BYD has announced the launch timing and has hinted at the pricing of its most anticipated electric SUV, the Sealion 7.
The unveiling of the Sealion 7 in Australia has been set for mid-February with a hinted starting price of under $60,000 before on-road costs for the entry-level Premium variant.
This would make it priced above its competition, with the best-seller Tesla Model Y pricing starting at $55,900 before on-roads and, similarly, the Xpeng G6, which comes in at $54,800 before on-road costs.
BYD’s local distributor, EV Direct’s CEO, David Smitherman said: “I expect the Sealion 7 to be the number one selling electric vehicle in our range.
“It sets a new standard for innovation and technology, and I challenge anyone to find a vehicle designed with comfort and performance like this one.
“It really does have the feel of a luxury car, and we aim to deliver really competitive pricing across the variants that will make this an enticing prospect for Australian drivers,”.
Aside from the hinted pricing, a second Australian-bound variant was also noted, which is the sportier Performance variant that can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Along with the acceleration times, it can hit speeds of up to 215 km/h.
It can also drive up to 500 km on a single charge, although it’s unclear whether the Premium and Performance variants will come with the same battery capacity as the Performance features a larger pack.
The Sealion 7 will also featur vehicle to load (V2L) capabilities, allowing drivers to use the battery to power other appliances.
The Sealion is also expected to arrive locally with driver assistance systems that will include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system.
On the inside, the cabin will feature Nappa leather seats and plenty of soft vegan leather, which covers over 80% of the interior. Staying on the inside, a panoramic sunroof is also on offer.
This upcoming mid-sized electric SUV will be in four colours, including Cosmos Black, Atlantis Grey, Shark Grey and Aurora White. Interested buyers can register their interest on BYD’s local website.
Last month, The Sealion 7 was spotted in government approval documentation, which also revealed two variants of the model heading to local shores.
The first is a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) single-motor variant, packing up to 230 kW. This is likely to be the Premium variant that the brand revealed today.
A dual-motor, more performance-focused all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant with a front motor with 160 kW was also included in the approval documentation. Both motors would help bring the total power output to 390 kW.
Exact pricing and full specifications are expected to be announced at launch mid-next month.
The upcoming Sealion 7 in Australia will offer drivers more choices with a brand that’s starting to become known among consumers. It still has a way to go compared to Tesla’s brand when it comes to EVs which will also be releasing the highly anticipated 2025 Model Y refresh in the coming weeks, making it a great time for those stepping into an electric SUV in the first half of the year.
For more details on individual EV models available in Australia, please visit our EV Models page.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.