New car review: The Sealion 7 is BYD's most premium EV yet to reach UK showrooms

The Sealion 7 is the fifth BYD model to launch in the UK and this five-seat, fully electric SUV aims to attract buyers into dealerships with its more premium finish, practicality, and strong list of standard features.

There are three versions: the rear-wheel drive Comfort with 308PS, and the all-wheel drive Design and Excellence models, both delivering 523PS.

Across the range, the Sealion 7 comes packed with standard features that will impress prospects who visit a BYD showroom for a test drive, writes Andrew Ryan.

The entry-level Comfort model includes automatic LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, parking sensors front and rear, a 360-degree camera, heated seats front and back, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, and keyless entry.

It also features a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, voice control, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

With so much kit included as standard, the step up to Design mainly adds 20-inch wheels, while the top-spec Excellence brings leather seats.

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The Sealion 7 runs on BYD’s latest infotainment software, which looks good but isn’t as user-friendly as some rivals. That said, the inclusion of physical buttons for key functions is a plus.

BYD has positioned the Sealion 7 as its most premium model, and the interior backs that up. The design is clean and refined, with enough curves and styling details to keep it from feeling dull.

Materials are good quality and well put together, creating a cohesive look. The brand’s trademark rotating infotainment screen is still here, offering a sharp, clear display.

Space is another strong point—there’s lots of room inside, especially in the back where legroom stands out. A large panoramic roof adds to the open, airy feel, and the 520-litre boot should be enough for most motorists.

All Sealion 7 models come with a solid suite of safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, forward and rear collision warnings, front cross traffic alert, door opening warning, and driver distraction monitoring.

The BYD Sealion 7 has just achieved a top-rated five star EuroNCAP safety rating following testing.

Buyers can choose from two battery sizes and two motor setups across three trims. The entry-level Comfort uses an 82.5kWh battery for a WLTP range of 300 miles, which drops to 283 miles in the all-wheel drive and twin-motor more powerful Design model.

The top-spec Excellence model keeps the twin-motor setup but adds a larger 91.3kWh battery, boosting its WLTP range to 312 miles.

There’s 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.

All models come with an 11kW AC onboard charger. Charging from 0 to 100% takes 8.6 hours for the Comfort and Design, and 9.6 hours for the Excellence.

DC fast charging varies: Comfort and Design support up to 150kW, allowing a 10–80% charge in 32 minutes. The Excellence model supports up to 230kW, cutting that time to just 24 minutes, despite its bigger battery, so it is likely to be a favourite with company car user-choosers who do significant mileage.

Pricing starts at £46,990 on-the-road for entry-level Comfort RWD trim, £51,990 for Design and £58,990 for Excellence.