BYD Sealion 7 Review

The current Malaysian D-segment pure electric SUV market is gradually heating up. Consumers want the space and comfort of a mid-to-large SUV, but they are also unwilling to compromise on intelligent configurations and range. The 2024 BYD Sealion 7 Premium, as a new entrant in this market, quickly caught the attention of family users and tech enthusiasts with its 2930mm long wheelbase, official range of 567km, and the standard DiPilot driver assistance system. In this test drive, we focus on its static quality, dynamic driving performance, and daily usability to see if it can hold its ground amidst the competition in its class.

At first glance, the Sealion 7 Premium's overall design leans toward a restrained sense of technology. The front face adopts a closed design, paired with angular LED headlight assemblies on both sides. The horizontal air intake at the bottom enhances the layer of the car's front. The side of the vehicle has smooth lines, with the waistline extending from the A-pillar to the rear, making the 4830mm vehicle length not appear bulky. The 19-inch dual-tone wheels add a touch of a sporty feel. The rear's horizontal LED taillight is a design highlight, offering high recognizability when lit. The hidden exhaust layout below (despite being an electric car, the design continues the logic of fuel cars) and the diffuser design further reinforce the vehicle's grandeur. The overall exterior design avoids excessive exaggerated lines, which aligns more closely with the aesthetic preferences of family users for mid-to-large SUVs.

Upon entering the cabin, the interior style of the Sealion 7 Premium is simple yet well-crafted. The center console is covered in soft-touch materials, accented with silver trim, which feels comfortable to the touch. The 15.6-inch rotatable central control screen serves as the interior's core, supporting horizontal and vertical screen switching. The built-in DiLink intelligent system operates smoothly, and commonly used functions such as navigation and music can be easily accessed. The 10.25-inch full-liquid crystal instrument panel displays information clearly and provides real-time data on the range, speed, and driver assistance status. The HUD head-up display eliminates the need for frequent glances down at the instrument panel, enhancing driving safety. The seat configurations are also commendable. The front driver's seat supports 8-way electric adjustment, the passenger seat offers 6-way electric adjustment, and the rear seats are equipped with 6-way electric adjustments as well. This feature is quite rare among its same-class competitors, allowing rear passengers to easily find a comfortable seating position.

Space performance is one of the core advantages of the Sealion 7 Premium. A 2930mm wheelbase provides spacious seating for both front and rear passengers. A person with a height of 175cm sitting in the front row has about a fist and two fingers of headroom; in the rear row, there’s over two fists of legroom and an additional fist of headroom, ensuring that even with five passengers, the cabin doesn't feel cramped. In terms of storage capacity, the center console storage box in the front row is sizable, accommodating daily carry-ons. The door storage compartments can hold water bottles and smaller items. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 500 liters, which can easily fit three 28-inch suitcases. By folding down the rear seats, the storage space expands significantly, meeting the needs for family road trips or transporting large items. Additionally, USB charging ports and air vents are equipped for both the front and rear rows, showing thoughtful attention to detail.

For dynamic performance, the Sealion 7 Premium is equipped with a rear single motor delivering a maximum power of 230kW and a peak torque of 380N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 6.7 seconds. During actual driving, the vehicle launches smoothly, and the throttle (electric pedal) responds linearly. The acceleration performance in the low-to-mid-speed range is excellent, making urban commuting or highway overtaking effortless. The vehicle offers three driving modes: Eco, Standard, and Sport. In Eco mode, the power output is relatively mild, making it suitable for daily commuting. In Sport mode, the power response significantly improves, providing a more robust acceleration experience.

The chassis adopts a front double-wishbone + rear multi-link independent suspension combination, with tuning biased towards comfort. When driving on bumpy roads, the suspension effectively filters out fine vibrations. Even when encountering speed bumps or rough road sections, the body exhibits no significant bouncing. The steering feel is moderate with little play, and the body remains stable while cornering, with no noticeable body roll, providing the driver with sufficient confidence. The braking performance is also commendable, with a moderately long brake pedal travel, linear braking force release, and a stable vehicle posture without drifting during sudden braking.

In terms of range, the official CLTC range is rated at 567km. In our tests, which included a mix of 50% urban roads and 50% highways, with air conditioning set to 24°C and two passengers onboard, the actual range was approximately 490km, achieving over 86% of the rated range, which meets expectations. For fast charging, it only takes 32 minutes (about 0.53 hours) to charge from 30% to 80%, so you won't have to wait long even at highway service stations. Energy consumption performance is average, with power consumption of around 16kWh/100km on urban roads and about 19kWh/100km on highways, which is reasonable for its 2.6-ton weight.

Regarding driving comfort details, the NVH control of the Sealion 7 Premium is quite good. At speeds below 60km/h, there is almost no noticeable wind noise or road noise; while at high speeds, wind noise slightly increases, though it remains within an acceptable range. The seat cushioning is soft and provides sufficient support, ensuring long-distance journeys remain comfortable. The regenerative braking system offers three adjustable levels, and even at the highest setting, the drag feeling is not overly abrupt, making it suitable for daily driving habits.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2024 BYD Sealion 7 Premium include its spacious interior, rich configurations, and balanced dynamic performance. Compared to the same class Tesla Model Y rear-wheel drive version (priced around RM209,000), the Sealion 7 Premium is approximately RM26,000 cheaper, while offering additional features such as electrically adjustable rear seats, HUD head-up display, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, making it more cost-effective. Its 2930mm wheelbase also provides a rear space that is more suitable for family usage than the Model Y.

This car is more suitable for family users who value space, configuration, and practicality, especially those who frequently travel with full loads or have higher requirements for rear-seat comfort. For users who pursue extreme acceleration performance, the Performance version with higher specifications may be considered, but the Premium version's power performance is sufficient to meet the needs of most daily usage scenarios.

In summary, the 2024 BYD Sealion 7 Premium is a well-rounded and pragmatic mid-to-large-sized pure electric SUV. It has no obvious shortcomings, yet demonstrates great sincerity in its space, configuration, and cost-effectiveness, making it a model worth focusing on when selecting a pure electric SUV for family use.