One of the joys of working at the Everything Electric events is that I get to see so many new electric vehicles. The 2025 show in London was certainly no exception. Of course, the best thing about joy is the ability to share it. So that is exactly what I am going to do. Following up from our last blog post on the Farizon SV, I will be introducing you to some of these vehicles and giving you the lowdown. This blog post is dedicated to the BYD Sealion. A remarkable car that deserves some praise.
BYD – The Background Info
BYD broke into the UK car market a couple of years ago. However, they are still not as well known as the legacy manufacturers or Tesla. I can assure you that this will change very soon. There is a very good reason that I can say this with confidence. BYD, which stands for “Build Your Dreams”, is the number one car manufacturer in the world. Yes, you read that right. Having capitalised on Tesla’s downward spiral in the early months of 2025, BYD has soared ahead.
So how come BYD is not so well known in the UK? Well, the short answer is that they hadn’t dipped their toes in the British waters until quite recently. In China, where they come from, as well as other southern hemisphere countries, they are a serious powerhouse. China is known to champion homegrown technology, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. In Australia, BYD and Tesla are THE electric vehicle brands of choice. They also have a considerable presence elsewhere.
The First BYD Entries in the UK
The first entries in the UK electric car market from this Chinese manufacturer came in the form of the Atto 3 and the Dolphin. Both of which were on display at the Fully Charged Show Live in 2023. I can remember having a look around both of these cars and thinking, “yeah, this is a serious manufacturer”. It was very evident that the quality and the style was there. The lower price was also a deal maker. I could tell straight away that BYD is here to stay.
The Atto 3 is a full SUV while the Dolphin is a cute hatchback. Both cars are very distinct and are really appealing to the eye. The smaller Dolphin, in particular, is an electric vehicle that I could see having mass appeal in a world crying out for more affordable small EVs.
What Does the BYD Sealion Bring to the Party?
The BYD Sealion 7 is an SUV. However, it has much rounder lines than those on the Atto 3. The closest rival, and a car with a very similar shape, is the Tesla Model Y. In fact, when it comes to looks, there isn’t much to choose between both cars.
Inside the BYD Sealion you can appreciate the quality. There is a similar central infotainment screen to the Model Y. However, you can switch between portrait or landscape setups at the touch of a button, choosing the preferred profile for you. There is also a full range of applications, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
A Performing Sealion?
There are three different models of the BYD Sealion. The Comfort, the Design, and the Excellence. The Comfort and Design all-wheel drive models are fitted with an 82.5 kWh battery, delivering a WLTP range of 298 miles and 282 miles respectively. Choose the Excellence all-wheel drive model, however, and you’ll get a larger 91.3 kWh battery, extending the WLTP range to 311 miles. Impressive figures all round.
More notably, the Excellence model supports rapid charging of up to 230kW, allowing a 10% to 80% charge in just 24 minutes using a suitably powerful charger. It’s a pity the other Sealion variants miss out on this, but with 150kW charging capability, they can still achieve a respectable 10–80% top-up in around 32 minutes. This is nothing to sneer at.
The Verdict
With the favourability of Chinese electric cars increasing all the time, now is the perfect time for BYD to make their move. Their global success is almost certainly going to take a foothold in the UK. The BYD Sealion 7 may be the car that helps speed up that dominance. Overall, the BYD Sealion is proof that the Chinese EV market means business. I for one think that they can seal the deal (pun intended).
*All information correct as of 6 May 2025
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