Review of the 2025 BYD Sealion 7: Technology-laden Luxury Electric SUV
The BYD Sealion 7 has cemented the brand's position in India as a high-end EV maker. Their first two models, the e6 (which has morphed into an eMax 7) and the Atto 3, took time to win people's hearts for various reasons, while the Seal sedan was the first sign that this is a brand that wanted to take on the established players.
This crossover is referred to as the Sealion 7, which is the closest to the Seal. However, while they share some aspects, tangible improvements in key areas have laid the groundwork for a much wider acceptance.
One, of course, is that it is an SUV and will appeal to quite a good deal more customers simply on that ground. However, it has become quite practical. It is raised to 170mm from 145mm for now.
However, there is little commonality in the traditional SUV dimensions, which are pretty coupe SUV or crossover-heavy.
It is not a small car, though, measuring 4.8 meters long with a 2.9-meter wheelbase; its slanting roof and tightly skinned curves, however, tend to make it look a lot more compact than it is.
To these eyes, the proportions may not be as appealing as those of the Seal sedan, which does, indeed, sport an evolved version of Seal design language, by the name of 'Ocean X,' particularly the taller nose which carries a lot of visual mass.
This is somewhat offset by the lavish use of contrast black trim, especially around the large wheel arches housing 19-inch wheels (20 inches on the AWD version) and a massive diffuser that is cut into the rear bumper.
The interior ambience is not as characterful as that of the Seal. It features a conventional-looking rectangular center console and a long and flat dashboard, causing it to at least integrate some interesting ambient lighting touches.
The digital driver display is incorporated into that flat panel, and a return of sorts is the fair rotating touchscreen that lies stretched 15.6 inches long.
Above all, again, what strikes me is the cabin quality and fit and finish with some of the best luxury brands and, in certain areas, exceed them.
Soft-touch material is found even in the lower area of the dashboard, and one has to actually scratch the footwell to get to the rough stuff.
The tight fit all around except for some panels that do not align well on the door one design quirk, while simple, the cabin also embodies others, such as the door 'handles', which work like lift-up flaps.
The front seats are extremely comfortable (and can be ventilated), with what feels to be just the right kind of firm and soft cushioning in all the right places.
The rear seats have comparable cushioning, and while they can recline a long way with a lot of legroom due to the long wheelbase, their comfort does matter.
They set you rather low in relation to the window line, but that generously sized glass area gives a magnificent sense of spaciousness, though window curtains would have made it better.
Speaking of glass, a huge fixed glass panel stretches the roof from front to back and side to side, and thankfully, unlike the Seal, you get an electric roller blind to block out direct sunlight when the heat gets too much. Another minor but helpful adjustment is that the AC vents are now standard manual in the Sealion, instead of being electronically adjusted as in the Seal.
The screens, as before, are extremely slick with high-resolution graphics; however, the driver display features an extremely cluttered layout with far too much information thrown at you, which is distracting.
There is also a heads-up display, and while it's high resolution, it puts too much information into your line of sight. Thankfully, the touchscreen has a much-improved UI, although we wish BYD had not crammed so many basic functions into it.
Some of the most tempting features available to Sealion 7 include wireless smartphone integration, a powerful 12-speaker Dynaudio music system, powered and ventilated front seats, automatic headlamps and wipers, gesture-controlled powered tailgate operations, dynamic ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and so much more.
In safety, 11 airbags are baked-in, including one between front seats and two as rear side bolsters.
There is level 2 ADAS for semi-autonomous driving, one of the clearest 360-degrees cameras, and an ultra-sensitive driver attention monitor-too many distractions really concerning the touchscreen alone.
However, contrary to the Seal, the Sealion 7 gets a sole battery option, which is BYD's convention-setting Blade Cell LFP style.
However, the fact remains that there are two different ranges for the two powertrain options: 567km (NEDC) for the single-motor vehicle and 542km for the more powerful (and 100kg heavier) dual-motor variant.
According to our experience with BYD cars, their claimed range almost matched, and although we could not make a complete range test on this short drive, mixed driving conditions tended towards an equivalent range of almost 500km on the single-motor version.
Charging over DC fast charging will take place at the mind-boggling rate of 150kW. On an AC fast charger, the system will be able to charge at 11kW.
Unfortunately, though, the home wallbox charger that BYD supplies maxes out at just 7kW, which is slow for such a large battery.
BYD like in other models of vehicles enables the vehicle-to-load (VTL) feature which allows you to power up other equipment like lights, speakers, electric stoves, and camping gear from the car battery.
We were able to try both variants of Sealion 7, and there were visible differences in the experience while driving.
The AWD dual-motor version has a massive 530hp, and 690Nm and the result is a spritely 0-100kph sprint that occurs in just 4.5 seconds, a number we could achieve and confirm on our VBOX testing gear.
Instantly, you feel that performance benefits in every single drive mode, but, as you drive it longer, what you value much more is how nicely the AWD version puts down its power.
The RWD has 'only' 310hp and 380Nm. However, in everyday driving, such outputs seem more than ample for a luxury car of this size.
Both these versions offer power output that is smooth and progressive even at low and medium speeds, unlike that flat or spiky shot of acceleration we are used to having from most electric cars, something welcome all by itself.
However, get up to triple-digit speeds, and while the powertrain itself is quiet (no artificially generated sound here), you start to hear more of the outside world, particularly at the rear; whereas the front windows are for double glazing to better insulate, the rear ones are not.
The BYD Sealion 7 SUV gives its driver a sense of comfortable weightiness with a higher centre of gravity and rather pronounced body-roll when cornering, in stark contrast to an almost too-sharp and agile feel experienced in the low-slung sedan.
It really positions the car in the luxury corner and suggests it is not a true sports machine, although the car's steering is quick and ultra-responsive to some degree."
The ride is slightly firm, something we expect from European cars, but overall it is more suited to handling the 2.3-tonne heft than an outright soft suspension setting.
The 20-inch wheels on the dual-motor version left more of a 'thump' through bumps, which is a little annoying.
The BYD Sealion 7 is just the solution for those buyers who were attracted to the idea of the Seal but stayed away because of the low ground clearance or sedan form factor.
It brings back a lot of what we loved: the plush and well-built interiors, for one, and this cabin genuinely feels like it can compete against some European luxury cars.
The powertrain expertise of BYD shows in the smooth functioning and refinement of power, the energy-laden Blade Cell LFP battery clinging onto every electron to maximize range.
Sealion 7 boasts there is so much tech in the areas of infotainment, safety, and comfort and convenience for daily use, and while liking for all, a little more appreciation for user-friendliness would have been ideal.
The BYD Sealion 7, priced at Rs 48.90 lakh to Rs 54.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India), marches into India's electric vehicle segment with confidence, supported by cutting-edge tech and know-how.
The Kia EV6, BMW iX1 LWB, Volvo C40 Recharge, and Mercedes-Benz EQA are similarly priced crossovers, with the Kia coming closest in dimensions and specs.
The sales and service network of BYD is small compared to these well-established brands, but is expanding with cars becoming more easily available.
The latest model itself, or at least judging from first impression, is truly one of the best in its category at this price, and any discerning buyer of a premium electric car should definitely keep it on the shortlist.
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