Overview
The BYD Sealion 7 is a mid-sized crossover designed to compete directly with established rivals such as the Tesla Model Y, Cupra Tavascan, and Volkswagen ID.5. Positioned slightly above the Seal saloon within the brand's Ocean product line, the Sealion 7 aims to establish a foothold as a high-performance family vehicle. It enters the segment with a strong emphasis on continuous power output, robust safety metrics, and cold-weather battery capabilities.
Design
Adopting the Ocean Series design language, the Sealion 7 translates the sleek curves of the Seal saloon into a more elevated, athletic SUV silhouette. The front end is defined by a prominent, sweeping nose flanked by stylized LED daytime running lights. Its profile features a rising shoulder line and a gently sloping roofline that attempts to blend traditional SUV practicality with a modern coupe aesthetic. Standard models sit on 19-inch alloy wheels, whereas the higher AWD variants are upgraded to 20-inch wheels paired with factory-fitted Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres to better manage the vehicle's footprint.
Interior
The cabin is dominated by BYD's signature 15.6-inch electrically rotatable infotainment touchscreen, complemented by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Material quality feels substantial, with comfortable and heavily bolstered front seats that feature heating, ventilation, and extensive electrical adjustment as standard. Tech is high in this car, with a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, dual 50W wireless smartphone charging pads, and full Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. However, ergonomics suffer slightly from a convoluted layout, as most climate settings and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are buried deep within touchscreen menus, which can be frustrating to navigate on the move.
Performance & Powertrains
Built upon the e-Platform 3.0, the Sealion 7 BYD's LFP Blade Battery technology integrated directly into the vehicle's structure for better stiffness. The entry-level Comfort trim features a RWD motor producing 230 kW and achieving a 0-62 mph time of 6.7 seconds. It utilizes an 82kWh battery pack to deliver a range of 300 miles. The Design AWD and Excellence AWD steps up performance by adding a 160 kW motor to the front axle, creating a combined output of 390 kW that slashes the 0-62 mph sprint to 4.5 seconds. The Design AWD retains the 82kWh battery pack, dropping its range to 283 miles. The top-tier Excellence AWD upgrades to a larger 91kWh battery, reaching a peak range of 312 miles. Charging varies by battery size. At 82kWh, it supports a rapid charging rate of 150 kW, whereas the 91kWh pack benefits from an upgraded 800V setup capable of pulling up to 230 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% charge in 24 minutes. An energy-saving heat pump is standard across all models to preserve performance during cold UK winters, and there's also 3.3 kW Vehicle-to-Load charging.
Practicality
The cell-to-body battery structure helps clear out floor space, providing ample legroom and headroom for adult passengers sitting in the rear. Storage is split between a standard 520-litre rear boot, which expands to 1,789 litres when the rear seats are folded forward, and a useful 58-litre frunk, ideal for housing charging cables. Seating flexibility is typical for the class, featuring standard ISOFIX mounting points across the 3 passenger seats.
Buying
The BYD Sealion 7 lineup starts at £47,025 for the Comfort model, rises to £52,025 for the Design AWD, and tops out at £59,025 for the Excellence AWD. Company car buyers benefit from highly competitive Benefit-in-Kind tax bands. The EV Hub recommended configuration is the Excellence AWD trim. Choosing this model maximises the 312 mile range, has much faster 230kW charging speeds and the extra motor on the front axle.