It’s not often that a car manages to fly under the radar while also being one of the most complete offerings in its segment, but today you join me for a review of one that does just that. You’d be forgiven for walking right past the BYD Sealion 7 Performance without noticing it’s the fast version, which might be exactly what you’re after.
I had the “vanilla” Sealion 7 not too long ago, and was very happy with it. And, if you know the Sealion 7 and its coupified-SUV looks, then the Performance version will feel instantly familiar. The cladding, the bumpers, the flowing lines — it’s all the same, just with more capability underneath. And that’s not a bad thing: it offers a clean, no-nonsense design, and there’s something genuinely refreshing about the subtlety – if you know, you know. And then, for those not in the know, then the badges at the rear will seal the deal.
Inside, things are just as understated, and virtually identical to the other trims. The cabin is full of BYD’s now-familiar touches. There is no weird theming, materials are well chosen and properly put together, including the recurrent seats with the integrated headrests and stitching. I’m a big fan of the choice of materials, the way everything is put together, and how elements like the buttresses on the doors make it not feel generic. Space at the back is great, with a good seating position, a flat floor and a full view of the uninterrupted panoramic roof.
The seats are supremely comfortable, with generous adjustment and plenty of space both front and back. The Dynaudio sound system does its job well, and the overall layout is clean and logical — functional without being overdesigned. The heated steering wheel, unavailable in other trims, is especially welcome in colder months and kept me away from having to use air conditioning the whole time, always important in any EV worth its weight.
In terms of tech, it is expected that you would see the same from the other trims, especially when the “regular” Sealion 7 is already packing so much. The rotating screen remains, as do the physical buttons on the centre console, and the full suite of controls on the steering wheel. So, to make things somewhat different this time, I decided to step away from CarPlay and only use the car’s native services for media and navigation.
Powered by Google through Android Automotive, the navigation offers reliable route planning and charging suggestions. It will project the map view on the drivers display and turn-by-turn on the HUD. There’s a range prediction on arrival, but no battery preconditioning, which makes the route planning feel slightly less intelligent than it could be, but the setting to turn that on is easy to access.
You get a great 360 camera (with easy access on the wheel), helpful voice commands, and a reliable suite of driving assists. On them, there is a quirk that still remains, unfortunately: when the car shows a new warning or feature for the first time (such as enabling ACC), it narrates the message out loud. It is loud, unnecessary, and interrupts the media you’re playing – yeah, it’s as annoying as it sounds, but I’ve been known to be nitpicky.
After having driven the whole lineup BYD offers here in New Zealand, it has become quite clear that their cars have a driving signature. And when on the move, the Sealion 7 is a clear example of what it means to check all boxes in an EV. Going for the performance version of “a normal car” usually means more cylinders, edgier driving dynamics, more aggressive looks, etc, but not here. The Performance looks, feels and drives the same as the other trims, until the moment you stomp on the throttle.
If you’re going for the Performance model expecting neck breaking, electric power delivery, you might have to look elsewhere as BYD never goes for that. Even with all of those 390 kW of power (690Nm), power delivery is progressive and measured, regardless the mode. It builds far enough to give you torque-induced-butterflies, but in a more linear, more usable manner than other brands. It makes it a bit less of a one trick pony, but still very much a drag rocket capable of a 4.5s 0-100km/h sprint.
When things get bendy, the Performance trim leans on its Michelin tyres and softly tuned suspension to deliver an impressively composed ride under the limit. Body control is mostly controlled, but I got the occasional judder in busier, choppier surfaces, potentially due to the 2340kg kerb weight. There’s zero drama from the tyres at pretty much all occasions – taking off quick, forcing under and oversteer, and even when pushing out of corners, the systems give you just enough movement—a touch of oversteer before stepping in to hold the line.
Another BYD-specific staple in regards to driving is one pedal mode – or the lack thereof. The explanation, from BYD themselves, has to do with efficiency – in their view, one pedal driving is an inefficient way of managing motors and batteries, and there are no plans of introducing the feature. Even with that, efficiency figures were average, not stellar, going from 19 to 21kWh/100km. I was again on track to reach the 500 km range mark—impressive stuff for a dual-motor AWD SUV, and surpassing the 456km claimed figure. As for other electron specs, you get a 82.56kWh usable unit, with 150/11kW charging for DC/AC and V2L.
In a civilised person’s driving regimen, this is a car that engulfs you and disappears, and that’s a compliment, as weird as it might sound. It stands out with how normal it feels to drive, which is exactly what BYD usually goes for: there are no head-scratchers, no erratic behaviours. It behaves like a sorted car from an experienced brand. That’s something not every EV, even at this price point, can claim.
The EV SUV market is busy, so it’s hard to make a mark there, but BYD continues to sharpen its offerings at a dizzying pace, and the Sealion 7 is in my opinion one of their very best. The Performance starts from what was already a very compelling product, and adds some spice with the flavour of what EVs can do best. It delivers real-world, silent performance, with comfort, efficiency, and maturity in a package that’s easy to live with, well-built, and surprisingly refined. Competition is fierce, but you cannot ignore it. Thanks, BYD, for the opportunity, and thank you for your support!
