BYD’s Sealion 7 tees off but does it land on the green?
This impressive new EV takes aim at Elon Musk’s best-selling electric SUV as the vehicle war with China intensifies.
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In a setting where tradition meets disruption, one newcomer stepped on to the fairway, ready to challenge champions.
I’ve been to a lot of car launches, but this one was different. Imagine some of the worlds best professional golfers teeing off in the sunshine – not to the sounds of subtle applause, but blaring music and rowdy crowds.
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Welcome to LIV Golf, a tournament that feels more like a Vegas pool party than a genteel club tournament. This was the setting BYD chose to unveil its latest electric SUV, the Sealion 7.
It seemed like an off choice at first, but like LIV Golf, BYD is a disrupter.
If Toyota is the PGA Tour, a powerhouse built on reliability and tradition, then it makes sense that BYD is LIV Golf – pushing boundaries, rewriting the rule book and making a lot of noise.
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But hype alone doesn’t make a championship. The mid-size SUV market in Australia is as competitive as Sunday at the Masters.
Heavy hitters include the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach E, and that’s just the EVs. Combustion-powered models such as the best-selling Toyota RAV4 are still going strong.
When you launch a car in such a high-energy, iconic setting, expectations are going to be high.
While the Sealion 7 is a solid addition to the already overcrowded mid-size SUV market, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it lacked the same punch as LIV Golf.
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It’s solid swing but not a hole-in-one. On first impression, the Sealion 7 is sharp and sleek. The cabin is simple but elegant, there’s ample space with plenty of head and leg room for rear passengers.
It’s well equipped with a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, a 10.25-inch instrument display and 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
Offered in two variants, the Premium and Performance, both are powered by an 82.56kWh BYD Blade battery, with the premium offering 230kW of power, 380Nm of torque and more than adequate claimed range of 482km range (WLTP).
The Performance offers 390kW of power and 690Nm with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds, making it one of the quickest EVs in its class.
However, the Performance comes with slightly less range at 456km (WLTP). Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof, wireless charger, Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, leather trim, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
The Performance trim adds heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.
Out on the road, the SUV felt solid and well-balanced. While we didn’t get to push it to high speeds on a limited test drive, the Sealion felt capable and smooth on suburban routes and gravel paths.
Like many EVs, the Sealion 7 is efficient, but the battery consumption did seem on the higher side at 18.4kW.h/100km.
Charging speeds are respectable with 11kW AC for at-home top-ups and 150kW DC for rapid charging.
One of BYD’s best selling points has always been its price, and here, the Sealion 7 remains competitive.
Priced from $54,999 plus on-roads for the premium RWD model and $63,990 for the Performance AWD variant, it undercuts Tesla’s Model Y.
While Tesla’s offerings come at a higher price point, they include a well-established charging network and suite of advanced features.
Again, it’s a respectable round – but not a green jacket
Much like LIV Golf, BYD has made a lot of noise in a short time.
But shaking things up and being a disrupter isn’t enough, you have to prove you belong at the top.
The Sealion 7 is a well-thought out SUV with strong performance, smart technology and a comfortable cabin.
It’s a compelling option for buyers looking for value.
But in an overcrowded segment, it feels like BYD needs to offer more to truly challenge the best.
Originally published as BYD’s Sealion 7 tees off but does it land on the green?
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