Since the fuel crisis and the renewed interest in electric vehicles began earlier this year, many consumers have been focused primarily on the practical EV models on offer. Yet for those that yearn for something more; more than just mobility, a car that excites the senses, there is the Sealion 7.

The BYD Sealion 7 is an everyday sports car and SUV rolled into one. It’s designed to offer effortless yet powerful performance for city and highway driving, advanced technology, and premium style and comfort. In the past, with ICE’s, one would be forced to choose one or the other. The Sealion 7 is one of those that offers the pleasures of both combined.

The relationship to the Sealion 6 SUV is evident with its distinct headlights, sporty styling and high ground clearance. The Sealion 7 takes it up a notch with a sport wagon look, even more aggressive aerodynamic touches on the body, and more pampering features. It rolls on 20-inch wheels, offers a panoramic glass roof with retractable shade, and ends with subtle yet functional spoiler.

Inside, the driver gets a fully digital instrument cluster and a massive 15.6-inch rotating Infotainment Screen. It’s connected to a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system. Passengers can also connect their phones via wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and charge while at it with the wireless charging pad. Even the current unforgiving heat is easily combatted with its powerful climate control and ventilated front seats.

We found ourselves fiddling with the BYD app, checking on the battery and turning on air con remotely before even arriving at the car. Like the other BYD models, it also comes with an NFC card key so you can do away with a conventional key fob entirely.

The Sealion 7 doesn’t need to be a city slicker. With its 82.56-kWh Blade Battery, it can drive as far as 542-km on a full charge. It’s also quite exciting to drive with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds. That’s thanks to the power of 530-PS and torque of 690-Nm from the electric motors that drive all four wheels.

It also has high enough clearance to manage more campsites and the reassurance of AWD to get through the rough stuff. Once at camp, its V2L feature can power a coffee machine, mini ref, or a laptop using the battery’s vehicle-to-load feature.

Even when used daily, it’s still quite practical to drive thanks to features like the 360° camera with See-Through Mode. Its Di-Pilot systems include Adaptive Cruise Control with lane departure assistance and front and rear collision warning. There’s also a Child Presence Detection system to make sure no one is left behind.

Typically, ICE sporty SUVs like this would be quite the guzzler and more expensive to maintain. However, EVs like this have proven to be cheaper to run by 70% compared to fuel. Maintenance costs over a 5-year span can also be as much as 77% cheaper. That’s thanks to the very light once-a-year PMS schedule. And for those that worry about it longevity, BYD offers a 6-year vehicle warranty, 8-year electric battery warranty, and 8-year drive unit warranty.

For years, ICE options have forced us to choose between practicality or capriciousness. Anything remotely sporty or luxurious typically came with high fuel bills or high maintenance. The BYD Sealion 7, for a change, allows us to actually enjoy having something a little bit cooler for Dad, without putting the kids’ college fund in jeopardy.

The BYD Sealion 7 is now available and can be viewed this weekend at the BYD Tech Tour at the Glorietta Activity Center until May 31, 2026.