7 FOR 7: 7 points about the BYD Sealion 7 I drove May 7
BYD has been a consistent global disruptor in the electric vehicle market in recent years. Google the most successful new energy vehicle (NEV) brand in the world, and the name of this Shenzhen-based manufacturer will instantly appear. Its roots trace back to 1995 when BYD started strictly as a rechargeable battery manufacturer, eventually entering the auto industry in 2003.
I witnessed BYD’s silent entry into the Philippine market, and wrote about this brand for the first time in 2013 when it was still in the hands of BEV proponent Mark Tieng. I frequently visited the BYD Shaw Boulevard dealership (a few years after the brand was introduced in the country), mainly because I needed to have the BYD EV I was test driving recharged (there were no other public charging facilities back then).
Now, more than a decade later, I was in another BYD BEV, and the brand has become a much more prominent player in the local mobility scene, riding on wave after wave of model rollouts and increased public awareness and acceptance of NEVs. This time, I was in a fully electric BYD Sealion 7, its range is nearly double the one I drove back then, and the charging infrastructure support around this one has made range anxiety nearly a thing of the past.
The 5-seater BYD Sealion 7, an all-performance EV SUV, is designed for power, efficiency, premium comfort, and style. Here are my 7 first impressions from this brief time behind the wheel.
1. Fast and furious. My personal claim to fame here was launching it on a private track from 0 to 100 kph in a blistering 4.1 seconds—even faster than its on-paper specification of 4.5 seconds! This brings me to the first notable quality of the car: The Sealion 7 is capable of churning out a massive 530 PS and a continuous rush of 690 Newton-meters of torque. The sudden acceleration sent a rush of blood to my head (BYD BEVs have a knack of doing this to me), and I’m glad a professional instructor accompanied me, to warn me about the power that was lying in wait beneath my feet. That being said, I must insist that all BEV dealerships should provide a proper orientation for first-time EV buyers. This SUV is incredibly powerful and demands much responsibility and awareness behind the wheel.
2. EV tires with a hint of compassion. Speaking of wheels, every component of the Sealion 7 is optimized for electric mobility. While onlookers will be mesmerized by its “Ocean” design language—complete with striking U-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) that provide excellent visibility for dark roads and long journeys—the side profile is equally aerodynamic, giving it a sleek, sporty stance.
But what really caught my attention was when BYD Cars Philippines’ Jan Venix Gonzalez mentioned that the aggressive 20-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. Michelin happens to be my tire brand of choice, even on my old van. For quite some time, the global vegan community has celebrated Michelin as the gold standard for cruelty-free driving because they avoid using animal-derived stearic acid. I don’t know if the brand did that out of purposeful compassion or if it was just an accidental byproduct of their engineering, but it doesn’t matter. The company has proven that utilizing plant-based alternatives across its high-performance lineup works seamlessly. You simply don’t need animal products to strengthen rubber and maintain an iron grip on the road.
3. Animal-free luxury. Continuing with that compassionate line, no animals were deprived of their hides to build the soft-touch, premium seats of this Sealion 7. That is incredibly important to me. When I drive this with my Sydney-based, animal-loving pamangkins as passengers, I can look them directly in the eye and tell them we aren’t sitting on someone else’s skin for our comfort.
4. Distinctly BYD design language. The entire Ocean Series lineup features fluid, water-inspired motions, and the Sealion 7 executes this flawlessly. If you see one in person, notice the sequence of the lights and the smooth flow of the character lines along the sides, top, and corners. The rear is just as aggressive as the front, boasting a bold, macho stance. It features a rear trunk spoiler, a roof-mounted spoiler, and sharp LEDs all around—including the taillights and the third brake light.
5. Impressive range and charging. The driving range hits a claimed 542 kilometers on a single charge. When it’s time to plug in, it supports an 11 kW max charging rate on AC power, and up to 150 kW for DC fast charging.
6. Smarter glass roof. The cabin is equipped with a panoramic glass roof featuring an electric sunshade. Interestingly, when we did the 0 to 100 kph launch a second time, the open driver’s side window automatically rolled up the moment I stepped on the accelerator. The vehicle detected the rapid increase in speed and automatically closed the window to optimize aerodynamics and cabin efficiency (and probably even passenger safety).
7. Tailor-made for the tech-savvy. The digital instrument cluster packs in a wealth of driver information: Speed, lane detection, battery percentage, remaining range, and a live energy monitor. Everything across the connectivity, audio, and display systems is highly configurable. The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) suite includes helpful safety features like intelligent cruise control, emergency lane keeping, blind spot detection, hill descent control, and lane departure warning—which you can configure to alert you via steering wheel vibrations or audio cues. It also includes forward collision mitigation, a 360-degree camera that shows exactly which doors are open, and a responsive voice command system triggered by saying, “Hi BYD.”
I know mentioning just 7 will leave you bitin. So, do your own homework and find your own “best 7” when you try out the BYD Sealion 7.
