Road tested By Hugh Maguire.
It would seem there is no stopping the advance of BYD into the European and Irish marketplace. Just three years ago no one had ever heard of them yet now they outsell Tesla! Ever since my first road test of the Atto 3 some three years ago I could see they were going places. Their model range keeps getting better and better and it also seems they are very quick to adapt to what the customer wants whereas many legacy manufacturers take years and years to make relatively small changes.
So to their latest arrival the Sealion 7. I had the opportunity drive their new SUV at the Irish press launch in Co Kildare and I came away impressed.
This is would you believe their 5th model in two years!
Like all BYD cars its an EV. Entry to the BYD Sealion 7 range begins with a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive ‘Comfort’ edition, followed by two all-wheel-drive models: ‘Design’ and ‘Excellence’, each fitted with a selection of all-inclusive standard specifications. Prices begin from €45,435 for the entry-level Comfort model.
The new Sealion 7 is 160mm taller and 30mm longer than its BYD Seal stablemate.
Its long, rounded roof and sleek, flowing lines carry through from front to back, punctuated by a subtle spoiler and full-width rear lights arrangement. Wheels are 19” and 20” depending on trim line. Luggage capacity is 520 litres increasing to 1,789 litres, with an additional 58-litres ‘frunk’ and 20 plus cabin storage spaces.
Ciaran Allen, sales director at MDL, the Irish distributor for BYD, said at the Irish launch the new Sealion 7 is “a sporty, family SUV that combines inner space and roominess with a muscular, athletic exterior”.
I was very impressed with the quality of the interior fixtures and fittings. All versions come equipped with a generous range of standard-equipment and safety features that include front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition and intelligent speed-limit control, amongst others. Prominent is a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment and driver assistance screen, featuring BYD’s latest software which shows a full 3D rendering of the car, allowing passengers to activate items such as windows and doors on visual cues.
Comforts include ventilated and heated front seats, and rear seats padded, angled, and optimised to minimise fatigue on long journeys. Other features include a four-way adjustable steering wheel, and a driver’s seat electrically adjustable in eight directions with four-way power-adjustable lumbar support. Double-layered laminated glass in front doors and privacy glass in the rear is optimised for sound and heat insulation. A large panoramic sunroof delivers natural light to the interior, while an electric blind provides shade and comfort on warmer days.
In addition to radio, phone, entertainment and online connectivity, other enhancements include support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the ‘Hi BYD’ voice control enables occupants to regulate cabin temperature and interact with in-car entertainment and navigation systems. Range is claimed to be in the region of 456 km to 482 km depending on model but as always take those WLTP numbers with pinch of salt.
A six-year manufacturer’s warranty and an eight year battery and electric motor warranty applies to all BYD Sealion 7 models.
More will follow when I road test the car in depth but for now its got my attention!