Years after whispers, meetings, and regulatory drama, Tesla has finally started taking the Indian market seriously. The company’s plans of setting up shop in India are seemingly inching closer to reality. But while Elon Musk’s EV empire is still working out the logistics, its fiercest global competitor, BYD, has already locked in its foothold in India. After introducing the BYD e6 MPV and the Atto 3 SUV in India, the Chinese EV giant rolled out the Seal, which is a direct rival to the Tesla Model 3. And now, it’s following that up with the even more ambitious BYD Sealion 7.
While it may be positioned globally as a Model Y rival, in India - where Tesla hasn’t yet launched a single car - it’s not going after absent competition. Instead, it’s gunning straight for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and even premium ICE-to-EV conversions like the BMW iX1. The Sealion 7 is BYD’s most aggressive move yet in India. With a head-turning design, premium cabin, serious performance, and loaded tech, the Sealion 7 makes one thing clear: the electric SUV segment is about to get very interesting.
Breaking the Mould
One look at the Sealion 7, and you’ll know BYD isn’t here to blend in. The SUV doesn’t carry the conventional, safe styling you often see in mainstream offerings. Built on BYD’s ‘Ocean Aesthetics’ design philosophy, it has a silhouette that feels fluid, futuristic, and very deliberate. Up front, the slim LED DRLs look like something out of a concept car. The sharply cut headlamps and sculpted bonnet lines give it a strong presence, while the coupe-style roofline gives it a sporty stance. It doesn’t try to look macho. Instead, the Sealion 7 leans into its electric DNA with a sleek, aerodynamic and futuristic look.
The Sealion 7 measures over 4.8 metres in length, which makes it slightly longer than a Tucson. But it’s the proportions that sell it. The long wheelbase, short overhangs, and neatly tucked wheels (19-inch on Premium, 20-inch on Performance) give it a clean, upscale profile. The rear is minimal yet elegant, with connected taillamps, Sealion 7 badging, and subtle character lines that run across the tailgate. There’s real road presence here. It doesn't scream for attention, but it commands it.
Cabin Goals
If the exterior makes a strong first impression, the interior follows up with a solid second act. The Sealion 7 immediately greets you with a tech-forward environment that balances visual flair with genuine usability. The party trick? A 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen sits in the centre. Yes, it rotates between landscape and portrait orientations at the touch of a button. Now, I admit, it does feel like a bit of a gimmick, but one that never fails to impress passengers. This panel is crisp, responsive, and filled with functionality. It does Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and even lets you switch vehicle settings with voice control.
Ahead of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that provides all the essential information in a clean, clutter-free format. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a heads-up display, which adds to the premium feel. The build quality has taken a noticeable step up from earlier BYD models. Soft-touch materials dominate the dashboard and door cards, while a floating centre console gives a sense of space and airiness. The panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, and quilted leather upholstery add to the premium quotient.
The rear seat experience is also impressive. Thanks to the flat floor (a benefit of its dedicated EV platform), rear passengers enjoy generous legroom and excellent under-thigh support. Even for taller folks like me - I’m 6 feet 3 inches tall - the headroom and backseat comfort hold up well. It’s a legit five-seater, not a cramped compromise. As for boot space, a solid 500 litres is offered, which makes the Sealion 7 practical enough for family road trips or airport runs with large luggage.
Firepower Under the Floor
Now, let’s talk numbers. The Sealion 7 Performance variant puts out a jaw-dropping 523 bhp and 690 Nm of torque. That’s supercar-level grunt in a family SUV. Floor it, and it rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds. In fact, BYD is so proud of that number, they’ve plastered it right below the Sealion 7 badging on the rear, just in case someone forgets.
Power is delivered via a dual-motor AWD system, and the car remains planted thanks to a low centre of gravity courtesy of the battery placement. Despite the weight, handling is surprisingly competent. There’s minimal body roll and good grip through corners. That said, the steering feel remains a bit too artificial for purists. It’s quick and accurate, yes, but it lacks the nuanced feedback you’d want in a performance-oriented machine. You get three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Each mode tweaks throttle response, regen braking intensity, and steering weight. Speaking of regen, you can adjust how aggressively the car slows down when you lift off the accelerator, though it doesn’t offer one-pedal driving like some other EVs.
The battery pack itself is a Blade Battery, which is BYD’s proprietary technology that’s known for both safety and longevity. The claimed range is over 500 km, but in real-world testing, expect anywhere between 400 to 450 kms depending on driving style and conditions. It’s not class-leading, but it’s certainly respectable. Fast charging support is solid, too. With a DC fast charger, the Sealion 7 can charge from 10% to 80% in under 40 minutes. That’s more than enough for coffee breaks on a road trip.
Safety First
BYD isn’t skimping on safety, either. The Sealion 7 is loaded with Level 2 ADAS features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It’s even got seven airbags, 360-degree cameras, hill descent control, and all the standard passive safety features you’d expect from a modern EV. The platform itself is built around safety, with BYD’s Blade Battery designed to be thermally stable and highly resistant to punctures or fires.
The Competition: What the Sealion 7 Is Up Against
Here’s the thing: the BYD Sealion 7 isn’t entering a vacuum. It’s walking into a brawl with some heavy hitters. The Ioniq 5 has brand trust, a stunning retro-futuristic design, and one of the most refined EV experiences available. It may not match the Sealion 7 in outright power, but it scores big on sophistication and comfort. The Kia EV6 is arguably the most driver-focused of the lot. Its sharp handling, lower stance, and engaging dynamics make it a proper enthusiast’s EV. But it also comes with a stiffer ride and less rear-seat space. Then there’s the BMW iX1 LWB, which trades performance and practicality for badge value. It’s known to deliver a luxurious cabin, a solid infotainment suite, and a premium dealership experience. All three rivals offer something unique, so this choice is definitely hard to make.
Should You Buy One?
At Rs 48.9 lakh (ex-showroom), the Sealion 7 is priced ambitiously but not unreasonably. This pricing puts it well below the BMW iX1 and even undercuts fully loaded variants of the EV6 and Ioniq 5. And yet, in terms of space, tech, and power, it doesn’t feel like a compromise. Quite the opposite, in fact. It feels like a product built to disrupt. But there are caveats. BYD still lacks brand familiarity in India. Its service network, while expanding, is nowhere close to Hyundai or Kia’s reach. That said, if you're the kind of buyer who likes being early to a trend, who values innovation over logo, and who wants a head-turning electric SUV that ticks most of the boxes without crossing into the Rs 60-lakh luxury zone, the BYD Sealion 7 deserves a serious look.
The BYD Sealion 7 isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. What it offers is ambition, execution, and confidence. That’s a combination that most newer brands struggle with. It’s not just another Chinese EV trying to undercut prices. It’s a thoughtfully engineered machine that makes a bold statement. Tesla may be on its way. But BYD is already here. And with the Sealion 7, it's not just playing catch-up; it’s setting the pace.
