BYD SEALION 7 REVIEW - Fast & Luxurious

BYD SEALION 7: LOOKS & DESIGN

The car looks smashing from which ever angle you look at it. The front end is dominated by the stylishly raked lamps along with the various cuts on the bumper. The air vents actually work for better aerodynamics. The car has a CD of only 0.28, which is commendable for a large SUV. The side profile you get 20-inch wheels which fill out the wheel arches really nicely. The car also gets a slight curve at the back of the roofline to give it a unique and sporty look. The length of the car at 4.8-metres is also immediately visible and gives it a very good stance and road presence as well.

The rear end of the design is dominated by the massive lamps cluster which look really cool. The lower end of the bumper is also sculpted. The roof gets a very subtle spoiler that not only looks cool but also gives the car a very sporty look. Overall, this is a design that works well and has a very balanced look to it.

Minimalism is a theme that is followed inside the cabin of the BYD Sealion 7 . The car has a massive 15-inch infotainment screen, which houses all the controls including those for the AC. The system is easy to operate and also very high definition. The only buttons are on the centre console for the parking brake, driving modes etc.

Quality of the cabin is good but still half a step behind the German luxury cars that BYD is aiming to gun for with the Sealion 7. In terms of equipments you get all the bells and whistles including 11-airbags, a massive sunroof, quilted leather seats, ADAS level 2 features among others.

Move onto the back seat and what is immediately impressive is the massive amount of space on offer. Headroom and knee room are massive and the flat floor board means that finding space to stretch your legs is also possible.

The boot at 500-litres is massive too with no hindrance from the suspension and the frunk area upfront is also good enough to add another 58-litres of space.

The version we drove came with a AWD dual-motor with a substantial 530hp and 690Nm, allowing for a 0-100kph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. The performance is truly brilliant and will bolt the driver into the back of the seat each time you hit that pedal hard. There is also a RWD model which has 310hp and 380Nm, but in everyday driving but even that figure is good enough to propel this car from 0-100kph in a shade over 6 seconds. Use any mode you want the car is a beast in terms of pure acceleration.

This car errs on the side of comfort. The suspension setup has been done for handling badly patched up roads rather than outright handling. The steering thought accurate could have had more feedback and weight. All this means that this is a good car for driving on the highway and sitting in the back seat. Body roll is also visible and prominent on the car when pushed into corners. Also what is visible is that the front suspension lifts up when you push the accelerator pedal hard.

Prices are expected to start from Rs 50-lakh for the base model and the top end will go for Rs 60 lakh(both, ex-showroom). At this price you get a lot of car for the amount you pay along with the latest tech and features too. While it may still be slightly lower than German rivals when it comes to overall quality, the Sealion 7 is a very good package in terms of performance, space, luxury as well as looks. Go for it, it’s a decision you won’t regret.