BYD Sealion 7 [UK] (2025)

BYD has been pioneering battery technology for over two decades, making it an established market leader; it has already sold more than nine million new-energy vehicles (BEV and PHEV). The Blade Battery is the industry-leading result of BYD's unwavering commitment to technical progress through huge investment in research and development.

Developed in house by BYD, the Blade Battery is designed to deliver class-leading safety, durability, performance and packaging. The technology is incredibly space efficient, with cells installed directly into the pack, instead of being fitted in multiple modules. This allows more cells to be squeezed into the same area than with a conventional battery construction - while still resulting in a slim pack that helps BYD's engineers and designers to optimise the SEALION 7's cabin space.

In addition, the Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as a cathode material. LFP has higher levels of safety and durability compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, while also being 100% free of cobalt, a material that has raised ethical and environmental concerns in the mining industry.

LFP batteries are also more resistant to extreme temperatures, less sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and can withstand more charge and discharge cycles with hardly any loss of capacity, making them particularly durable.

BYD's expertise with this chemistry means it is the only brand able to deliver the SEALION 7's mix of high performance and environmentally friendly credentials.

The Blade Battery construction has an exceptional safety level, since it exceeds the requirements of the punishing Nail Penetration Test - a rigorous method of evaluating battery thermal runaway and simulating the consequences of a serious road accident.

On top of the Blade Battery itself, the SEALION 7, like the SEAL, benefits from BYD's pioneering Cell-to-Body (CTB) battery installation - a key technical difference compared with other EVs. Instead of a traditional layout, CTB integrates the Blade Battery into the entire vehicle structure, with the top cover of the pack also acting as the floor of the passenger compartment. CTB features a high-strength honeycomb-like aluminium structure, enhancing safety - and using the battery pack as a structural component also helps to deliver incredible torsional stiffness.

WORLD'S FASTEST MASS-PRODUCTION E-MOTOR, UP TO 23,000 RPM OF MOTOR SPEED

The heart of any high-performance vehicle is its motor, and BYD's engineering experience has delivered a stunning technical tour de force to power the BYD SEALION 7. Thanks to a range of high-tech achievements, including dual V-shaped magnets and an incredibly high slot-fill rate of 92% with flat wire winding, the SEALION 7's rear motor can run at speeds of up to 23,000 rpm, making it the world's fastest electric motor in mass production.

This high technology, which allows the SEALION 7 to have both strong acceleration and a high top speed while still using a single-speed gearbox, would normally only feature in luxury models costing twice as much. Yet the SEALION 7 remains premium but accessible.

This motor produces 230 kW and 380 Nm of torque, and plays a key role in both drive configurations. It's the single motor in the rear-wheel-drive Comfort version of the SEALION 7, which can reach 0-62 mph in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 133 mph.

Then, in the Design AWD and Excellence AWD editions, this motor is joined by a further 160 kW unit on the front axle, delivering all-wheel drive and a combined output of 390 kW and 690 Nm of torque. The top speed of these cars is also 133 mph, but the additional punch cuts the 0-62 mph time to just 4.5 seconds.

MORE THAN 300 MILES OF RANGE, AND BYD'S FASTEST CHARGING IN EUROPE

The new BYD SEALION 7 is being offered with a choice of two battery capacities and when combined with the powertrain options, this will allow customers to choose between accessibility, performance and outright range. The rear-wheel-drive Comfort spec and all-wheel-drive Design AWD models feature a 82.5 kWh Blade Battery. That's enough, in the single-motor version, for a WLTP combined range of 300 miles, while the two-motor Design AWD returns a WLTP figure of 283 miles.

The range-topping Excellence AWD gets a larger battery pack, with a capacity of 91.3 kWh. This means that as well as matching the stronger performance of Design AWD, the Excellence AWD version has the longest range of any SEALION 7, at 312 miles.

All versions of the SEALION 7 get 11 kW three-phase AC charging as standard, and there's a choice of DC rapid-charging rates. Comfort and Design editions can be recharged at up to 150 kW, allowing the battery to be recharged from 10% to 80% in 32 minutes. The larger-battery Excellence AWD can reach speeds of 230 kW when hooked up to a DC ultra-fast charging station. With this potential, the Excellence AWD's larger battery can actually be recharged from 10% to 80% of its capacity in just 24 minutes.

The Blade Battery and CTB construction play a key part in the BYD SEALION 7's technical make-up, but the new model also benefits from BYD's innovative electric drivetrain, which integrates many of the key electrical control and management components into one device, improving efficiency and aiding packaging. There's also a highly efficient heat pump as standard across the line-up, which uses waste heat from the electric powertrain to help maximise range, particularly in cold conditions.

CUTTING-EDGE CHASSIS TECH MEANS SECURE, ENGAGING DYNAMICS

The BYD SEALION 7 makes full use of its e-Platform 3.0 architecture to deliver a rewarding drive and engaging dynamics. The Cell-to-Body construction helps to deliver not only exceptional torsional rigidity but also a low centre of gravity, while the suspension configuration - double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear axle - is tailored for excellent handling and secure vehicle control.

The SEALION 7 is the latest BYD model in Europe to be equipped with Frequency Sensitive Dampers (FSD). This variable system controls the oil flow in the damper cylinders, ensuring a relatively firm set-up on smoother surfaces to improve stability and handling, but allowing a softer, more compliant configuration when the SEALION 7 encounters potholes or scarred road surfaces.

The SEALION 7's dynamics are also enhanced by a new Intelligent Torque Adaption Control (iTAC) system, which is offered on all-wheel-drive versions. It works by intelligently allocating torque, using torque shift, reducing torque and even applying negative torque to boost stability. This improves safety and enhances the BYD SEALION 7's driving experience.

The car has four operating modes, for a variety of driving preferences and situations.

• ECO mode, which focuses on efficiency and extending the range as much as possible
• Normal mode, with a balanced approach for everyday use
• Sport mode, which delivers stronger response in acceleration
• Snow mode, which maximises traction on slippery surfaces

SPACIOUS, VERSATILE AND COMFORTABLE CABIN

The BYD SEALION 7's raised SUV design helps to deliver outstanding cabin space and practicality, making it a particularly relevant family-car option for European customers. Its overall length of 4,830 mm and a long wheelbase measuring 2,930 mm (10 mm longer than even the BYD SEAL), plus the e-Platform 3.0's completely flat rear floor, ensure space in the cabin for five adults. The Cell-to-Body construction and the compact Blade Battery mean the floor remains relatively thin for such a high-range EV, allowing generous amounts of headroom, despite the rakish roofline.

It's easy to get comfortable in the SEALION 7. The steering wheel has four-way adjustment and the driver's seat is electrically adjustable in eight directions, as well as offering four-way power-adjustable lumbar support. The front seats also feature ventilation and heating as standard. In the rear, the seat backs and padding have been optimised, along with the seat-back angle, to minimise fatigue on long journeys.

The cabin is designed to shield occupants from the environment around them, with double-layered laminated glass in the front doors - optimised for sound and heat insulation - and privacy glass in the rears. But there's plenty of natural light from above, thanks to a large panoramic sunroof, and an electric blind provides shade and comfort on warmer days. And the high-quality, premium materials and finishes ensure a comfortable, relaxing environment in all weathers.

The BYD SEALION 7's boot capacity is a useful 520 litres with the rear seats in place, and lowering them extends this volume to 1,789 litres. There's also a 58-litre front boot ('frunk') that's ideal for storing charging cables or even an overnight bag, while the cabin itself has more than 20 cubbyholes for keeping smaller items secure yet accessible, including an area for smartphones, at the base of the dashboard, that includes a wireless charging pad. Front occupants can access a centre armrest storage box, along with a semi-open space beneath the lower fascia.

LATEST IN-CAR AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE TECH, WITH IMPROVED USABILITY

BYD has already earned a reputation with European buyers for providing class-leading levels of in-car technology, and the SEALION 7 is set to enhance that reputation further. The centre of the new model's dashboard houses a 15.6-inch screen that, in one of BYD's signature features, can rotate between portrait and landscape orientation.

It features BYD's latest software, which brings a revised interface that can show a full 3D rendering of the car. This, in turn, allows users to act on visual cues to activate items, such as pressing on the windows or doors, instead of searching through a list of functions.

Other improvements include better support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; they are now more fully integrated into BYD's own system and interface, so users can access smartphone-based music streaming directly from BYD's menus, and content like navigation instructions and song information can be displayed on the BYD SEALION 7's 10.25-inch digital instrument panel - as well as on the Head-Up Display that features in Excellence AWD versions of the car. That HUD can also display speed, the speed limit, adaptive-cruise data and warnings for assistance features like the lane-departure and blind-spot monitoring systems.

Ease of use is further enhanced by the latest iteration of BYD's voice control system. In the SEALION 7 the software actually operates on a four-zone basis, allowing it to work out who in the vehicle is giving commands. With this system, both of the front occupants can give commands to raise and lower the cabin temperature, as well as interacting with the in-car entertainment and navigation - and they can choose to allow those sitting in the rear seats to have the same access.

The central infotainment screen has fresh customisation options too; there's a wider range of backgrounds, including dynamic wallpaper that changes during every 24-hour period. And the immersion of the music is enhanced by a 12-speaker audio system developed in conjunction with renowned Danish speaker specialist Dynaudio.

The SEALION 7 is packed with driver-assistance and safety technologies. BYD's DiPilot 10 suite integrates a mixture of wave radar sensors and a multifunctional video system to help deliver intelligent driver assistance, such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist, that operates in a more natural fashion.

Every BYD SEALION 7 comes with front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, intelligent speed-limit control, forward and rear-collision warning, front and rear cross-traffic alert and cross-traffic braking, lane departure warning, intelligent high-beam light control, blind-spot detection, automatic emergency braking, driver fatigue management, door-opening warning, lane centring control and driver-distraction warning.

The in-cabin safety features include 11 airbags, along with ISOFIX connectors on the outer rear seats and front passenger seat, child-presence detection, pre-tensioned and height-adjustable front seat belts, pre-tensioned rear seat belts, an electronic child-safety lock and an e-call emergency call system.

GENEROUS STANDARD-EQUIPMENT LISTS/RANGE STRUCTURE

The BYD SEALION 7's range structure is based on the three technical specifications, with the choice of battery capacities and rear- or all-wheel drive. With that in mind, all versions of the SEALION 7 have an incredibly generous standard-equipment list, with numerous premium features included that would be cost options elsewhere in the market.

The most accessible SEALION 7, Comfort, comes with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, BYD's rotatable touchscreen measuring 15.6 inches, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, wireless smartphone charging, a pair of USB ports for both front and rear passengers, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology that allows you to power domestic items (up to 3.3 kW) like a small fridge, fairy lights or even a coffee machine.

The main difference between Comfort and Design spec is that Comfort cars have 19-inch alloy wheels, while Design models feature 20-inch wheels. And the standout features of Excellence compared with the other two versions are Nappa leather seats instead of vegan leather, and a head-up display.

Four exterior colours will be offered - Atlantis Grey, Indigo Grey, Polar White and Space Black - along with two interior colours, Black and Tahiti Blue. The Tahiti Blue interior colour is only available on Excellence AWD version.

All versions of the BYD SEALION 7 are offered with excellent warranty conditions as standard, consisting of a six-year manufacturer's warranty and eight years for the battery and electric motor.