Louth Motors: From “B Y What” to “B Y Wow” the Sealion 7 impresses

If you are in the market for an SUV then a quick look in the aquarium of models from BYD will offer you two models. The Seal U and this week's test model the Sealion 7. At first glance the two are quite similar with the main differentiator being the sloping coupe looks on the Sealion 7.

At the back those water droplet LED rear lights look very good as does the sporty/quirky shaped spoiler and it’s safe to say that the Sealion 7 meets the brief of what a sporty SUV should look like. The Sealion 7 is an all-electric model differing from the Seal U which is a PHEV and was a bit of a surprise when it was launched as we were associating BYD with being just an all-electric brand.

The Sealion 7 is the 5th model from the now familiar Chinese brand here in Ireland. BYD were the 5th best selling maker of all-electric cars in Ireland in 2024 and currently are in 5th so it's hardly surprising that the “BY what” query you’d hear not very long ago is never heard now, so pervasive is the brand here. Immediate competitors are the BMW IX, VW ID7 Tourer, Skoda Enyaq, Model Y and the Hyundai Ionic 5. Tellingly, the Sealion 7 is larger than the Skoda and Tesla who are the natural equivalents.

BYD are known to comprehensively equip their cars and the Sealion 7 has three models that look very similar with the difference being what size wheels are being driven - rear or all, and the size of battery fitted. A quick look at the comparison table in the Sealion 7 brochure shows the black dot of standard equipment applied to all models.

The top of the range Excellence model with the largest 91.3kW battery for €56,490 also delivers a heads-up display. The entry RWD comfort model has a price tag of €45,435 with the meat in the sandwich Design AWD model costing €52,390. The Comfort model is priced very competitively and looks like the one to go for in terms of value.

The interior of the Sealion 7 is immediately recognisable being similar to other BYD models and that's a big compliment as the others are that good. Everyone it seems is surprised that the interiors are so good, especially from a brand that was unknown a short while ago. Materials are excellent (nearly always all are from all brands these days) and the layout and features don't disappoint either.

It is immediately apparent that the target buyer might want a minimalist Tesla interior and BYD has aped the Model Y’s layout, albeit with a tiny few buttons thrown in. If you get a BYD you’ll become menu proficient or, as I do, control most features using the voice activation. Personally, more buttons and knobs are desirable but car makers are slow to bring them back and get with the programme. Thankfully legislators are rowing back the all-menu touchscreen displays and insisting on some knobs and buttons. From a safety perspective it's a no-brainer and it is disappointing that legislators were so slow to stem the menu trend but thankfully they are now. Regardless, the best description of the Sealion 7’s interior is seamless and harmonious - it's a very nice place to be.

Performance is quite brisk from the Sealion 7 from its high performance 23,000 RPM electric motor and blade battery technology combo. My AWD Excellence version can reach 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and go on to a top speed of 215 km/h.

Straight line speed is generally excellent from eclectic cars with the constant torque at every part of the acceleration curve one of the best things about driving an electric car. The suspension setup is more on the comfort than sporty side and that's what most buyers would want. Those who need to feel a pebble under the front wheels can look elsewhere.

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The Sealion 7 is designed for families being ferried around in comfort, with lots of space - that boot carries 520litres and has an electric tailgate which is such a wonderful feature that I originally thought was a gimmick. But time has proved to me it is one feature that is certainly not a gimmick.

I found normal driving on normal roads to be a comfortable experience and the insulation levels in the Sealion 7 are high and keep the outside world where it should be - outside. The roadholding was quite good and grip levels were high, it’s just that you don't get a sense of what the wheels are doing through the steering wheel. If you overextend the car you’d only find out, I suspect, when it is too late - as are an awful lot of cars these days.

The car can take a whopping, where you can find it, 230kW of charge and has a 32 minute 10% to 80% recharge time. 502km is the claimed range for my AWD Excellence model with the largest battery, but from my driving I managed 21.8kW/100km for a real world range of 418kms. That is everyday livable with and over, for me, the magic 400km figure. Owning a Sealion 7 with a home charger will allow you to forget the car is powered by electricity. Range/Charging/Whatever anxiety is banished with only the unenlightened passengers worrying about those things.

In its category, a very competitive one at that, the Sealion 7 holds its own. Raising BYD brand awareness it seems has been very successful and the relatively keen pricing and 8 year / 200,000 battery warranty are powerful persuaders for purchasing one.