BYD Sealion 7 priced as brand’s new flagship EV crossover

Unveiled alongside the Shark 6 and Sealion 6 this week, BYD has released official pricing of the Sealion 7 as not only its flagship electric crossover, but also model-topping EV in general.

Dimensions

The Chinese automotive giant’s fourth EV after the Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal, the coupe-styled Sealion 7, measures 4 830 mm long, 1 925 mm wide and 1 620 mm tall, with its wheelbase stretching 2 930 mm.

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Providing seating for five with boot space ranging from 500-litres to 1 769-litres with the rear seats folded, the lack of an engine means an additional 58-litres of space underneath the bonnet.

Single or dual-motor EV

On the model front, BYD has opted for a two-tier line-up comprising the single motor Premium and the dual-motor Performance.

Powered by BYD’s 82.5-kWh Blade battery pack, the rear-wheel-drive Premium produces 230kW/380Nm, resulting in a top speed of 215 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

The claimed all-electric range is 482 km, with DC charging being supported up to 150 kW and AC up to 11 kW.

With a second electric motor in place, the all-paw gripping Performance punches out 390kW/690Nm, which will see it get from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and on to the same 215 km/h top speed as the Premium.

The claimed all-electric range is 456 km. As with its lesser sibling, the Performance has the same DC and AC charging supports, in addition to an 11 kW on-board charger.

Spec and tech

On the spec front, BYD has equipped both models with the following as standard;

• Auto High Beam Assist LED headlights;
• dual-zone climate control with rear vents;
• rain sense wipers;
• 15.6-inch rotating infotainment system;
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto;
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster;
• 12-speaker DynAudio sound system;
• panoramic sunroof;
• wireless smartphone charger;
• push-button start and keyless entry;
• electric bootlid;
• remote opening electric windows;
• electric, heated and ventilated front seats;
• ambient lighting;
• tyre pressure monitor;
• Adaptive Cruise Control;
• Blind Spot Monitoring;
• Front Collision Warning;
• Automatic Emergency Braking;
• Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert;
• Door Open Warning;
• Lane Departure Warning;
• Brake Override Assist;
• Lane Centring Assist;
• Lane Keep Assist;
• Reverse Automatic Braking

Comparatively, the Performance receives 20-inch alloy wheels versus the Premium’s 19-inches, while also swapping out the imitation leather upholstery for Nappa leather and the electric boot lid for a kick-motion activated tailgate. Head-Up Display rounds its spec sheet off.

Colours and pricing

On the colour front, the Sealion 7 comes in four shades; Aurora White, Urban Grey, Cosmos Black or Atlantis Blue.

Included with each model’s price tag is a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan, a 2.2 kW portable charger, the vehicle-two-load socket and seven kilowatt wallbox.

• Sealion 7 Premium – R1 099 000
• Sealion 7 Performance AWD – R1 299 000

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