This is the car that should have Tesla looking over its shoulder.
It’s the BYD Sealion 7, an all-electric, mid-size SUV that has the Model Y Juniper firmly in its sights.
Only there’s one very important difference — the price.
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This isn’t just cheaper than the Tesla, it’s a lot cheaper. And BYD hasn’t exactly scrimped on features.
So can this mid-size electric SUV topple Tesla from the top of Australia’s EV sales charts?
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
8 / 10
The Sealion 7 will be offered in two trim levels — the Premium, at $54,990, and the Performance, at $63,990, both before on-road costs.
That pricing significantly undercuts its key competitor, the soon-to-launch Tesla Model Y Juniper, which also arrives in two trim levels, and lists at $63,400 for the RWD and $73,400 for the Long Range AWD, both before on-road costs.
It should also be pointed out that, while the Tesla Model Y will be target number one, the Sealion 7 also launches into an increasingly congested, and very competitively priced, mid-size electric SUV segment where it will meet models like the XPeng G6, the Deepal S07 and the cheap and cheerful Leapmotor C10.
Both model grades are similarly, and pretty generously equipped, with the Premium scoring 19-inch alloys, LED lighting, a panoramic glass roof and a powered boot.
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Inside, there are leather seats (heated and ventilated up front) a leather steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. Finally, the tech includes a 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen with Apple CarPay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker stereo, a 10.25-inch driver display and a head-up display, as well as wireless device charging.
The Performance then adds 20-inch alloys, painted front brake covers, a heated steering wheel and heating for the rear seats.
It also has V2L, or vehicle to load, which is one of those things that I’m not sure people are really taking advantage of. And they should, because if you think of the Sealion 7 as a very big mobile battery, this connection is what allows you to use that power whenever you want, for virtually whatever you want.
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EV Specs for BYD Sealion 7 2025
| Drivetrain | Electric |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 82.56kWh |
| Battery type | Lithium-ion Blade |
| Range | 456kms - 482kms WLTP |
| Plug type | CCS 2 |
| DC charge rate | 150kW |
| AC charge rate | 11kW |
| Motor output | 230kW/380Nm - 390kW/690Nm |
| Efficiency | TBA |
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
7 / 10
Probably not what you might describe as revolutionary design, the Sealion 7 still presents as a clean, functional and relatively premium-feeling SUV – and one that doesn't look in any way confronting or overly futuristic.
The lights are LED and look sleek in the way they are cut into the body work, and the swept-back roofline, including the rear windscreen spoiler, lends the Sealion 7 an athletic look, too.
Inside, the Sealion 7 is a comfortable and well-trimmed space, with soft-touch materials placed wherever you're likely to interact with the car, and a gigantic central screen that handles tech duties - with some climate control shortcuts that are a nice touch, too.
But most happily of all, there is not one but two screens for the driver; a display screen in the driver's binnacle, and a head-up display, both of which deliver the info you need without having to turn your head.
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Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10
7 / 10
The Sealion 7 is just over 4.8m long, 1.9m wide and 1.6m tall, and it rides on a near three-metre wheelbase.
The real party trick of the Sealion 7, though, isn’t one you’ll get to enjoy as the driver, it’s all about the back seat. There is oodles, and I mean oodles, of room for rear riders, helped by the wide, flat floor that adds extra space to spread out.
Sitting behind my own 175cm driving position, I have heaps of knee room, plenty of head room, and thankfully the glass roof has a shade, too.
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Elsewhere, there are two cupholders in the rear seat divider, USB-C and USB-A charge points, seat heating for backseat riders, and air vents, but no way to control your own temperature in the backseat.
At the boot, you’ll find a very usable, flat-floored 500 litres of luggage space, and you can adjust the floor height to make carrying bulkier items a little easier. There’s a second smaller space in the frunk as well.
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Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor? 8/10
8 / 10
The Premium model gets a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 230kW and 380Nm, which is sent straight to the rear tyres. BYD reckons the sprint to 100km/h takes 6.7 seconds.
But the the dual-motor, AWD Performance adds a second electric motor up front which ups the grunt to 390kW and 690Nm, and lops almost two seconds off the 100km/h sprint, now just 4.5 seconds.
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Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time? 7/10
7 / 10
Both Sealion 7 models share the same 82.56kWh battery, and the Premium will travel a claimed 482kms between charges on the WLTP cycle. The Performance, with its extra grunt, will cover less distance, with the range dropping to a claimed 456km.
Both feature 150kW DC fast charging, and up to 11kW AC charging, though BYD is yet to confirm charging times.
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Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10
7 / 10
Unfortunately BYD's launch drive program was brief at best - about 40 minutes or so across mostly suburban Adelaide - so please do consider the below a taste test. We will put the Sealion 7 to the proper CarsGuide test when we get it down the track.
In the meantime, the Sealion 7 did impress on first impressions. Our test car was the dual-motor Performance, and the power delivery is smooth, constant and absolutely ample for just about anyone.
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In fact, I suspect it's a little too ample. While I haven't driven the single-motor Premium, I suspect that will be the pick of the bunch. It's no slouch either, and it will travel further between charges, plus I suspect the power delivery will be better suited to the nature of this mid-size SUV.
In the Performance, the grunt is plentiful, but the Sealion 7 isn't quite set up to take full advantage of it. I was impressed by the grip and the relative lack of body roll, but it's still heavy, and the tyres still complain when you ask too much of them.
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That said, the Sealion 7 felt very well set up for urban and long-distance commuting. The cabin is quiet and refined, and the ride is really impressive, even over rough stuff, with BYD managing to make it feel compliant, but not completely disconnected. Which is a win.
Downsides? The power on offer in the Performance is plentiful, which means merely breathing on the accelerator will see you suddenly collecting speed – something you need to be aware on 40km/h and 50km/h streets.
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And when you do lift your foot off the accelerator, the Sealion 7 doesn't decelerate immediately. It feels like it continues pushing forwards for a beat or two.
But in a vehicle as potent as the Performance, that beat or two can take you a fair way down the road.
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Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 8/10
8 / 10
The Sealion 7 yet to receive an official ANCAP rating, but it has been crash tested, and the brand is confident of a five-star result.
The Sealion 7’s safety kit is all present and accounted for, with its nine airbags joined by a more high-tech offering that includes things like adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, front and rear auto emergency braking (AEB) and blind-spot detection.
Perhaps best of all, though, is that – at least on our brief test drive – none of the active safety systems felt overly intrusive or annoying.
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Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 7/10
7 / 10
BYD offers a complicated six-year, 150,000km warranty, so just check what is and isn’t covered, and for how long, before taking anything for granted.
The battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km. Servicing is require every 12 months or 20,000kms, and there’s a capped-price servicing program which covers 10 years of ownership.
BYD’s website has the details for every service, but the most expensive will be $1109 and the cheapest is $246, with most falling somewhere between those numbers.
Verdict
Not the most comprehensive of tests, I'm afraid, but on first impressions the BYD Sealion 7 feels like a very solid offering that delivers on price and spec, too.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel and meals provided.
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $63,990 |
| Premium | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $54,990 |
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