2025 BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV approved for Australia, seemingly without its biggest battery

12/16/2024 05:00 PM

The 2025 BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV sold in Australia appears set to miss out on the largest battery and fastest charging offered overseas, when it arrives in Australia in February next year.

The Tesla Model Y rival has been approved for sale in Australia in a choice of 230kW rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or 390kW all-wheel-drive (AWD) variants, with two alloy wheel sizes.

BYD makes mention of the battery capacity, but the Sealion 7’s vehicle masses listed in the documents – 2225kg and 2340kg respectively – correlate to an 82.5kWh battery offered in overseas markets, the smaller of the two options available.

It suggest Australia will miss out on a larger 91.3kWh pack sold in other right-hand-drive markets, such as the UK, which is good for faster charging and a driving range in excess of 500km, with a higher vehicle weight (2435kg).

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Prices for the Sealion 7 in Australia are yet to be confirmed – and the model range is yet to be outlined – but it may command only a minor premium over the related Seal sedan.

In Malaysia – one of the right-hand-drive markets where it has gone on sale – the Sealion 7 is offered in Premium RWD and Performance AWD forms, both with the 82.5kWh battery.

It is priced from RM183,800 ($AU65,000) for the Premium, and RM199,800 ($AU70,700) for the Performance – RM4000 ($AU1400) cheaper, and identical respectively to the prices of equivalent Seal variants.

It would suggest a starting price of about $57,000 plus on-road costs for the Premium, and $65,750 plus on-road costs for the Performance in Australia.

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In the UK, the base Sealion 7 Comfort 230kW rear-wheel-drive grade starts from £44,990 ($AU89,500), less than the Seal Design rear-drive sedan at £45,695 ($AU90,900) – equivalent to Australia’s Seal Premium ($55,798 plus on-roads).

There, the base Sealion 7 costs £2000 ($AU4000) less than the cheapest Tesla Model Y, which in Australia starts from $55,900 plus on-road costs.

Measuring 4830mm long, 1925mm wide and 1620mm tall, on a 2930mm wheelbase, the Sealion 7 is longer but lower than a Model Y.

The rear-wheel-drive variant uses a 230kW/380Nm electric motor rated for 482km of driving range in European WLTP testing, and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.7 seconds.

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Meanwhile, the AWD model with the 82.5kWh battery adds a 160kW/310Nm front motor for 390kW/690Nm combined, good for a 456km WLTP range and 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

Expected to be the flagship model in Australia, it offers driving range similar to a base Model Y (455km), but from a battery close to 40 per cent larger, with a tare mass in excess of 2.3 tonnes.

DC fast charging at up to 150kW is claimed, for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge time of 32 minutes – as well as 11kW AC charging in Europe.

Set to miss Australia is a top-of-the-range variant sold in the UK as the Excellence, with the same motors as the 82.5kWh AWD model but with a 91.3kWh battery for a 502km WLTP driving range.

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The longer-range version also quotes faster charging, at a peak of 230kW for a claimed 10 to 80 per cent recharge in 24 minutes.

Available features include a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, 10.25-inch instrument display, wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, 12-speaker Dynaudio stereo, and dual-zone climate control.

The Sealion 7 Premium is expected to ride on 19-inch wheels, while the Performance may step up to 20s, using Malaysian specifications as a guide.

More details of the 2025 BYD Sealion 7 for Australia are due closer to its local introduction in February.

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