2025 BYD Sealion 7 Performance Review: Plenty of surprises as Chinese attempt to bloody Tesla Model Y's nose

If you begin up a BYD Sealion 7, you see a big display screen displaying the slogan: “Cool the Earth by One Diploma – Know-how Inexperienced Future BYD.”

This message could be fairly irritating. Is BYD suggesting that buying a car with such an odd title one way or the other contributes to environmental reduction? If it had been capable of run on sardines, maybe that might be a special story, as each meals must be taken off the menu.

Did the creators of this tagline contemplate that cooling the Earth by a single diploma is inadequate, and never a probable achievement, no matter BYD’s technological advances? It appears a bit presumptuous coming from an organization that manufactures vehicles on the earth’s largest polluting nation.

Having problem shifting previous this, I additionally discovered the seating place irritating. Nevertheless, apart from these two factors, I used to be left impressed by the general package deal that the Sealion 7 provides, notably the spectacular pace of the Efficiency variant I drove.

So, must you select this over a Tesla? Currently, the commonest query I get is “Ought to I purchase a BYD?” Driving this one actually nudged me nearer to a solution.

Worth and Specs

When evaluating efficiency in relation to price, the Efficiency variant of the BYD Sealion 7 presents stable worth, particularly for these sufficiently old to recall when automobile magazines boasted about 300kW automobiles.

For $63,990, you get a twin-motor EV producing 390kW and 690Nm, a power transmitted to all 4 wheels. This permits it to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h in simply 4.5 seconds, a outstanding feat for such a big SUV weighing 2.34 tonnes.

If that value or efficiency feels extreme, the entry-level RWD Premium is offered for $54,990, that includes a single motor with 230kW and 380Nm. The first distinction between these two fashions is, after all, energy.

The Premium model comes with all-LED lighting, 19-inch alloys, a glass roof with a shade, and a powered boot. Inside, you’ll discover heated and ventilated leather-based seats, a considerable 15.6-inch rotating central display screen suitable with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, one other 10.25-inch driver show, and a 12-speaker sound system.

Go for the Efficiency mannequin and luxuriate in enhanced options like bigger 20-inch alloys, a heated steering wheel, and rear seat heating.

Each variations share an 82.56kW battery (with Automobile to Load capabilities) providing a variety of 482 km for the Premium and 456 km for the Efficiency mannequin. They help as much as 11kW AC charging and 150kW DC quick charging.

Measuring simply over 4.8 meters lengthy, 1.9 meters large, and 1.6 meters tall, the Sealion 7 boasts an almost 3-meter wheelbase, offering ample house for rear passengers. I’m 175 cm tall and located all three again seats snug, even the center one. The boot provides 500 liters of capability with the rear seats up, and the ground top could be adjusted for simpler loading of taller objects.

Including to its accolades, the Sealion 7 just lately acquired a most five-star ANCAP ranking, that includes 9 airbags and numerous lively security applied sciences.

Lastly, BYD backs the car with a six-year, 150,000 km guarantee, and the battery is roofed for eight years or 160,000 km.

Total Impressions

Throughout my week with the BYD Sealion 7, I initially felt detached. It was satisfactory, snug, surprisingly clean, and spacious—an incredible possibility for households. Nevertheless, it lacked pleasure or inspiration.

For a lot of the time, I felt as if I used to be driving one other customary EV, an effort to intently mimic Tesla’s strategy with massive screens and related styling. Whereas none of it felt offensive, it didn’t notably have interaction me both.

The upper driving place felt extra like a real SUV than a refined car and hindered my enthusiasm. I discovered myself driving it in a relaxed, nearly bored method, noting that the protection methods may very well be irritating, and the Driver Monitoring System often reported points.

Quite the opposite, the Dyanaudio stereo carried out admirably, however the annoying start-up display screen clashed with my temper.

After a chat with somebody who was shocked at how few BYDs ended up in his line of labor in comparison with Teslas, I noticed I hadn’t actually examined its capabilities. Deciding to speed up demonstrated a dramatic change—it was exhilarating, like revealing a hidden energy that might astonish unsuspecting drivers.

Whereas the Sealion 7 usually operates as a easy transport, it has the potential for speedy acceleration that might astonish many SUV drivers.

Nevertheless, most would doubtless fare higher with the entry-level, single-motor variant, because the efficiency mannequin feels weighty at 2,340 kg, making it much less sporty in corners. It’s not essentially disagreeable, nevertheless it’s clear that it doesn’t defy the legal guidelines of physics.

Verdict

Total, the BYD Sealion 7 is a stable SUV EV providing snug transport for a small household. It exceeds expectations for the BYD model and presents good worth for cash. Choosing the Efficiency variant will definitely present some surprises.

SCORE: 3.7/5