and an electric tailgate that opens up to a 500-litre boot space.

On the safety front, the Sealion 7 shares many design elements and safety features with its sibling, the Seal, which has already received a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. BYD has equipped this model with an extensive safety suite, including 11 airbags and its renowned E-Platform 3.0 battery, known for safety and reliability. Additionally, the Sealion 7 features iTAC (Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control) to adjust the output torque of the motor in real time to minimise the changes in the EV's power and eventually improve the safety, comfort, and handling of the car especially in snow or slippery conditions. Moreover, this is the only car till now to get an LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery) auxiliary battery. As opposed to conventional batteries, it is six times lighter, five times better in terms of discharging, and has a lifespan of 15 years.

BYD has priced the Sealion 7 aggressively, with the Premium version priced at Rs. 49.9 lakh (ex-showroom) and the Performance version at Rs. 54.9 lakh. Regardless of the variant, both come fully loaded with features. The SUV is available in four colour options across all variants. To summarise, the Sealion 7 is spacious, feature-packed, loaded with tech, good to drive with a lightning performance, offers a comfortable drive, has AWD on offer, and is a good proposition overall. So with two available variants, the question is which one?

Of course, the performance variant is faster and at the cost of some driving range, but it is ballistic and we'd recommend this one. That said, the premium variant isn't slow either, it offers an enhanced driving range. But if you love thrilling acceleration, the Performance variant is the one to go for.

Pictures by Kapil Angane