BYD is busily expanding its local lineup, with the electric Sealion 7 SUV the next cab off the rank.
The mid-sized electric SUV will arrive here in February 2025, and battle not only the Tesla Model Y but also a growing contingent of Chinese rivals including the Xpeng G6, Deepal S07 and Leapmotor C10.
Government approval documents show two different powertrains have been approved for sale in Australia.
There’s a single-motor rear-wheel drive configuration with 230kW of power, plus an all-wheel drive variant with dual electric motors – one with 160kW, the other with 230kW, for a total system output of 390kW.
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The documents don’t show battery or range figures, but in Europe the Sealion 7 can be had with either 82.5kWh or 91.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
WLTP range is up to 502km in dual-motor all-wheel drive models with the larger battery, which can be DC fast-charged at up to 230kW, while it’s between 456km and 482km with the smaller battery, capable of being recharged at up to 150kW.
BYD claims the RWD version can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds, while all-wheel drive models take just 4.5 seconds.
In China, the Sealion 7 is offered with 71.8kWh or 80.64kWh LFP batteries.
In addition to different batteries depending on the market, BYD also builds the Sealion 7 with either a 400V or 800V electrical system.
The local-spec Sealion 7 will be available with either 19- or 20-inch wheels, while braked towing capacity is a claimed 750kg with rear-wheel drive or 1500kg with all-wheel drive.
The Sealion 7 measures 4830mm long, 1925mm wide and 1620mm tall on a 2930mm wheelbase.
That makes it 79mm longer, 53mm wider and 4mm taller than a Model Y on a 40mm longer wheelbase.
BYD’s local distributor EVDirect has previously teased pricing will be “competitive”. For reference, the Model Y range currently opens at $55,900 before on-road costs, while BYD’s mid-sized Seal sedan starts at $49,888 before on-roads.
The brand technically already has two mid-sized SUVs in Australia.
However, the Atto 3 is a considerably smaller electric SUV, while the Sealion 6 is sold here exclusively with plug-in hybrid power – though an electric version is offered in some overseas markets.
MORE: Everything BYD Sealion 7