We were back on the road this morning for a first-drive in the latest BYD (Build Your Dreams) model to grace these shores – the sporty mid-size BYD Sealion 7 SUV.
This is the fifth BYD model to launch here in the past two years, joining the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U PHEV. But it doesn’t stop there, as MDL, the Irish distributor for BYD, told us that it expects three further models to launch here in 2025, with a B-segment hatchback and an E-segment SUV to follow in 2026.
If correct, then BYD will have launched 10 different models in the Irish market in the space of just over three years.
This relentless drive should come as no surprise, however, as the Chinese auto giant built more than 4.27 million electric vehicles in 2024, a 41 per cent increase on the year before and a staggering 709 per cent rise on 2018.
BYD also expects its new European manufacturing facility in Hungary to be fully operational by Q3 of this year, which will significantly cut delivery times around the continent, including into Ireland.
MDL briefly shared with us today, its plans to further ramp up its Irish BYD dealer network, adding new showrooms in the West, East and South of the country over the next 12-months.
Add all this together, and BYD looks to be building its own dreams of squashing its main rival, Tesla.
Focusing our attention back to the BYD Sealion 7. This new sport SUV is available through dealers in a choice of three fully electric powered models.
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 rich selection of standard specifications.
Prices begin from €45,435 for the entry-level Comfort model, rising to €52,390 for the ‘Design’ and €56,490 for the Excellence (all inclusive of SEAI grant).
The BYD Sealion 7 has acceleration figures of 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds, for the Excellence model, and 6.7 seconds in the Design and Comfort. Four operating modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow – accommodate a variety of driving preferences.
Like its predecessors, the Sealion 7 is powered by BYD’s own, in-house developed 82.5 kWh cobalt free Blade Battery, with Comfort and Design versions offering ranges of 482km and 456km (WLTP) respectively and a claimed charging time of 10 to 80 per cent in 32 minutes.
The Excellence version with its larger 91.3 kWh battery and 502km (WLTP) range, is said to be capable of charging from 10 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes. All versions of the Sealion 7 get 11 kW three-phase AC charging as standard. The Excellence version has a max DC charging speed of 230 kW. A heat pump is also fitted as standard across the range.
A six-year manufacturer’s warranty and an eight-year battery and electric motor warranty applies to all BYD Sealion 7 models.
Produced in BYD’s stylish ‘Ocean Series’ design language, the Sealion 7 is 160mm taller and 30mm longer than its BYD Seal stablemate, with a generous passenger and load-carrying interior. Its long, rounded roof and sleek, flowing lines carry through from front to back.
Wheels are 19- and 20-inch depending on trimline. Luggage capacity is 520-litres increasing to 1,789-litres, with an additional 58-litre ‘frunk’ and over 20 cabin storage spaces.
Inside, high-quality, premium materials and finishes are used throughout, with all versions 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.
As we’ve come to expect from BYD, a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment and driver assistance screen are prominent features, and house the brand’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.
While I only had a short drive in the new BYD Sealion 7, there’s certainly a sense that this is a real value-for-money, high-performance electric vehicle that will do well in Ireland.
