BYD Sealion 7 Review: The Luxury Electric SUV That Rewrites The Rules

BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla last year. Let that sink in… The Chinese company that started making batteries for Nokia phones is now the world’s largest EV manufacturer. The BYD Sealion 7 is their bid to crack India’s luxury market, and after a day behind the wheel, it’s clear they’ve done their homework.

This isn’t another story about Chinese brands trying to compete with German engineering. BYD has moved past that conversation entirely. They’re writing their own playbook, and the Sealion 7 is chapter one.

BYD Sealion 7 Key Features: High Quality Build That Matters

The BYD Sealion 7 feels expensive the moment you touch it. Paint depth is excellent, panel alignment is precise, and everything has the solid thunk of quality construction. At 4.8 metres long, it has proper road presence without looking overdone.

The coupe-SUV proportions work because someone thought about aerodynamics, not just styling trends. Those connected taillights aren’t just pretty; they’re part of a cohesive design language that flows from nose to tail. The flush door handles operate smoothly and add to the premium feel.

This looks like a car that costs more than its ₹48.9-54.9 lakh price tag suggests. That’s not hyperbole; it’s the first thing everyone notices.

BYD Sealion 7 Interiors: Where The Money Shows

Open the door and you’re greeted by Nappa leather seats that rival anything from Munich or Stuttgart. The cushioning hits the sweet spot between firm support and all-day comfort. Both heating and ventilation work quickly and quietly.

The 15.6-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, rotating between portrait and landscape orientations. But here’s what BYD got right: physical buttons for climate control, drive modes, and other essentials. Someone clearly spent time thinking about real-world usability.

The driver’s position is spot-on. Good visibility all around despite the sloping roofline, comfortable reach to all controls, proper lumbar support. The rear seats offer generous legroom and individual climate controls. The panoramic glass roof makes everything feel airy, though the powered blind is essential in Delhi heat.

Storage is thoughtful throughout. Multiple USB ports, wireless charging with cooling to prevent overheating, and practical cubby spaces where you need them.

Technology That Actually Works

The Dynaudio sound system delivers genuine hi-fi quality. Crisp highs, solid bass, excellent imaging.

The driver monitoring system reads more than just eye movement. It tracks posture, attention levels, and fatigue with impressive accuracy. When it suggests a break, listen. The 360-degree camera system is crystal clear, making tight parking effortless.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integrate seamlessly, though they only work in landscape mode. The heads-up display shows relevant information without clutter. ADAS features work smoothly, intervening only when necessary.

BYD Sealion 7 Performance: When Physics Gets Personal

Press start and the Sealion 7 awakens silently. No engine rumble, just quiet electronics coming online. Select Drive and it glides forward like quality machinery should.

Then you discover what 530 horsepower feels like when delivered instantly.

The Performance variant launches with shocking violence. Zero to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds, but it’s the manner that surprises. No wheelspin, no drama, just relentless acceleration that slams you into perfectly shaped seats. The all-wheel-drive system distributes power with computer precision, sending torque where needed faster than physics should allow.

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What’s remarkable is how composed it remains. This car can humiliate sports cars in a straight line while maintaining limousine refinement. Power delivery is smooth and progressive, building like a wave rather than hitting like a hammer.

The single-motor Premium version offers 310 horsepower, which still provides effortless overtaking and smooth acceleration that makes daily driving genuinely pleasant.

BYD Sealion 7: Road Manners

Delhi’s roads test every car mercilessly, and the BYD Sealion 7 handles them with composure. The suspension has firmness that suggests European tuning without being harsh. Potholes get absorbed, broken pavement gets smoothed out.

Despite weighing 2.3 tonnes, it never feels unwieldy thanks to the floor-mounted battery’s low centre of gravity. The steering is precise and properly weighted, going exactly where you point without argument.

There’s some body roll in corners because this prioritises comfort over sharpness, but it never feels unstable. Highway cruising reveals the car’s true character. At 120 kph, the cabin is whisper quiet, the ride smooths completely, and efficiency improves markedly.

Regenerative braking integrates seamlessly with the friction system. The default setting works perfectly for most situations, though adjustment options exist for different preferences.

Range Reality

The 82.56kWh battery promises 542-567km depending on variant. Real-world Delhi driving yielded 400-450km, which is honest given traffic and heat. Highway cruising in cooler weather would likely achieve closer to claimed figures.

The 150kW fast charging capability works well when compatible stations are available. The supplied 7kW home wallbox feels slow for such a large battery, but overnight charging handles most daily needs.

Vehicle-to-load functionality can power camping equipment or provide emergency home backup power. Sounds gimmicky until you need it.

BYD Sealion 7 Price In India And Value Equation

At its price point of ₹48.9-54.9 lakh, the Sealion 7 makes European competitors look overpriced. BMW iX1 costs more with less power. Mercedes EQA costs more with less space. Kia EV6 costs more with fewer features.

BYD’s service network remains smaller than established luxury brands, potentially concerning for buyers outside major cities. The company is expanding rapidly, but service accessibility should be considered.

The Bigger Picture

After a day with the BYD Sealion 7, I kept thinking about badges. Not the BYD one on the hood, but the mental badges we assign to brands. BMW means ultimate driving machine. Mercedes means luxury. Tesla means innovation. What does BYD mean?

Based on this car, it means getting more for your money without the usual compromises. The performance genuinely impressed me. The interior quality matched cars costing significantly more. The technology worked without frustration.

BYD built this car while established manufacturers were still debating electric timelines. No legacy baggage, no hundred-year-old factories to keep busy. Just focused execution on what an electric luxury SUV should be in 2025.

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The BYD Sealion 7 isn’t perfect. The service network needs expansion, brand perception takes time to build, and some buyers will always prefer familiar names. But the product itself needs no apologies.

If you can get past the badge, you’ll find an electric SUV that offers more performance, space, and features than anything else at this price. That’s not marketing speak. That’s just math.