The BYD Sealion 7 is a quality and stylish electric SUV with a futuristic design and impressive performance, its a strong contender in the competitive EV market.
During my recent 48-hour test drive, provided by Busseys BYD dealership in Norwich, I had the chance to put this car through its paces. From the daily school run to shopping trips and everything in between, I tested how the Sealion 7 handles everyday life while providing a glimpse into its potential as a long-term electric vehicle.
In this review, I’ll share my experience with the Sealion 7, look at its performance on the road, the comfort of its interior and practicality for day-to-day use. A big thanks to Busseys BYD for the opportunity to test out this exciting new EV.
BYD Sealion 7 Review
First Impressions of the BYD Sealion 7
The design of this car is very cool, with a unique “ocean-inspired” look. Designed by BYD’s Global Design Director, Wolfgang Egger, the Sealion 7’s exterior is a real statement.
The futuristic lights have got a “water-drop-inspired” design, it adds to the Sealion 7’s look, making the car stand out from the crowd. And while the exterior design is eye-catching, it’s also highly functional. The extended wheelbase for example means you get a spacious and comfortable interior.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, the Sealion 7 offers a high driving position that provides an excellent view of the road. The interior design continues the oceanic theme, with high-quality finishes and a layout that feels modern. The cabin is spacious and well-equipped, featuring premium materials such as quilted Nappa leather and soft vegan leather that covers over 80% of the interior. It’s clear that comfort and luxury were top priorities when designing the Sealion 7, making a great first impression right from the start.
BYD Sealion 7 Driving Experience
On the road, the Sealion 7 offers a smooth and quiet ride. The entry-level Comfort version comes equipped with a 308bhp rear-wheel-drive electric motor, so the car can accelerate from 0-62mph in a respectable 6.7 seconds. This is by no means sluggish, but it’s not quite as rapid as some of its competitors. If you do need even more power, the Design and Excellence models come with a second motor, giving the Sealion 7 four-wheel-drive and a total of 523bhp. This version is quick off the line, with a blistering 0-62mph time of just 4.5 seconds, putting it on par with performance-oriented electric SUVs.
The steering was OK, I had expected slightly sharper handling, but still pretty responsive! At 70mph, the cabin remains surprisingly quiet, not much noise at all. The standard double-glazed side windows do their job.
In terms of range, the Sealion 7 is competitive but not class-leading. The Comfort version offers an official range of 299 miles on a full charge, while the heavier four-wheel-drive Design drops to 283 miles. The Excellence model, with its larger 91.3kWh battery, extends the range to 311 miles. While this is decent, it’s worth noting that the Tesla Model Y offers a range of up to 387 miles.
The regenerative braking worked extremerily well, making it almost possbile to one pedal drive the Sealion 7.
Interior and Comfort
The interior of the BYD Sealion 7 is my favourite part, it has got exceptional comfort and quality. The cabin is spacious and thoughtfully designed – brimming with premium materials and thoughtful design touches.
The driving position in the Sealion 7 is pretty high, offering a good view of the road. Better than competitors like the Tesla Model Y, where the seating position is a bit more confined. The seats themselves are exceptionally comfortable, with quilted Nappa leather in the range-topping Excellence model providing a luxurious feel.
The front seats are equipped with both heating and ventilation, while the rear seats are also heated.
One of the standout features of the Sealion 7 is the 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen that serves as the central hub for infotainment and controls. This large, crisp display rotates between portrait and landscape modes. The interface is responsive, and while it’s not as intuitive as some competitors, it remains user-friendly, offering both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The system is complemented by a punchy 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, delivering rich, high-fidelity audio for a truly immersive experience.
The ambient lighting inside the cabin features 128 different colours!
In terms of practicality, the Sealion 7 offers good storage space. The cabin features a range of clever storage solutions, including a deep central armrest cubby and a large tray under the centre console. The rear seats offer loads of legroom, although headroom is a bit tighter due to the coupe-style roofline, it’s still sufficient for most people.
The School Run
The kids enjoyed turning up in the BYD Sealion 7, it looks cool and they had plenty of room to comfortably fit both kids and their belongings. The kids absolutely loved the car, particularly the fun features like the voice control. They had fun playing around with it, trying to open and close each other’s windows – a perfect example of how the Sealion 7’s technology can entertain even the younger passengers.
The spacious interior meant that there was no issue fitting in their school bags, musical instruments and even a cricket kit bag – a challenge for some cars, but not for the Sealion 7. As you can see from the photo, there’s ample space in the boot and rear seats, making it an ideal choice for parents with active kids.
The Sealion 7’s spaciousness and user-friendly tech make it a great family car for everyday tasks like the school run.
Supermarket Trip
When it came to the supermarket, the BYD Sealion 7 continued to impress. Parking in tight spaces was made easy thanks to the car’s excellent camera system. The 360-degree camera provided a clear view of my surroundings, helping me manoeuvre into narrow spaces, which can often be tricky in larger vehicles. Although it didn’t help me park it straight when I returned it to Busseys – sorry Simon!
Once inside, the Sealion 7 had more than enough storage space to handle a full shopping trip. The boot, with its 520-litre capacity, easily accommodated all our shopping.
The Final Word on the BYD Sealion 7
The BYD Sealion 7 is a great electric SUV that balances style, performance, and practicality. The ocean-inspired look of the car combined with its futuristic touches like the “OCEAN X” front styling and water-drop tail lamps, gives the SUV an unmistakable presence on the road.
Inside, the high-quality materials, spacious cabin, and tech features like the 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen and Dynaudio sound system makes for a brilliant driving experience. The Sealion 7 is also family-friendly, with ample space for kids, luggage, and shopping. We enjoyed using it for day-to-day tasks like the school run and supermarket trips.
In terms of driving performance, the Sealion 7 delivers strong acceleration and a composed ride around town. The ride does become less smooth on faster roads; however, for most drivers, these issues are minor when the car offers such a comfortable and quiet experience in other aspects.
Just like all BYDs, the car is competitively priced, has a well-equipped interior, and practical features like the V2L (vehicle-to-load) function, so the Sealion 7 is a solid contender in the electric SUV market.
A huge thank you to Busseys BYD in Norwich for giving me the opportunity to test drive the BYD Sealion 7 for 48 hours. If the Sealion 7 has caught your attention and you’re eager to experience it for yourself, I highly recommend reaching out to Busseys BYD to book your own test drive.
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
