BYD Sealion 7 (4.5s) Review: Performance Meets Practicality

Introduction

The Indian car market is in the middle of an EV revolution. What started with compact city-focused electric hatchbacks and crossovers has now moved into a space where buyers expect luxury, technology, and performance along with green credentials. BYD, a name still relatively new to Indian households but a global powerhouse in EV technology, has already made its mark with the Atto 3 and Seal. Now, it has raised the stakes with the Sealion 7.

The variant making the most noise is the 4.5s version, named after its claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time. Let’s see how this electric SUV-coupe stacks up for Indian buyers.

Design

The BYD Sealion 7 doesn’t follow the typical upright SUV formula. Instead, it mixes the road presence of an SUV with the elegance of a coupe. The result is a design that feels sporty, futuristic, and premium all at once.

At the front, the SUV gets a sharp, low-profile nose with slim LED headlights. This wide stance gives the car an aggressive character, while the sculpted bumper and aerodynamic air channels hint at its performance focus.

The side profile is where the Sealion 7 makes its strongest statement. The roofline flows smoothly into the tail, giving it a coupe-like silhouette that’s rare in this segment. Clean body surfaces, flush door handles, and strong shoulder lines add to the modern appeal. Large multi spoke alloy wheels further boost its sporty stance, ensuring it looks powerful even when parked.

Move to the rear, and the Sealion 7 continues to impress. A connected LED tail-lamp bar stretches across the width, while the muscular rear haunches and integrated spoiler give it a dynamic, almost fastback-like presence. Unlike many SUVs that look bulky from the back, the Sealion 7 feels balanced and athletic.

Interior

Step inside the BYD Sealion 7 and it’s immediately clear that this isn’t just another electric SUV. The cabin feels like it has been designed to impress both tech lovers and comfort seekers.

The dashboard layout is clean, layered, and futuristic, dominated by BYD’s trademark rotating touchscreen.

This display can be used in both portrait and landscape modes, making it handy for maps, streaming, and regular infotainment functions. A fully digital driver’s display sits behind the steering wheel, offering crisp graphics and customizable layouts.

The steering wheel itself is flat-bottomed and sporty, with neatly integrated controls, while the centre console houses a crystal-style gear selector that adds to the premium feel.

When it comes to material quality, BYD has gone beyond hard plastics. Soft-touch leatherette, brushed metal accents, and high-grade trim pieces give the cabin an upmarket vibe. Ambient lighting runs along the doors and dashboard, helping the interior feel modern and inviting during night drives.

Space is generous, with supportive front seats and a rear bench that can easily accommodate three passengers, a rarity among coupe-SUVs. The sloping roofline doesn’t compromise the knee and headroom. I’m 6 feet 5 inches tall and still felt the rear cabin quite spacious. 

Performance

This where the Sealion 7 (4.5s) aims to stand out. Its dual-motor setup delivers all-wheel drive and blistering acceleration, living up to the promise of a 4.5 second sprint to 100 km/h. Despite its performance badge, the BYD Sealion 7 isn’t built only for speed. On everyday roads, it manages to strike a balance between sportiness and comfort, something that’s crucial for Indian buyers who often juggle city commutes, bad patches of tarmac, and highway runs.

The suspension setup is tuned to absorb bumps without feeling overly soft. Smaller potholes and rough patches are dealt with confidently, and even sharper speed breakers don’t unsettle the cabin much. For an EV that sits relatively low and sporty, this balance is impressive. On highways, the car feels planted, with minimal body roll thanks to its low centre of gravity, a direct benefit of placing the heavy Blade Battery pack flat under the floor.

Range is around the 500 km bracket, which is more than enough for highway runs and weekly commutes without frequent charging. On the feature list, buyers can expect everything from ventilated seats and premium audio to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). In short, it’s loaded to the brim.

Pros

• Lightning-fast acceleration - among the quickest EVs in its segment.

• High-quality interiors - plush materials, advanced tech, rotating infotainment.

• Strong range - can comfortably cross 500 km on a full charge.

• Safety-first approach - Blade Battery, ADAS, multiple airbags.

• Family-friendly practicality - spacious cabin and usable boot.

Cons

• Expensive - pricing overlap with luxury EVs from German brands.

• Limited brand recall - BYD is still new compared to Tata, Hyundai, or luxury carmakers in India.

• Indian charging infrastructure - the charging network is still quite small.

• Large dimensions - may feel bulky in dense city traffic.

Final Verdict

The BYD Sealion 7 (4.5s) proves that electric cars in India don’t have to be compromises, they can be fast, luxurious, and family-friendly all at once. As of today, it feels like one of the most well-rounded premium EVs on the horizon.

The Sealion 7 has to look into it's competition like the BMW iX1, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 while also expanding its charging and service footprint, the Sealion 7 has the potential to redefine how Indian buyers perceive premium EVs.

For enthusiasts and early adopters willing to look beyond traditional badges, the Sealion 7 (4.5s) is arguably one of the most exciting EV options in India - a blend of performance, design, and practicality that feels genuinely ahead of its time.

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