BYD Sealion 7 real world range tested, explained

BYD has launched its flagship SUV, the Sealion 7, in India, priced between Rs 48.9 lakh and Rs 54.9 lakh. This all-electric SUV is offered with a single 82.56kWh battery pack, available in two configurations: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive version producing 313hp and 380Nm and a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant with a combined output of 530hp and 690Nm. We put the latter (the dual-motor version) to the test to evaluate its real-world efficiency.

1. The claimed range is 542km
2. It gets multiple drive modes
3. Gets two regenerative braking levels; no one-pedal mode

BYD Sealion 7 range, efficiency in the real world 

Sealion 7 Performance has an overall real-world range of 374.5km on a single charge

While BYD claims a range of 542km on a full charge for the AWD variant, our real-world tests told a different story. The 2,340kg EV achieved an efficiency of 4.90km/kWh in city conditions and 4.17km/kWh on the highway. This translates to an estimated city range of 405km and a highway range of 344km.

One interesting observation is the Sealion 7’s behaviour under deceleration. After lifting off the accelerator, the vehicle continues to coast briefly before regenerative braking kicks in – a delay that’s noticeable. Even then, the regen itself is relatively weak compared to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and BMW iX1. Additionally, the Sealion 7 lacks a one-pedal driving mode, meaning it won’t come to a complete stop using regenerative braking alone.

Autocar India’s range testing

Before our real-world range test, the battery of our test car was fully charged, and tyre pressures were set according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. The car was driven in Mumbai city and on the adjoining state highway, on a fixed loop on a weekday, and we maintained the set average speeds. At the end of each cycle, we calculated the range based on the percentage of charge consumed. Throughout the test, the climate control was set to 22°C in full-auto setting, and other electricals like the audio system, indicators, and ventilated front seats were used as needed, just like a regular user would. We take pride in our testing data, which is not only consistent but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.

Also see:

2025 BYD Sealion 7 video review

BYD Sealion 05 EV revealed; gets up to 520km range

BYD Sealion 7 vs Seal: price, range, features and specs compared