BYD Sealion 7 long-term test: report 2
Our high-mileage video editor wants to go electric, but needs a car capable of covering big miles – can the long-legged BYD Sealion 7 fit the bill?...
The Car BYD Sealion 7 Excellence AWD
Why it’s here To prove that an electric car can be a suitable choice for a high-mileage, luggage-loading videographer
Needs to Provide comfort on long journeys, easily transport people and equipment on long shoots and convince a die hard combustion engine user that ICE isn't the only way to go
Mileage 1650 List price £59,000 Best price £52,490 Price as tested £60,100 Official range 312 miles Test range 270 miles
5 November 2025 – Going up the country
The BYD Sealion 7 is my first fully electric car (EV), and it’s been a long time coming. As I talked about in my first report, I’ve held off out of fear. I had all the worst-case scenarios floating around in my head, and they weren’t just limited to failing to make it to my destination without running out of charge.
But now that I have an EV, I’m very much trying to face my fears rather than stay in my comfort zone. And that’s exactly what I did the other weekend, when I took the Sealion 7 down to Dorset for a short break with some friends.
I live in London, which meant it would be a 272-mile round trip and only just within my car’s 312-mile official range. So, I knew that in reality I’d probably have to charge at least once. And I also knew that there was one (yes, just one) public charger at the hotel I had booked, so if it was unavailable I’d be seeking out a service station.
Initially, while escaping the city limits, the indicated range decreased slowly. But then when I reached the motorway it flipped the script and the miles I supposedly had left disappeared much faster.
Still, at least I was comfortable, thanks to the supportive driver’s seat. What’s more, those in the back found they had loads of knee room. And wind and road noise were minimal, so the Sealion 7 was proving a relaxing long-distance cruiser.
Eventually my mates and I made it to our hotel with the Sealion 7’s range readout showing 140 miles (45%) remaining. So, yes, I was going to need to plug in, unless perhaps we did without the heater on the return trip.
Still, I needn’t have worried, because the 11kW public charger at our hotel was indeed available, meaning I could plug in overnight. And therefore when it was time to leave, the Sealion 7’s battery was at a blissful 100% state of charge.
We got back to London with no issues whatsoever, making me feel like a bit of a fool for worrying in the first place. And while my broader EV fears haven’t completely disappeared, they are certainly fading fast.
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