BYD Sealion 7 launches in Malaysia, but faster charging, new platform not offered

BYD has been growing rapidly in many parts of the world and has launched multiple electric and more recently plug-in Hybrid models. 

Now, one of its most anticipated electric SUVs, the Sealion 7 has launched in Malaysia and pricing of the new model ranges from the equivalent of $A63,500 to $A69,000.

For the Malaysian market, only the Premium RWD and Performance AWD variants are available at launch. Both these models have a 82.5 kWh battery pack.

Over in the UK things are a bit different and specs of the three variants heading there have also been revealed, including the top top-spec variant with a 91.3 kWh battery 

According to Autoexpress, the Sealion 7 entry-level Comfort rear-wheel-drive variant will come with 82.5 kWh battery pack which allows the car, delivering up to 480 km of WLTP range. This variant will do the 0-100 km sprint in 6.7 seconds.

The mid-spec Design AWD variant will have a dual-motor powertrain with the same 82.5 kWh battery pack. It bumps the power up, allowing for an acceleration time of 4.5 seconds while delivering a lower 454 km WLTP range.

Both of these variants like Thailand’s variant will have DC charging capabilities of up to 150 kW which is similar to that found on the BYD Seal today. These can charge from 10-80% in around 32 minutes.

This is under what Tesla offers on its Model Y RWD variant that can charge at speeds of up to 170 kW.

Things get a bit interesting in the top-spec Excellence AWD variant of the Sealion 7 which comes with a much larger 91.3 kWh battery pack and offers the same performance as Design AWD variant. 

With that larger battery, the weight of this variant from the reported specs in the UK comes in at 2,435 kg, making it quite a heavy SUV. For comparison, the Tesla Model Y Performance weight around 2,072, making the Sealion 7 over 360 kg heavier than the current model.

On the range front, the larger battery bumps the range up to 500 km while bumping the peak charging speeds to a higher 230 kW over the 150 kW offered in the other variants.

This shaves about 8 minutes from the 10-80% charging time which can be as little as 24 minutes at the right charger.

Australia’s market-leading EV, the Model Y in its long-range and performance variants offer a 79 kWh battery pack, with peak charging speeds of up to 250 kW at the right charger.

On the inside, the BYD Sealion 7 is expected to offer a similar 15.4-inch infotainment screen found in the current Seal as well as a more modern interior.

The Sealion 7 is expected to land in right-hand-drive markets like the UK and Malaysia in the coming months with deliveries starting in 2025. No word on the Australian release date but we have spotted it being tested on local roads. More details are likely to know more in the coming months.

Pricing is still unknown in the UK market but is expected to be higher than the current BYD Seal prices.

That would bring it in line with the upcoming refreshed Tesla Model Y which is expected to start mass production by Q1 next year and deliver cars in the same quarter.

Seeing more models like the Sealion 7 in Australia will offer consumers more choices. With recent local model launches like the Xpeng G6, Leapmotor C10 and Deepal S07 beginning customer deliveries before Christmas, with some already having started, it’d be quite a dynamic market come Q1 2025.