BYD Sealion 7 Excellence review: Well roared, sea lion

A TEST REPORT from Dominic Lux on June 24, 2025, 10:00 am | Write a comment

Picture: TechnikNews

The BYD Sealion 7 marks another important step for BYD toward the European mid-range segment – with a focus on design, technology, and efficiency. With its clean SUV coupe design, modern interior, and a host of assistance systems, the Sealion 7 aims to impress not only visually but also technically. Particularly exciting: the new 800-volt system for ultrafast charging and the in-house Blade battery. Our detailed test reveals whether the Sealion 7 has what it takes to become a true Tesla and VW competitor.

tl;dr: The most important things about the BYD Sealion 7 at a glance

The BYD Sealion 7 Excellence AWD delivers a whopping 510 hp and sprints off powerfully in Sport mode; the acceleration time is typically BYD and can be read directly from the rear. With up to 230 kW charging capacity and finally integrated charging route planning including preconditioning, BYD demonstrates its progressiveness. In the test, the charging capacity averaged 165 kW. Consumption fluctuated between 22 and 24 kWh/100 km in everyday driving – not particularly efficient. The suspension feels too soft, and the steering could be more precise. The interior quality is good, and the 360-degree cameras impress with their high resolution. The rotating BYD display remains a nice gimmick, but doesn't add any real value.

After two weeks of testing, our conclusion remains: a well-made electric SUV with a decent overall package. But there are clear weaknesses in the chassis, steering, and assistance systems. The BYD Seal makes a better overall impression when driving. Then there's the price-competitive competition from home. While we've only seen it in static form so far, we can already say that it will deliver the better overall package. We're talking about the Smart #5 Brabus, it offers more power, storage space and probably better software as well as a Sennheiser Dolby Atmos sound system.

Video report:

Design: European refinement meets striking SUV format

Visually, the BYD Sealion 7 is impressive: The SUV coupe appears modern, dynamic, and elegant at the same time—no coincidence, since none other than Wolfgang Egger is responsible for the design. The former Audi and Alfa Romeo designer clearly brings his European touch: a flat front end, sharp lines, and a coupe-like silhouette with a sporty rear end. Particularly successful are the clean LED lights at the front and rear, as well as the powerful shoulder line, which gives the Sealion 7 a powerful appearance. The large wheels and harmonious proportions also contribute to the BYD being on par with its European competitors, not only technically but also visually.

Continue reading: Leapmotor i C10 Irmscher review: 598 hp and visual upgrade

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

Interior: High-quality workmanship, but not entirely free of gimmicks

The interior of the BYD Sealion 7 once again demonstrates the company's ambition to compete in the top league. The materials appear largely high-quality, everything is cleanly crafted and well-assembled. The seats, steering wheel, and surfaces convey a solid sense of quality, as one would expect from established premium manufacturers. The large, rotating central display is a striking feature – a typical BYD trademark. While it creates a bit of a wow factor, in everyday use the rotating function proves more of a gimmick than a practical feature. Operation is generally satisfactory, but some menus could be more intuitive. Space is generous both in the front and rear, and the trunk volume is on par with its class. Particularly praiseworthy are the razor-sharp 360-degree cameras, which make parking easier – even if a parking assistant is unfortunately missing. Overall, the interior offers plenty of comfort and good quality, but also some room for improvement in the operating logic.

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

: Picture: TechnikNews

Infotainment: Large, rotatable, but not quite mature

The infotainment system in the BYD Sealion 7 is dominated by a massive 15,6-inch touchscreen, which, like other BYD models, can be rotated to portrait or landscape format at the touch of a button. While this attracts attention and appears modern at first glance, it proves to be more of a gimmick in everyday use. Many functions are only accessible via the touchscreen, and traditional buttons are almost completely absent, which can be somewhat distracting while driving.

Positives: The menu navigation is quite fast, the response times are good, and the system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both wirelessly and quickly. The display is sharp, although the structure is still somewhat convoluted in places. The navigation function now finally offers charging route planning with preconditioning, which is a real improvement. Voice control is available, but didn't always respond reliably in our test.

Overall, it's a modern infotainment system with a powerful screen and good basic functionality, but it still lacks the finishing touches in terms of operating logic and smart integration. At least there's a 3D overlay with a visual representation of the functions you're currently using, including animated turn signals and headlight flashers on the display. It's a nice gimmick.

Dynaudio sound system

The Dynaudio sound system in the BYD Sealion 7 Excellence impresses with powerful, rich bass, making the sound pleasantly full and lively. There's no rattling or clattering—the quality of the speakers is clearly noticeable. However, the surround sound could be a bit better tuned. Overall, the sound feels quite frontal and precise, almost like two studio monitors hanging in front of you, rather than creating a truly immersive 3D soundscape. Nevertheless, the system offers a solid listening experience that complements the driving experience well.

: Picture: TechnikNews

Continue reading: BMW i4 eDrive40 review: really that efficient?

Driving behavior: Comfortable, but too soft and with spongy steering

The BYD Sealion 7 is generally comfortable to drive, but the suspension feels too soft for our taste. Especially in corners, the vehicle tends to rock and bounce unpleasantly, which limits the driving dynamics and the feeling of safety. This clearly needs improvement with a firmer, more precise setup. The steering also leaves mixed impressions: Even in Sport mode, it reacts rather spongily and offers little feedback, which is disappointing, especially when driving in a sporty manner.

assistance systems

The steering assistant in the BYD Sealion 7 is particularly useful on straight highway sections, where it stays in lane almost perfectly. On winding country roads, however, it shows significant weaknesses and is prone to unsafe "wobbly maneuvers," which diminishes confidence in the system. proConstruction zones are problematic: Here, the assistant often stubbornly tries to follow the white lane markings, which is not very effective. In comparison, other Chinese manufacturers such as XPENG, NIO, and Smart already offer very good to excellent semi-autonomous systems – BYD still has some catching up to do here. One positive feature is the adaptive cruise control, which works reliably, reacts correctly even when vehicles are stationary at traffic lights, and brakes gently.

Driver and head-up display

The driver display is clear and well-organized, providing all important information clearly and legibly, directly in front of the driver's eyes. The head-up display (HUD) is particularly well-designed, showing small animated arrows when navigation is active. These visual cues support orientation and could significantly simplify navigation with the onboard navigation system – especially in more complex situations or in dense city traffic. Overall, the driver and head-up displays work reliably and contribute to a comfortable driving experience.

Battery and range: Solid capacity with (above) average efficiency

The BYD Sealion 7 is equipped with the proven Blade battery with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) technology, known for its safety and durability. The total capacity is approximately 91,3 kWh net, allowing a theoretical everyday range of around 400 to 450 kilometers – depending on driving style and conditions. However, testing showed that fuel consumption was lower at 22 to 24 kWh. pro 100 kilometers is more in the average to slightly above-average range. This doesn't make the Sealion a miracle of efficiency, but it does provide reliable ranges that are more than sufficient for everyday use.

A positive feature is the 800-volt charging system, which allows charging power of up to 230 kW, thus enabling fast recharging. In practical testing, the charging power was mostly around 165 kW, which is still very decent and allows for faster stopovers. The combination of a modern battery and fast charging makes the Sealion 7 suitable for longer distances, although efficiency still has some room for improvement.

BYD Sealion 7 Excellence review: Well roared, sea lion

tl;dr: The most important things about the BYD Sealion 7 at a glance

Video report:

Design: European refinement meets striking SUV format

Interior: High-quality workmanship, but not entirely free of gimmicks

Infotainment: Large, rotatable, but not quite mature

Dynaudio sound system

Driving behavior: Comfortable, but too soft and with spongy steering

assistance systems

Driver and head-up display

Battery and range: Solid capacity with (above) average efficiency

Share

Latest Comments

Table of Contents

Follow us:

BYD Sealion 7 Excellence review: Well roared, sea lion

tl;dr: The most important things about the BYD Sealion 7 at a glance

Video report:

Design: European refinement meets striking SUV format

Share

Latest Comments

Table of Contents