BYD Sealion 7 long-term test: report 7
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 Run by Jonty Renk, video production manager
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 6887 List price £59,000 Best price £52,490 Price as tested £60,100 Official range 312 miles Test range 183 miles (Design)
26 February 2026 – Design change
It’s funny how bad experiences can give birth to good ones, like losing a job only to fall into a better one, or having a flight cancellation result in a night in a nice hotel. We’ve all been there, and I’m no exception, as my BYD Sealion 7 recently showed me.
You see, after a long day of shooting, all I wanted to do was drive home and relax. But along the way, a stone hit the windscreen and chipped it. This put me in a really bad mood.
When my car went off to get fixed at a BYD dealer, I was given a short-term replacement: another Sealion 7, albeit in mid-range Design trim. I’ve always been keen to try a cheaper version to see whether splashing out on my range-topping Excellence was worth it. Suddenly, the inconvenience of the chipped windscreen had an upside.
At first, it was hard to tell the difference – aside from the loaner being blue rather than black. They have the same ‘AWD’ and ‘4.5’ badging on the back (because both are four-wheel drive and capable of 0-62mph in 4.5sec), and near-identical black interiors.The pair get a lot of the same luxuries, too, including an electric tailgate, a panoramic glass roof and heated, ventilated front seats, plus I found them indistinguishable to drive.
Instead, the main differences come down to range and charging speed. With its smaller battery, the Design can officially cover up to 283 miles between top-ups, as opposed to the Excellence’s 312 miles. The Design has a slower peak charging rate (150kW versus 230kW), too.
This caused a little more range anxiety on longer journeys and meant I spent more time at public chargers. I’d say the time pretty much doubled, and that was enough for me to be glad I went for the Excellence.
But then I reminded myself of the £8000 price gap. When I ordered my Sealion 7, I was new to electric car ownership. I wanted the longest range available and was willing to accept the premium I’d need to pay to get it. But now that I’m more experienced? I’m not so sure.
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