EVs are a growing segment and increasing numbers are seeing international player want a slice of the pie. BYD, despite being young, is a name that has been making waves with its EVs globally, and is now the biggest EV manufacturer in the world. The car maker has earned itself an enviable reputation in India in a very short timespan with its offerings – first with the e6 which was India’s first all-electric MPV, followed by the Atto 3 and then the Seal and eMAX 7 last year. BYD also seems to have identified the premium/luxury EV space as a niche for itself. focus is on the luxury EV segment. In keeping with the vision, BYD has now launched the Sealion 7.
While the Seal covered the almost untapped premium EV sedan space, the Sealion 7 goes head to head against the segment leaders like the BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Hyundai IONIQ5 and Kia EV6. The Sealion 7, unlike the Seal, is being offered with only one battery option, though customers can choose between a rear wheel drive and an allwheel drive layout. Just like the Seal, the Sealion 7 also belongs to the Ocean series of cars, and the same is evident in the name and design both.
The coupe SUV design coupled with the smooth flowing curves lends the Sealion 7 a sophisticated look. At first glance the headlamps remind of the ones on the Seal, but are different and integrates into the bodyline of the car seamlessly. the sloping roofline makes for a very appealing looking stance from the sides, lending the Sealion 7 the ever-so-likeable coupe SUV look. Given its length of 4.8 metres the Sealion 7 is a long car, though the sloping roofline gives you the impression of it being smaller than it is. Flush door handles are a nice add-on and go well with its premium positioning, while aiding aerodynamics. Our test vehicle was the rear wheel drive variant running on 19-inch diamond cut alloys, while the all wheel drive variant uses larger, 20-inch wheels. I liked the Sealion 7’s rear end the most though, thanks to its connected tail lamps which look like a collection of multiple streams of water flowing at both ends. So the Sealion 7 is an SUV that manages to look sporty and classy. Step inside and you’re greeted with an interior that oozes premiumness. The four-spoke steering wheel is leather-wrapped and feels nice to hold, The view from behind the wheel is nice, and commanding, but at the same time, the sloping roofline means the view in the inside rear view mirror is very limited. Seats are wrapped in Nappa leather and are supremely comfortable. The seats are also ventilated and electrically adjustable, and the driver’s seat also gets 8-way electronic adjustment and adjustable lumbar support. The driver’s seat is supremely comfortable overall, and perfect for long drives.
The dashboard is a flat glass panel with BYD’s signature rotating touchscreen, a 15.6-inch unit here, and house almost all settings. A physical buttons have been retained though, near the beautiful crystal drive selector, for functions like driving modes, the defogger, regenerative braking, climate control and ADAS too. The cabin is swathed in leather and there’s abindant use of soft touch plastics as well to add to the premium feel. The 12-speaker music system from Danish hi-end audio maker Dynaudio impresses with its acoustics. You also get a lot of USB Type-A and Type-C ports along with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A driver monitoring system, housed in polished aluminium on the A-pillar, tracks eye and head movement via an infrared camera. Although common in modern cars, this one feels overly sensitive, frequently issuing warnings—even for glancing at the screen or minor head movements. It became more of an annoyance than a safety feature during our time with the Sealion 7. Talking about safety, you get ADAS and as many as 11 airbags.
The Sealion 7 is a long SUV which means a lot of space, especially at the rear. The second row seats offer lots of space and comfort as you can easily extend your legs, even with the front seats set to their rear-most positions. The large panoramic glass roof makes for an airy feel and can be covered by a powered blind when needed. Luggage space is impressive too, as the boot offers 500 litres, besides a 58-litre space in the trunk. We drove the ‘Premium’ version that comes with a single-motor/RWD layout, whereas the ‘Performance’ trim gets a twin-motor/AWD setup, though both use the same, 82.56kWh battery. The Premium sends 313PS and 380Nm to the rear wheels, which is good, but also a lot lesser than the 530PS and 690Nm the Performance version sends to all four wheels. The Sealion 7 uses BYD’s trademark LFP batteries. The Premium variant we drove might churn out less power but offers a higher claimed NEDC-rated range of 567km on a single charge, as opposed to 542km for the Performance version.
On the road, the Sealion 7 has an effortless feel to it. It is quick but accelerates with a sense of calm, as power delivery is strong but very linear. You get three drive modes and like other BYDs, even Eco mode is not sluggish. Regen kicks in effortlessly and works quite well in tandem with the power modes on offer. There is a likeable and a very sophisticated feel to the performance overall, and I feel the Sealion 7 will also make for an excellent set of wheels for a long drive. Ride quality is good too, as the Sealion 7 soaks up bumps and ruts with confidence and handles rather well for an SUV its size. That said, there is some body roll around corners. The steering feels light and even changing driving modes does not really alter its feel. So while it is precise, I was left wanting for more feedback from the steering, as that would made for a more engaging feel on the dynamics front. Overall, the Sealion 7 is a confident handler to say so, and that’s despite its heft, thanks to its all-electric powertrain.
The Premium variant of the Sealion 7 we drove retails at ₹48.9 lakh ex-showroom while the Performance variant, with more power and AWD, retails at ₹54.9 lakh. In our books, the additional premium the Performance variant commands over the Premium should be worth it, especially if you like driving. That said, the Sealion 7 is a potent SUV and makes a very strong case for itself, especially when compared to the smaller yet more expensive luxury electric SUVs from European luxury car makers. BYD is clear about its intent about wanting a serious share of the burgeoning premium EV space in India and the Sealion 7 is a step in the right direction in our opinion.
