2025 BYD Sealion 7 Performance Review

When you hear the term Performance attached to an electric car, you think Tesla, right? The Model 3 variant is seriously quick and can outrun ICE-powered supercars (at least to 100km/h). And Tesla has just unleashed its latest Model Y Performance variant too. Its 0-100 time is now 3.5sec, down from 3.8sec previously. Part of the reason it is so fast is its weight, similar to that of the Long Range AWD dual-motor Model Y that scales up at two tonnes. There’s no price yet for the Performance variant but the Long Range model goes for around $80k including ORCs. And even that can get to 100 from stopped in 4.8sec.

It vies then with this vehicle, the BYD Sealion 7 Performance. Like the Model Y, it too uses a saloon platform, the Seal, with which it shares many of its components. 

This gets a slightly bigger battery (83kWh) of the Blade LFP variety compared with the Tesla’s 82kWh NMC type. The latter offers more range of 533km compared with 456km for the SL7P. Reasons? Aeros, battery chemistry, software tech, motor efficiency and weight all play a part, with the BYD scaling up at 2340kg. However, the Sealion 7
has greater output (390kW/690Nm versus 378kW/493Nm) which makes it a touch quicker, with a quoted sprint time of 4.5sec (confirmed at 4.45sec). 

As to the Performance name tag? It can’t really compete with the figures of the Model Y Performance. A sprint time of 4.5sec is quick but not blistering, and ditto the 3sec overtake. Bigger heavier EVs like these take a bit of stopping too. A best of 37m was all we could manage. That said, this is a solid five-star ANCAP car. 

With energy use of around 22kWh/100km that means around 400km of range if you’re doing open road speeds mainly. With in-town running, figure closer to 450km. You really need a wall charger for this. We attached the supplied emergency device and a refill from 40 per cent was going to take around 45 hours. 

How does the base Sealion 7 Premium Extended Range model compare? It gets by with a 230kW/380Nm single-motor RWD powertrain. That’s the same as the dual-motor Performance AWD version gets. Only that model adds a 160kW/310Nm motor up front. With just the single motor, the Premium model still manages 0-100 in 6.7sec, and touring range on its 83kWh battery pack is 482km. The extra 30km is largely because it weighs 115kg less. 

It also undercuts its faster sib by $12k. Despite that, standard specification is much the same for the pair. The Premium runs on 19-inch rims versus the 20s for the Performance model. The latter gets red calipers, a heated wheel and heated back seats. Otherwise, they’re the same on spec. Each gets a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, a panoramic sunroof with blind, a head-up display, leather-clad seating with front heaters, and double glazing for the windscreen and front doors. As a result, we couldn’t elicit an SPL level exceeding 68dB, despite the wide rubber. You’ll struggle to find a car that’s quieter than this for the price.

Both have practicality covered off nicely as well, with a 58L frunk complementing a 500-1789L boot space that’s accessible by a gesture-control powered fifth door. And room for three adults in the back. 

Up front feels a bit special. There’s a huge 15.6-inch rotating central control screen and a flat bottomed, leather-bound wheel. 

Expect the usual overbearing eye for distraction. The camera is on the A pillar. We used tape to nix that as you can’t cancel it. The pillars are large and can hide other road users so just beware. 

It’s an easy enough car to run. Unlock it by key fob or touch pad, step inside, select D and you’re away. At the end, hit P and power down the vehicle with the stop button. Seat comfort is great, as is ride quality with its frequency selective dampers. Once you turn off all the ‘Lane’ aids, it steers well too, with good on-centre feel and weighting. The AWD grip adds confidence. 

Everyone was complimentary about the look. And they’re right. There’s the suave coupe style roof, the X-motif up front, and the bubble lights at the back. It’s sizable too, with a wheelbase nearing 3m and an overall length of 4830mm. 

Bottom line? If you really want AWD for a good reason, then you won’t consider the Premium model. But otherwise, we can’t quite see why you’d want to spend the extra over the as-well-equipped base model. It’s loaded and feels just as premium at a more enticing $67,990. 

Not quite ready for the full EV experience? Some of the modern PHEVs on offer now have quite good electric range to go with stellar touring range (over 1000km). Moreover, they can be rezipped overnight, even on an emergency charger. An example is the Sealion 6 with its Super Hybrid DM technology. It has 80km of range on its 18kWh LFP battery, and fuel use as low as 1.4L/100km if you recharge regularly during town running. With system power of 238kW and 550Nm it’s quicker than the SL7Premium with a 0-100 time of 5.9sec. Cost is $65k for the top model. Not quite as much space, sure, but this model comes standard with AWD as well. Some good new energy choices from BYD then.  

BYD Sealion 7 AWD Performance
$79,990  /  0L/100km  /  0g/km
0-100 km/h 4.5s
System output  390kW / 690Nm
Transmission  Single-speed auto, AWD
Weight (claimed)  2340kg