BYD Sealion 7, Crossover SUV EV with a Sportscar Feel

Katadata OTO Rating:

Performance, Stability, spacious cabin, features

The ADAS system that is startling when it intervenes during sudden braking.

KatadataOTO – It's fair to say the BYD Sealion 7 was the center of attention at the IIMS 2025 exhibition last February. The first impression certainly comes from its modern and sporty appearance, similar to its sibling, the BYD Seal sedan model, but in the form of a crossover SUV.

It should be noted, the Sealion 7 and the Seal are indeed built on the same platform. However, they certainly have differences, as the Sealion 7's dimensions are larger, with a length of 4,830 mm, width of 1,925 mm, height of 1,620 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,930 mm. Meanwhile, the Seal has a length of 4,800 mm, width of 1,875 mm, height of 1,460 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,920 mm.

The Sealion 7 does look slightly larger than the Seal. Moreover, this crossover EV SUV has a ground clearance of 163 mm, which is 43 mm higher than the Seal, and uses 20-inch wheels.

So, what about the driving experience? This is a common question, and as it happens, KatadataOTO has the conclusion after conducting a media test drive of the BYD Sealion 7 from Jakarta to Bandung recently.

Interior and Features

Photo : KatadataOTO

Before going any further, KatadataOTO took a moment to enjoy the cabin space of the Sealion 7 Performance variant. The first truly tempting impression is the spacious cabin along with a high-quality finish, giving it a luxurious feel like European cars.

A pair of leather-upholstered semi-bucket seats are available for the driver and front passenger with electric adjustments, making it easy to find the best seating position and save it in one of two memory settings. The same spaciousness is also enjoyed by second-row passengers, plus a luggage compartment with a fairly large carrying capacity.

The next main attraction of the cabin comes from the 15.6-inch touchscreen display that can rotate 90 degrees. All feature settings are centralized there, including the ADAS safety system and the infotainment system, which is integrated with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth.

Photo : KatadataOTO

No less interesting is the top-tier Dynaudio 12-speaker audio system, and the soundproof cabin makes enjoying music inside the Sealion 7 very pleasant. Additionally, there is a 50-watt wireless smartphone charging feature with a cooling vent and a large 2.1-meter panoramic glass roof.