Luxury takes many forms, and this time it arrives shaped like a family SUV that’s far more sophisticated than the badge suggests. The BYD Sealion 7 Performance is modern and sleek, with a punch that most entry level sports cars would envy.
It begins on the outside, and there’s really no softer way to put it other than that the exterior is hot. The sharp LED headlights, aqueduct style vents and clean bodylines all give a serious presence.
The twin shoulder lines that tie the rear quarter into the full-width LED taillight finish it off perfectly. It’s a genuinely striking thing to look at. Those front air vent channels aren’t just there for looks either; by design they help reduce turbulence and improve efficiency.
They also minimise wind noise and stabilise the car at higher speeds. It’s subtle, but they are aerodynamic, just like the hidden door handles that reduce drag and give the Sealion a sleeker profile.
BYD has even gone as far as double glazing the front windows to reduce wind noise and make the driver experience truly premium. Our test car was very elegantly optioned in the attractive Cosmos Black paint scheme.
It’s one of a small handful of options that includes Atlantis Grey, Aurora White or Shark Grey. Colours aside, while the exterior sets the tone, the interior seals the deal. Inside, the Sealion 7 features a mix of modern technology and classy finishes.
A distinct checkered pattern leather seat stitching is a standout and flows through to the door cards and dashboard. The front pews are heated and ventilated, with heating in the second row as well.
If that isn’t enough, in the centre stack you will find a sizable 15.6-inch intelligent rotating touchscreen display, integrated with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice assistant, along with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
A head-up display and 360-degree camera system add to an impressive tech package that includes a 12-speaker DYNAUDIO premium sound system. It provides crisp sound quality that is comparable to most modern luxury cars.
A wireless charger, as well as USB-C and USB-A ports both front and rear, offer plenty of options to re-juice your devices, with a 12v socket in the second row. A NFC key provides an additional access option which can be configured to work from your phone or a card.
A standard key fob is also offered. Safety hasn’t been left out either, with adaptive cruise control, lane keep (including emergency), lane departure assist, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed alert and limit control, and autonomous emergency braking.
The latter includes forward collision warning and there’s blind spot detection, rear and front cross traffic alert, and child presence and door open detection. Offered in full-time all-wheel drive, it offers 390kW and 690Nm from its rear-wheel biased powertrain.
This makes the BYD Sealion 7 a playful yet serious 5-seat SUV that’s capable of covering the sprint to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. On that basis, it’s an absolute weapon for the rush to kids soccer or the local grocery store.
Tipping the scales at more than 2300kg, it’s powered by an 82.56kWh blade battery that provides a WLTP combined range of 456km. In reality, with a bit of spirited driving and the decision to keep all the interior tech turned on, that’s more like 400km – still impressive.
If it’s let down anywhere, it’s in the handling. Never feeling quite right or overly confident in bends, the power output feels as if it hasn’t been calibrated properly. That translates into an awkward driving experience and understeer at high speed.
Backed by a 6-year or 150,000km warranty and 8-years or 160,000km coverage on the battery, the 2026 BYD Sealion 7 Performance is priced at $63,990 plus on-roads. Offering sports car numbers, the Chinese car maker isn’t just hoping to compete with rivals.
Rather, they’re hoping to reset expectations with an SUV that blends sharp, modern styling with a genuinely premium feeling interior, and loads of tech. And while yes, there’s some niggles, as a complete package, it is impressive.
You can find out more on the BYD Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by BYD Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
