BYD Sealion 7 Review: Smart Electric SUV for UAE Families

Abu Dhabi: The UAE market is not new to electric vehicles; almost all global brands are introducing their best car right here in our market. The arrival of the BYD Sealion 7 earlier this year is a perfect example of this growing trend. This 5-seater all-electric crossover SUV resembles its sibling Seal and follows BYD's Ocean series design language. This full-size family SUV is here to redefine the segment with luxury and everyday practicality. It starts at The Sealion 7 combines practicality with a package that costs less than most established rivals. Starting from AED 172,900, a lot more affordable than most well-established rivals.

What You're Getting

The Sealion 7 sits in that sweet spot between affordable and well-equipped. At 4,830 mm long and 1,925 mm wide, it has proper SUV proportions without feeling oversized on Emirati roads or Dubai streets. 

Dimension 

Parameter	Value
Length	4,830 mm
Width	1,925 mm
Height	1,620 mm
Wheelbase	2,930 mm
Boot Space	500 L
Seating Capacity	5

Two variants are available: the Premium at AED 172,900 and the Performance at AED 192,900. Both share the same 82.5 kWh battery, delivering around 482 km of range on a full charge.

Battery and Charging

Specification	Detail
Battery Type	Blade Battery
Battery Capacity	82.5 kWh
AC Charging	Standard home charging
Fast Charging	10-80% in approx. 20–30 minutes
App Support	Monitor and control charging remotely

That range figure matters here. With summer temperatures touching 45 degrees and above, air conditioning running constantly, the real-world range will drop, but you'll still comfortably manage daily commutes and weekend trips without range anxiety. Fast charging support means a 10-80% charge takes roughly 20-30 minutes at compatible stations, which are becoming more common across the Emirates.

Appealing Design

The exterior is certainly appealing to most buyers in the UAE. BYD went for clean, modern lines instead of aggressive styling. The front features attractive LED headlights, while the rear gets distinctive tail lamps with a subtle water-drop design. It looks contemporary without being polarising, which should age well. The 500-litre boot is sufficient to handle family groceries, everyday needs, road trips, and sports equipment comfortably. There's also a small frunk up front for charging cables and smaller items. Rear seats fold flat when you need to haul larger cargo, making it genuinely practical for UAE family life.

Variant	Price (AED)	Power (hp)	Torque (Nm)	Drivetrain	Battery (kWh)	Range (km)	Fast Charging (10-80%)
Premium	1,72,900	308	380	RWD	82.5	482	20–30 min
Performance	1,92,900	523	690	AWD	82.5	456	20–30 min

Premium Cabin 

Step inside, and the cabin immediately feels more expensive than the price suggests, feels a segment above. At the centre of the cockpit is the massive 15.6-inch touchscreen that rotates between portrait and landscape modes. It is seamless, highly responsive, intuitive, and handles everything from navigation to climate control, and is absolutely user-friendly.  Interestingly, there are physical buttons for essential functions like temperature and volume, which is quite good and not hunting through menus while driving.

Front seats come ventilated, which is essential in the UAE heat, mostly common in the segment. The panoramic sunroof opens up the cabin nicely, though you'll likely keep it shaded most of the year. The ambient lighting makes the cabin modern and elegant, and dual wireless charging pads mean no fighting over cables.

Rear passengers are well taken care of. There are dedicated air vents, USB ports, and genuine legroom. Three adults fit comfortably, making school runs and weekend trips with extended family entirely manageable. The cabin materials mix soft-touch surfaces with harder plastics, but nothing feels cheap or offensive, something that impressed us a lot. Nothing that it suggests is a Chinese brand, indeed, they have become quite mainstream now. 

Top Tech

The feature list reads like something from a luxury SUV. You get keyless entry, NFC card access for your phone, a head-up display, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. These aren't just filling the boxes, but you will notice, they're genuinely useful on busy highways and tight parking situations.

Category	Feature
Interior	Leather seats
	Ambient lighting
	15.6-inch rotating touchscreen
	Dual wireless charging
	Panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade
Connected	Cloud-connected BYD App
	Remote seat ventilation
	Remote AC control and monitoring
	Door, trunk, window status & remote lock
Exterior	Sleek coupe design
	20-inch alloy wheels
	Ocean-inspired details
Convenience	Keyless entry
	NFC card access
	Head-up display

The 360° camera system proves particularly valuable in mall parking or navigating narrow city streets. Likewise, the lane-keeping and adaptive cruise make Sheikh Zayed Road commutes less tiring. The tech integration feels thought-through rather than overwhelming.

Perfect Drive

Considering the driving needs in the Emirates, you won't feel inadequate at all. The electric motors offer you instant torque, and the Sealion 7 uses that to good effect. The acceleration feels brisk and quite smooth, whether merging onto E11 or overtaking slower traffic. The Premium variant uses rear-wheel drive, while the Performance adds a front motor for all-wheel drive. For most UAE conditions, the Premium has more than enough performance.

Top speed sits at 215 km/h, excellent for highway drives, and should satisfy most users, but may not be thrilling for everyone. However, what matters the most is everyday driivng and its performance on highway speeds. It has a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link at the rear which balances comfort with control. On the smooth roads, it feels refined; while on rougher surfaces it gets absorbed reasonably well, though very uneven patches can feel slightly firm, but not a big concern.  

The body roll stays well managed, you feel controlled through corners, and the steering feels direct without being overly heavy, and braking is predictable. The regenerative braking works smoothly, recovering energy without the jerky feeling some EVs have. Cabin noise remains low around town, with only minor wind and tyre noise at higher speeds.

A Daily Companion

For your daily commute, the Sealion 7 is nothing but perfect. It's not just fun to drive, it is pocket-friendly too. Charging at home overnight using a standard wall box means you start each day with a full battery. Public fast chargers work for longer trips or if you don't have home charging. The vehicle-to-load function even lets you power small appliances or tools when you're away from home, which is surprisingly useful.

Interior storage covers the basics with door pockets, cupholders, and a centre console. The rotating touchscreen and ambient lighting add that modern touch that makes the cabin feel current and well-designed.

For your highway drive or weekend trip, the Sealion 7 comes with real capabilities. With a full charge, moderate speeds, and AC running, you can easily travel between two cities comfortably within the 480 km range. The cabin mostly remained comfortable for all passengers, and the SUV took on our terrains, like uphill sections, rather smoothly. This BYD SUV is actually quite perfect for all the driving conditions in the UAE, including city commutes, highway cruising, and short desert trips. It delivers without compromise.

You get home, charging, which is convenient and easy for everyday use. The charging network is expanding in the UAE, but for long road trips, you need to plan to be able to use fast chargers strategically, especially during peak summer, when range drops faster with heavy AC use.

BYD is a global leader when it comes to EVs, and the brand is gradually expanding its presence in the UAE EV market. The service network is growing, but you can’t compare with Toyota or Nissan yet. That's improving, but it's worth considering service availability near you. The ride can feel slightly firm over very rough roads, and the range will drop in extreme heat with AC maxed out. Fast charger availability along some routes could be better, though this is rapidly improving across the Emirates.

Conclusion 

The BYD Sealion 7 is impressive for anyone looking for an affordable full-size family SUV in the UAE. A lot is going for it; it has excellent practical range, comprehensive features, robust performance, and is available at a most attractive price. And, hence, overall makes it a compelling package that is ideal for real family use. This may not be a perfect alternative to the top luxury brands, but for buyers looking for a contemporary, well-equipped, affordable 5-seater SUV, then it is a suitable choice. You can consider it seriously if this is your first EV or upgrading from a conventional SUV. It makes a lot of sense from the value proposition point of view and comes with everyday usability. There is great tech, nice desing, and also BYD, a globally proven EV brand.