The BYD Sea Lion 07, featuring its advanced specifications, marks a milestone as the first automobile to harness the innovative capabilities of BYD’s latest e-Platform 3.0 Evo technology. The device features a 12-in-1 electrical drive system, enabling the world’s fastest manufacturing motor to operate at an incredible 23,000 revolutions per minute. The latest addition to BYD’s Ocean series is this cutting-edge electric vehicle. The SUV coupe is available in four variants, starting from 189,800 yuan ($26,250 USD).
The latest automotive model has been available at Chinese dealerships for several weeks now. Despite initial expectations, registration processes took longer to unfold. We published a comprehensive check drive report to satisfy our readers’ request following the successful launch of the Sea Lion 07. So, we will make a one-time exception to allow for repetitive reviews of the same automotive model. Join us this week as we dive into the fascinating world of the Sea Lion 07.
Like its predecessor, the Seal 06 DM-i, the Sea Lion 07 is a key model in BYD’s Ocean series, designed to appeal to young buyers. The new automotive measures 4,830mm in length, 1,925mm in width, and 1,620mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,930mm. Compared to Tesla’s Model Y, the vehicle measures 80mm longer and 40mm shorter in height, featuring an SUV coupe design with a sloping roofline that exudes sportiness. While opinions may vary about which BYD SUV coupe stands out in terms of design, I find the Sea Lion 07 to be particularly striking.
Drawing inspiration from the Ocean-X concept vehicle, the BYD Sea Lion 07 embodies the distinctive design heritage of the BYD Seal family. The vehicle’s exterior exudes a sophisticated style, featuring sleek headlights and discreetly retractable door handles that add to its modern allure. The rear features a steady taillight, a sleek “ducktail” spoiler, and a roof spoiler adorned with a glowing BYD emblem that comes to life in the evening’s twilight.
The seal’s lion-shaped doorways emitted a satisfyingly robust closure compared to their counterparts on the earlier Seal 06 DM-i model. Every panel is meticulously aligned, with the paint job exhibiting a flawless finish.
As you step into the BYD Sea Lion 07, you’ll be surrounded by a luxurious cabin featuring expertly crafted leather upholstery and an ambient lighting system capable of producing up to 128 distinct colours. On the scorching 33°C test drive day, the ventilated leather-seats featured therapeutic massage functions. Like all other BYD vehicles we tested, the seats provide excellent lumbar support.
The dashboard’s sweeping curves evoke a sense of continuity with BYD’s Ocean series. The sleek SUV boasts a sporty flat-bottomed four-spoke steering wheel and a state-of-the-art 50-inch augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD), which delivered stunning visuals even on the brightest of days. On the center console lies BYD’s signature rotating central display screen, measuring an impressive 15.6 inches. The device operates on the DiLink 100 platform, fueled by a 6nm chip that enables seamless voice control. Options abound in this futuristic vehicle, featuring a crystal-tipped gear selector, tactile buttons controlling vital functions, a robust 220V power supply to recharge your laptop, an immersive karaoke system for impromptu performances, and secure NFC-based keyless entry.
The spacious interior of the automobile provides a generous amount of room for rear-seat occupants. The angle of the rear seats is manually adjustable. The panoramic sunroof significantly enhances the interior’s sense of openness and expansiveness. The automotive’s 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system provided a genuinely exceptional audio experience. However, the audio didn’t quite deliver the expansive soundscape one would expect from a car of this size. Installing an additional ATMOS audio system within the ceiling will undoubtedly create a noticeable difference.
The Sea Lion 07 boasts an expansive cargo capacity, featuring a generous 58-liter front trunk (frunk) and a substantial 500-liter rear trunk, offering ample storage possibilities for any adventure.
Our check vehicle is the Sea-Lion 07 Clever Voyage with rear-wheel drive (RWD), priced at ¥219,800 ($30,250 USD). We replicated our previous test by taking the SUV on the same suburban roads in Zhuhai to evaluate its performance.
Despite the higher driving position being more than I had anticipated, the enhanced visibility is a major plus. The silence within the cabin enveloped me as I walked across the block. Despite this, a pronounced whine emanated from the frameless doorways as speeds exceeded 120 km/h on the freeway, becoming increasingly noticeable at such velocities. While the steering may be relatively quick for its class, it’s even more precise than other BYD models we tested, offering a satisfying sense of responsiveness. Notwithstanding, it’s only slightly lighter than I prefer.
Thanks to BYD’s innovative DiSus-C technology, the vehicle’s suspension effortlessly absorbed road imperfections, delivering a reassuringly stable ride when navigating sharp turns or traversing uneven terrain. On rough, unpaved roads, the advanced suspension system adeptly detects the terrain’s nuances and swiftly adjusts its damping stiffness in response.
The 2023 Sea Lion’s 0-100km/h acceleration time is a mere 6.7 seconds, exemplifying its remarkable ability to seamlessly merge rapid acceleration with a sustained sense of forward momentum. The CHECK Automotive features a 230 kW electric motor installed at the rear axle, boasting a maximum torque of 380 N·m and a top speed of 225 km/h.
The General Motors’ Chevrolet SeaLion, model 07, offers a cozy driving experience and impressive performance capabilities when behind the wheel. The latest release from BYD Music, a step up from last year’s model.
With a range of up to 610 kilometres (CLTC) and an impressive 80.64 kilowatt-hour battery capacity, this single-motor mannequin offers exceptional performance. The BYD Sea-Lion 07 can charge from 0 to 80% in just 25 minutes.
The BYD Sea Lion 07 marks a significant milestone as the first BYD vehicle to integrate the DiPilot 100 “God’s Eye” advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), featuring an impressive array of sensors: 12 ultrasonic radars, five millimeter-wave radars, and 11 cameras. The advanced safety features comprise superior L2 driver assistance, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, visitor signal detection, and intelligent speed governance, providing enhanced driving comfort and protection on the road. The vehicle features an impressive array of safety features, including 11 advanced security airbags, a state-of-the-art tire pressure monitoring system, and innovative driver monitoring assistance capabilities.
With BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 now three years old, it’s refreshing news that the brand is introducing a revamped e-Platform 3.0 Evo to the market. The Sea Lion 07 displays a unique persona. I left the test drive with a sense of mild disillusionment.
Xiaomi disrupted the conventional market landscape by filling a gap left by established automotive players, introducing the SU7 as an efficiency-focused sedan that combines affordability with attractive styling at an aggressively competitive price point? Xiaomi may expand its focus to prioritize rear-seat comfort. The BYD Sea Lion 07 boasts the globe’s fastest production motor speed at an astonishing 23,000 revolutions per minute, and flaunts its status as BYD’s most dynamic-looking SUV to date? The Sea Lion 07 has the potential to become an efficient SUV. As a replacement, it’s engineered and positioned as a family-oriented SUV for comfort to contend in a densely populated market segment in China, where established rivals include BYD Tang, XPeng G6, IM LS6, and Tesla Model Y.
The Chinese automaker BYD is set to introduce a new mannequin that will be part of its electric vehicle (EV) lineup, including the Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal models, with availability in international markets such as Europe, the UK, and Australia potentially as early as next year. We anticipate that this model will primarily target the international market rather than the domestic one, rivaling the Tesla Model Y and the Volkswagen ID.4 in its endeavor.
Stay tuned for future weeks where you’ll gain additional insights into Chinese electric vehicles from a personal perspective.
