2025 BYD Sealion 7 assessment

BYD has rolled out its latest and maybe most vital mannequin in Australia: the Sealion 7.

The Chinese language model arrived in Australia in 2022 with a mid-sized electrical SUV, the Atto 3, which was adopted quickly after by two extra EVs, the small Dolphin hatch and mid-sized Seal sedan, because the fast-growing carmaker labored to increase its native attain in new segments.

Its second SUV in Australian showrooms was the Mitsubishi Outlander-rivalling Sealion 6, a plug-in hybrid mid-sized SUV that rapidly proved to be standard with a robust upwards development in gross sales proper off the bat.

Then got here the Shark 6 ute, Australia’s first plug-in hybrid ute, and now BYD has bolstered its mid-sized SUV lineup with the battery-powered Sealion 7 – and it’s going straight for the highest of Australia’s electrical car (EV) hierarchy.

Larger than the Atto 3 and constructed atop the identical EV platform because the Seal, the Sealion 7 is BYD’s finest reply but to the ever-popular Tesla Mannequin Y.

And it sounded promising even earlier than anybody had sat behind the wheel. With a beginning value of $54,990 earlier than on-road prices, the Sealion 7 is cheaper than each the outgoing Mannequin Y and its imminent alternative, whereas additionally being well-positioned in opposition to different Chinese language rivals.

In Australia, BYD might be seeking to outdo the likes of the Deepal S07, Leapmotor C10, and Xpeng G6 – all of that are themselves new fashions (and types).

We travelled to South Australia for the launch of the Sealion 7, which was “revealed” – regardless of pictures having been obtainable for a while – in a flashy presentation forward of the LIV Golf Adelaide 2025 match.

BYD was the occasion’s official automotive sponsor for 2025, which is the rationale for the LIV Golf branding you see on autos pictured all through this assessment. Apparently, BYD changed fellow Chinese language model MG Motor because the official automotive companion of the occasion for its second journey to Adelaide final yr.

Showmanship apart – does the Sealion 7 have what it takes to be an EV top-seller, or will BYD should take a mulligan?

How does the BYD Sealion 7 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the BYD Sealion 7 in opposition to equally sized autos.

BYD

Sealion 7

How a lot does the BYD Sealion 7 value?

As talked about, the Sealion 7’s pricing is sharp. At $54,990 earlier than on-roads for the bottom Premium variant and $63,990 earlier than on-roads for the Efficiency, it’s proper within the thick of the motion.

Its base value is considerably cheaper than the up to date Mannequin Y RWD, which is far nearer to the top-spec Sealion 7 Efficiency at $63,400 earlier than on-roads. For context, the range-topping Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary AWD isn’t even within the dialog at a whopping $73,400 earlier than on-roads.

In comparison with Chinese language rivals, it’s $1090 costlier than the single-spec Deepal S07 – a mannequin that, together with its model, arrived in Australia in late 2024. The Sealion 7 due to this fact holds a right away benefit, as BYD is already beginning to separate itself from ‘newcomer’ standing.

Cheaper nonetheless is the brand new Leapmotor C10, which prices both $45,888 or $49,888 earlier than on-roads relying on the variant. Most comparable, nevertheless, is the Xpeng G6, which is offered in two variants for both $54,800 or $59,800 earlier than on-roads – albeit missing the Sealion 7’s all-wheel drive possibility.

Not like another fashions in BYD’s Australian catalogue, there are not any cheaper Dynamic or Important grades obtainable for the Sealion 7 at launch.

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

What’s the BYD Sealion 7 like on the within?

Fundamental as it might be, we’re pleasantly stunned. You might be too, supplied you don’t thoughts having a pill glued to the sprint.

Naturally, being a BYD, the inside’s headline function is that 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s colossal but graphically sharp and, like different BYD vehicles with an identical unit, it may rotate 90 levels right into a portrait orientation.

This as not rather more than a gimmick, however there’s some neat performance right here. After all we’ll complain about yet one more automotive locking its local weather controls behind a separate menu discovered solely on its touchscreen, although we now have to reward BYD’s workaround.

Swiping with three fingers will modify two of the local weather management system’s most vital features. Vertical swipes will modify temperature, whereas horizontal ones are for fan pace.

Higher but, this works whatever the menu or software open on the display. Meaning you received’t should exit Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to show up the warmth or sit back.

BYD has additionally fitted a warmth pump to help the dual-zone air con system – to not point out precise, bodily air vents you’ll be able to modify together with your fingers.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay is straightforward to attach and labored with out points throughout our drives. We didn’t have the chance to check Android Auto, although given it’s solely a wired connection we’d count on a fast and fault-free expertise.

As is the case for screen-focused interiors, the Sealion 7 retains all its key features safely buried away throughout the show’s quite a few menus.

All the things is straightforward sufficient to search out in right here, and there’s some personalisation supplied due to a collection of wallpapers and that ‘edit’ button on the house display for various widgets. A ribbon will all the time be current on the underside of the show when the house display is proven.

Elsewhere you’ll discover all of the automotive’s settings menus and native functions by way of the shortcuts on the very backside of the display. The fundamental features are all pretty self-explanatory, but it surely’d be price spending a while at a dealership to completely perceive its ins and outs.

If you wish to plug in a tool, there are two USB ports beneath the centre console: one USB-A and one USB-C. They’re obscured and also you’d be forgiven for lacking them at first, however as soon as in use there’s a helpful tray for telephone storage there too.

That centre console bridge is nothing new but stays one other method to squeeze in some further space for storing. We did discover it a bit awkward although, as entry to the tray beneath is blocked by the legs of the automotive’s front-row occupants in customary seating positions.

Together with the USB ports there’s additionally an SD card reader and 12V outlet. You will have additionally observed the leather-based finishes on fairly just a few of the inside’s surfaces, which to our shock are virtually completely tender to the contact.

Essentially the most shocking factor about that is that even hard-wearing areas just like the decrease portion of the centre console and glovebox lid have some type of padding. That’s extremely uncommon, particularly because it virtually feels just like the glovebox lid is softer than the armrests on the doorways.

When it comes to different supplies, you’ll discover a arduous plastic panel spanning the width of the dashboard, as effectively a big gloss black part above. On the passenger facet it incorporates ambient lighting, however on the motive force’s facet it incorporates the ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

That is sadly one in all our greatest gripes with the inside. It’s a unique method in comparison with what we’ve seen within the Seal and the Sealion 6, however as a result of it’s not a standalone unit nor buried inside a housing, it’s a mud magnet.

It additionally sits low on the sprint at a reasonably flat orientation, making it simpler for mud to settle. Worse nonetheless, it’ll replicate daylight if caught on the improper angle – however we like the way it’s supplemented by a head-up show.

To its credit score the display itself isn’t unhealthy, with a easy design and loads of helpful information obtainable at a look. We simply suppose it could’ve been higher off tucked away inside a standard instrument cluster housing, very like the Sealion 6.

Nearly the entire cluster’s gadgets are configurable utilizing the buttons on the right-hand facet of the steering wheel, as can be the case for the infotainment system. There isn’t lots to scroll by way of on the cluster itself, and it seems like BYD has put some actual consideration into user-friendliness – an enormous tick for the Australian market.

Equally, the wheel itself is slightly good. There’s no two-spoke squircle right here, as a substitute you get a reasonably conventional but vaguely sporty unit that’s usually pleasing to the attention.

The silver plastic adorning the buttons both facet are a pleasant contact, if not considerably liable to smudges. We additionally just like the aggressive, angular method to the decrease portion of the wheel, although we really feel the proportions of the entire wheel appear barely off when wanting from a distance.

It’s a minimum of fascinating sufficient to be distinctive, and we respect the variety of buttons discovered right here. The shapes discovered right here additionally tie into the distinctive components discovered on the entrance door playing cards, which give life to the realm across the silver-coloured door handles.

Extra inside buttons are discovered atop the centre console. It’s disappointing {that a} truthful chunk of them are touch-sensitive buttons, however much more disappointing that they’re fitted to a gloss-black panel.

We just like the silver plastic happening elsewhere and it’s tough to see why it hasn’t been continued right here. In any case it’s the very same unit fitted to the Sealion 6, and a handful of each consolation and driving-related controls are discovered right here.

Then there’s the crystal-like gear selector, which seems to take a seat atop a bit of precise steel. Given the selector presents like a glob of clear plastic it does look considerably cheesy, however it’s good to have a bodily unit slightly than some buttons or an oblique dial.

Behind it’s a quantity curler and two toggles to be used on-road; the latter two we’ll element additional down. There’s additionally a wi-fi charging pad and NFC-enabled zone forward, whereas storage choices up entrance embody twin cupholders, a deep centre console field, bottle holders within the doorways, and a small-ish felt-lined glovebox.

The second row of seats on this five-seat wagon is pretty unremarkable, although the premium-leaning aura of the automotive’s inside remains to be maintained. Just like the entrance two seats – that are each power-adjustable throughout the vary – you get leather-based upholstery again right here, full with perforations and a quilted end.

Not like up entrance, there’s no heating or air flow within the base mannequin, although stepping as much as the Efficiency will add heated rear seats alongside a heated steering wheel. There’s loads of second-row area whatever the variant.

When it comes to facilities, there’s one USB-A port and one USB-C port, together with central rear-facing air vents. BYD’s signature seat contours make for snug lodging, which can mean you can benefit from the monumental glass roof above.

To the Sealion 7’s profit there’s a solar shade that may be opened or closed through buttons close to the rear-view mirror – one thing that’s particularly helpful on scorching Australian summer season days.

Storage choices embody multi-tier map pockets on every entrance seatback, in addition to a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. ISOFIX little one seat anchors and top-tether factors additionally function.

Customary for the Sealion 7 vary is a powered tailgate, which might be operated through the important thing fob, a swap on the motive force’s door, a shortcut on the touchscreen, or a button on the tailgate itself.

As soon as open, boot area isn’t too unhealthy – it’s bigger than options just like the Sealion 6 and Deepal S07, however barely smaller than a Toyota RAV4. There’s additionally no spare tyre to be discovered within the Sealion 7 and also you’ll as a substitute should make do with a tyre restore package.

The rear seats can cut up 60:40 and fold flat to unlock a wholesome quantity of additional area. A subwoofer options on the motive force’s facet of the boot whereas a cargo web is fitted reverse, and it’s largely a case of what you see is what you get.

For much more area you’ll be able to raise the boot flooring to disclose a cubby beneath, whereas there’s additionally a 50-litre space for storing beneath the bonnet.

It will not be a groundbreaking inside setup as BYD has adhered to many new automotive tendencies, however there’s nonetheless a raft of extra conventional touches that make it a way more pleasant area to spend time in than among the competitors.

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Two powertrains can be found for the Sealion 7 in Australia. Each are fed by the identical 82.56kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery, a unit shared with the intently associated Seal.

We didn’t get sufficient time in anyone car to file a consultant real-world vitality consumption determine whereas on BYD’s launch occasion.

That stated, an city drive route within the Sealion 7 Efficiency lasting roughly 40 minutes returned consumption figures hovering across the 19.0kWh/100km mark.

Driving vary can be considerably shorter than the Seal regardless of having the identical battery – the sedan’s Premium and Efficiency grades have claimed ranges of 570km and 520km respectively.

In comparison with the competitors although, the Sealion 7 is nearly satisfactory. It’s noticeably down on the Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary AWD and Xpeng G6 Lengthy Vary with 570km every, however in the identical ballpark because the Deepal S07 and Leapmotor C10.

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

How does the BYD Sealion 7 drive?

In a assured and refined method – with some new traits over its successors.

The very first thing we observed was the Sealion 7’s suspension tune. The place the Seal is on the softer facet and higher geared to cruising, this SUV is definitely pretty agency.

It leans additional in direction of a European setup than BYD’s earlier Australian fashions do, and we like that. That provides you a confidence-inspiring trip, and a way of premium building beneath.

The trade-off is slight chatter over smaller imperfections, but it surely’s well-composed over bigger bumps and undulations and stays all the time pretty snug.

However because it isn’t essentially geared for efficiency – regardless of being supplied in a grade named Efficiency – the Sealion 7 isn’t the best nook carver. That’s partly because of its circa-2.3-tonne weigh-in, so throwing it right into a flip at a good huff will induce some understeer.

You’ll hear complaints from the tyres too, even if you happen to do get Michelin Pilot Sport rubber with the quicker Efficiency grade. We are able to forgive this due to its trip high quality and the very fact it simply feels extremely strong on-road.

There’s no questioning the Sealion 7’s heft although, and that’s one thing you undoubtedly discover on the street.

Luckily, it by no means feels unwieldy, and there’s greater than sufficient shove in each variants to get transferring in a rush. Beginning with the rear-wheel drive Premium, the facility outputs really feel correct.

It’s definitely not sluggish, and stomping on the accelerator is nowhere close to as brutal as it may be in among the competitors. The Efficiency, in the meantime, is genuinely quick and hooks up with no points due to its all-wheel drive configuration, which might be scary given its weight.

Even so, mashing the throttle doesn’t present the moment punch within the again EVs are identified for. As an alternative, BYD has managed to program in a extra progressive supply, the place the facility is rolled on just a little extra gently with out being laggy or sluggish.

In any case, the Efficiency supplies rather more than you’d ever want. It’s a minimum of a chance to see what the Sealion 7’s chassis is able to, however the Premium remains to be extra habitable with little compromise.

An odd quirk is what occurs if you bounce off the accelerator pedal. It’s virtually just like the throttle sticks, as there might be a second the place the automotive will proceed on earlier than it begins decelerating.

That’s an odd feeling, and never one you need to be experiencing in an SUV just like the Sealion 7, even when it solely takes you without warning a few occasions. What doesn’t assistance is that its regenerative braking operate doesn’t fairly really feel robust sufficient.

There are two modes you’ll be able to swap between – ‘Customary’ and ‘Bigger’ – utilizing the swap on the centre console. There’s a noticeable distinction between the 2, positive, however you’ll nonetheless be utilizing the precise brake pedal greater than you’d count on in an EV.

Moreover, there’s no one-pedal drive mode within the Sealion 7, although that isn’t new for BYD. In fact, these extra analogue driving qualities do play into the normal components we described within the automotive’s cabin, however we wish to see some slight changes to raised align its EV driving traits with the competitors.

All in all, we discovered the Sealion 7’s powertrain easy and straightforward sufficient to work with; it simply lacks just a few dabs of polish.

Unexpectedly for an EV, the Sealion 7 might be pretty loud from the surface doubtless on account of its temperature management tech.

Our drive day for the Sealion 7 occurred to happen on one in all Adelaide’s hottest days previously decade, and so we are able to forgive the automotive’s cooling methods for working extra time to fight the 43-degree climate.

In consequence, the automotive’s battery cooler and local weather system have been audibly energetic. A quirk is that when these methods are energetic when you’re behind the wheel and stationary, the thrill from the followers and motors makes it really feel like there’s an engine working.

As there’s no sound, the small vibrations you’ll expertise from the steering wheel and seat are an odd distinction. Once more it drives effectively, so there’s no main complaints about this tendency.

A profit is the Sealion 7 is straightforward to pilot and manoeuvre. The steering really feel is customisable, and tied to the various drive modes; it’ll develop into heavier in Sport mode, as an illustration.

In any other case it’s pretty fluid, which helps each within the metropolis and when parking. A surround-view digicam can be customary in each Sealion 7 grades, and the standard of all cameras are of an distinctive high quality.

They’re additionally used to help the motive force when on the transfer – like when indicating, as a digicam view from the respective facet of the automotive will seem on the instrument cluster.

We’ve seen that earlier than on vehicles from the likes of Kia, and it’s a helpful addition right here on account of the Sealion 7’s rear-end packaging.

Put bluntly, visibility out the again isn’t good. There are tiny rear-quarter home windows surrounded by thick inside panelling, and the rear window is akin to a letterbox.

Head checks work nice out the rear door home windows, but it surely’s tough to see the automotive’s rear extremities and gauge precisely the place objects and different autos are. You’ll be able to present the automotive’s digicam shows on the infotainment display, which is the next-best factor for reversing into tight areas.

In any other case, the Sealion 7 is definitely a nice drive. Its seating place is great, and the angle of the steering wheel helps every thing seem very open when searching the entrance of the car.

We just like the head-up show, although it appeared to expertise a bug when utilizing Waze by way of Apple CarPlay. It is ready to present upcoming instructions, but it surely someway bought caught telling us to ‘flip left now’ as a substitute of updating in actual time.

There are minimal beeps and bongs too – a lot to our reduction. You’ll hear a warning for exceeding the pace restrict that may be turned off, and the motive force distraction system isn’t too delicate; even carrying sun shades will solely flash a silent obstruction warning as soon as earlier than the system leaves you alone.

Sadly, we weren’t capable of take a look at the freeway driving help options of the automotive, as our driving in Adelaide was restricted to lower-speed inner-city and suburban roads.

The Seal’s driver help calibration is nice although, so we’d count on it to be equally robust right here as the 2 vehicles share in lots of the identical DNA.

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

What do you get?

There are solely two distinct grades of Sealion 7. The Efficiency – past its AWD setup and energy bump – will get solely a handful of distinctive elements.

2025 BYD Sealion 7 Premium highlights:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre restore package
• LED headlights
• Panoramic glass roof
• Energy tailgate
• Energy-folding exterior mirrors
• Proximity entry with push-button begin
• NFC card key
• BYD digital key
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system (rotating)
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Head-up show
• 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system
• 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A outlet (entrance)
• 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A outlet (rear)
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-based upholstery
• 8-way energy driver’s seat
  • 4-way energy lumbar
  • Energy leg relaxation
  • Driver reminiscence
• 6-way energy passenger seat
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• RGB ambient lighting with rhythm operate
• Twin-zone local weather management
• PM2.5 excessive effectivity filter

Efficiency provides:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Painted entrance brake calipers
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

Is the BYD Sealion 7 secure?

The Sealion 7 has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Customary security gear consists of:

• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Lane-keep help
• Emergency lane-keep help
• Entrance cross-traffic help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Clever pace restrict help
• Secure exit warning
• Little one presence detection
• Encompass-view digicam
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Twin entrance airbags plus a driver’s far-side airbag
• Facet airbags and curtain airbags for each rows

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

How a lot does the BYD Sealion 7 value to run?

The corporate backs its autos with a six-year, 150,000km car guarantee and eight-year, 160,000km battery guarantee, although there are some exceptions which you’ll be able to view on BYD’s web site.

Service pricing varies between the 2 Sealion 7 variants. Particular person prices are detailed beneath.

To see how the BYD Sealion 7 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device

CarExpert’s Tackle the BYD Sealion 7

All up, the Sealion 7 is sort of an excellent automotive.

Clearly it isn’t an SUV that stands out for its exterior magnificence nor its inside structure, as there are lots of components right here which might be discovered on many different electrical SUVs.

Its power due to this fact lies in its operate. In our comparatively temporary time with the automotive we discovered hardly any options that will annoy us in the long run, and whereas issues like pace restrict warnings can crop up, it’s not too tough to disable them.

All the things simply works, and the inclusion of assorted gadgets like bodily air vents and a handful of precise buttons make the automotive simpler to function on the transfer – particularly in comparison with the screen-only Mannequin Y and Deepal S07 mid-sized SUVs.

Then there’s the trip. BYD has executed effectively to set this automotive up for Australian roads, and no matter whether or not there was a concerted effort to tune it domestically or not, the very fact is it’s impressively strong.

Its firmish suspension provides it a premium-feeling trip that doesn’t tire you out. Energy supply can be easy, the steering feels because it ought to, and there’s a powerful steadiness between straight-line efficiency and each day useability – particularly evident with the Premium.

The Sealion 7’s solely actual points are the accelerator pedal’s bizarre ‘flywheel impact’, its as-yet-unknown real-world effectivity, and the very fact the Efficiency flagship actually isn’t price the additional cash. A way more convincing worth proposition is the Premium, because it has extra vary and an already wholesome checklist of normal gear.

BYD’s latest Australian mannequin has loads of area, drives effectively, doesn’t value an excessive amount of, and doesn’t annoy you with poorly deliberate consumer interfaces or incessant beeps and bongs.

You could possibly do lots worse than the Sealion 7 Premium, and at launch we predict it makes extra sense than the incoming Mannequin Y will.

Excited by shopping for a BYD Sealion 7? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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