Sealion 7 – the electric SUV tipped by BYD to be its best selling EV – spotted in Australia

BYD’s highly anticipated Sealion 7 electric SUV, tipped by the brand to be its best selling electric car, has finally been spotted without any camouflage in Australia ahead of its official launch in February.

Kevin M, a BYD enthusiast, shared a photo of a white Sealion 7 on BYD Sealion 7 Australia Facebook group. The car was spotted in a carpark in Brisbane, right next to the Sealion 6, the company’s PHEV SUV model.

This spotted example shows the SUV’s coupe-like looks when it’s next to a more conventional SUV. The other big difference is in the front grille, which is largely covered by the front bumper of the Sealion 7.

On the back of this sighting, one fan of the EV said: “I saw this out on the road today as well, damn it looked good!”

Looking at the registration of the spotted car, the system reveals that it’s an AWD variant with a tare weight of 2,340 kg.

From previous government approval documentation, the AWD variant comes with 390 kW of power thanks to a 230 kW rear motor and a 160 kW front motor. This variant also has a towing capacity of 1,500 kg for those considering towing.

This powertrain setup will allow for a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds while delivering a lower 456 km WLTP range. It also can reach a top speed of 215 km/h, which exceeds BYD Seal, which is capped at 180 km/h.

Powering the Sealion 7 is likely the 82.5 kWh BYD blade battery pack spotted in other markets like Thailand. It can be charged at speeds of up to 150 kW on the correct DC charger, while 11 kW AC is on offer for three-phase charging.

The Sealion 7 will also feature vehicle load (V2L) capabilities, allowing drivers to use the battery to power other appliances.

Looking at the pricing, in the Thai market, the spotted AWD variant is priced from just over $A66,000, while the entry rear-wheel drive variant starts just shy of $A59,000. 

Earlier this month, while announcing the arrival of the Sealion 7 model, 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.”

At that time, the company also announced that the official unveiling of the Sealion 7 in Australia had been set for mid-February with a hinted starting price of under $60,000 before on-road costs for the entry-level Premium variant. 

The Sealion 7 is expected to land locally with driver assistance systems that will include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system.

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.

The BYD Sealion 7 is also expected to offer a similar 15.4-inch infotainment screen found in the current BYD Seal and a more modern interior.

Looking at the outside, four colours will be available when it lands including Cosmos Black, Atlantis Grey, Shark Grey and Aurora White. 

Interested buyers can register their interest on BYD’s local website, which will announce full local pricing and specifications in the coming weeks.

BYD Sealion 7 Walkthrough video by Ludicrous Feed on YouTube