BYD Sealion 7 Performance Review

"How much is too much?", I found myself constantly wondering during the weekend I had with this Sealion 7.

Is it four showrooms in a market where the total car population is strictly controlled? Or perhaps it's when your SUV comes with a total of 523bhp?

Pick the 'Performance' variant of the Sealion 7 and you get 20-inch rims alongside additional red brake callipers for the front wheels

All ready

Regardless of how overambitious your estimate of the firm's efforts here in Singapore may be, its success in the past years is impossible to deny: A mere six of them have passed between the arrival of the e6 here in Singapore and its climb to the top of local sales charts. And the firm is now throwing its bid for a share of the local performance SUV segment with this Sealion 7.

For those interested (as I'm sure many are), here's a quick preamble: It measures 4,830mm and 1,925mm wide, and combines a high-riding body with a gently sloping rear to offer a silhouette that we have seen from cars such as the Peugeot 408.

But with 523bhp on offer (a 308bhp variant is also available here), this BYD is more likely to be contesting for the cheques of shoppers that would have otherwise purchased premium options like the Polestar 4 or the Kia EV6.

A tough crowd then, but this Sealion is not stepping into the fray unarmed.

The centre console of the BYD Sealion 7 comes equipped with an inductive smartphone charger as well as physical buttons to select the drive mode and level of regenerative braking

Packed with goodies

Quite the opposite, in fact. The Sealion 7's spec sheet reads very much like what you'd expect from a premium product. It comes with features including ventilated seats, a sizeable 15.6-inch infotainment screen, a panoramic glass roof, and a PM2.5 filtration system, alongside a long list of driver assistance systems.

And the execution is commendable. BYD has turned down overall flamboyance when it comes to cabin design from the Atto 3 here, a move that I think is all the better to bring to light the high material quality that has been deployed here. 

The Sealion 7's cabin is a thoroughly practical space as well. Those seats come with cushy bolsters, and while the infotainment unit is not going to win awards for intuitiveness, it is responsive to inputs.

Don't like the fact that there's no physical buttons to adjust those all-important air-conditioning settings? There's no need even to tap on the quick access bar at the bottom of the screen: A three-finger swipe upwards or downwards will allow you to change the temperature, while horizontal swipes adjust the fan speed.

The car's 15.6-inch infotainment system is responsive but utilises a variety of layouts for its sub-menus, hurting intuitiveness

Sleek and capable

All this means that you won't be distracted from the main job at hand - driving. And this Sealion 7 is one pleasing thing to pilot, if you don't expect any sporty handling that is. 

The ride here is pliant and combines with a steering that is a touch on the light side. This makes the Sealion 7 always effortless to drive whether you're stuck in traffic or simply cruising down a curvier road, but the setup and tall riding position also inspires little confidence should you need to take turns at speed.

And further emphasising the car's more relaxed orientation is the fact that power is always delivered in a smooth and progressive fashion, no matter how hard you abuse the accelerator pedal.

The 12-speaker Dynaudio system in the BYD Sealion 7 offers impressive clarity

Those seeking a one-pedal driving experience will also leave disappointed. The greater of the two levels of regenerative braking offered in the Sealion 7 is closer to what you'd get in the second lowest setting of other cars.

But you can take consolation in the fact that the Sealion 7's cabin is remarkably quiet even when compared to other electric vehicles, and it's also easy to place on the road despite its size. One final note about driving this SUV: Rearward visibility is outright woeful thanks to that raked roofline. Be sure to check the feed from the rear camera to ensure that nothing is hidden by the car's tall rear before you reverse into any lot.

Quite the steal

The BYD Sealion 7 will delight those looking for and SUV with plenty of power and an extensive feature list coupled with a soft and quiet ride

So, could this be your next family SUV? This 'Performance' variant of the Sealion 7 marks itself out as an interesting proposition for those looking for a powerful electric SUV, with an irresistible asking price of just $229,888 - a significant discount against the $380,000 'Long Range Dual Motor' variant of the Polestar 4.

The Polestar, of course, counters with a larger battery and comes with a more upmarket badge on its bonnet. But I fear these won't be enough to justify that price difference for many.

And there's one other thing to consider: Pick the $204,888 'Premium' variant of the Sealion 7 and you'll still get a healthy 308bhp to play with, while losing none of this car's safety and driver assistance features or making any compromise when it comes to battery capacity or charging speed. And I seriously doubt you'll find yourself wanting for that additional 215bhp, not when the Sealion 7 comes with such a comfort-oriented drive to begin with.

Throw in the fact that you'll pay a smaller road tax bill with the less powerful 'Premium' variant and it does become hard to recommend this 523bhp SUV. Make no mistake, it's a capable car that offers a lot for the price. But it might just be a little bit too much.

Shopping for an electric SUV? You might also be interested in these alternatives:

The XPENG G6 comes with unique exterior and offers plenty of space for all passengers

There's also the Volkswagen ID.5 to consider, with its healthy range and competent drive

Or perhaps the Audi SQ8 might be what you're after if you're looking for something a little more sporty