BYD Sealion 7 Premium completes 500 km drive challenge without recharging – test drive review

BYD Sealion 7 Premium Media Drive 2026 (13)

The BYD Sealion 7 Premium is rated for 650 km of driving range under the NEDC cycle, thanks to its upgraded 800V electric architecture.

With that in mind, we were tasked with driving over 500 km without performing any battery charging throughout the journey.

To ensure complete transparency, the charging ports on all vehicles were sealed with stickers to prevent any form of tampering.

Below is a summary of our two‑day drive:

Day One

Route: Ara Damansara → Gambang, stopover in Mentakab via old trunk roads

We departed from BYD Ara Damansara with 99% battery SoC and an indicated driving range of 649 km.

After navigating several highways congested with morning traffic, our Ultraviolet‑coloured Sealion 7 Premium successfully passed the Gombak toll plaza.

From there, we maintained a consistent driving pattern despite steeper gradients, roadworks, and slow‑moving heavy vehicles.

After the Karak toll plaza, we exited the highway and continued on federal roads towards our first stop in Mentakab. Compared to the highway, the old road proved more challenging with hilly terrain, sharp bends, and uneven surfaces.

For a driver accustomed to heavier steering, the Sealion 7’s handling felt light and easy to manage — something most users will appreciate.

The suspension also performed well, absorbing bumps and rough patches effectively. However, rear passengers may experience some discomfort due to the rear suspension’s tendency to bounce over uneven surfaces.

We arrived in Mentakab for lunch with 79% battery SoC and 517 km of remaining range.

After the break, we continued towards Gambang. Despite the hot weather, the cabin remained comfortable thanks to air‑conditioning vents for every row — each of which can be adjusted manually without relying on the central touchscreen.

Rear occupants also benefit from generous headroom and legroom, complemented by a flat floor layout.

After slightly more than an hour of driving, we reached our overnight stop with 62% battery SoC and 404 km of remaining range.

Based on Day One’s drive, we recorded an energy consumption of 13.9 kWh/100 km.

Day Two

Route: Gambang → Ara Damansara, stopover at Ayu Awana, Genting Highlands

We began Day Two under cloudy skies with intermittent rain. With the battery at around 60% and 390 km of remaining range, we continued on the highway.

For safety, we maintained speeds between 70–90 km/h.

Unlike the previous day, continuous highway driving resulted in slightly higher energy consumption at 14.8 kWh/100 km.

Upon passing the Bentong toll plaza, range anxiety began to creep in, the upcoming stretch was significantly steeper compared to the relatively flat Gambang–Bentong section.

As expected, the uphill climb pushed energy consumption up to 26.1 kWh/100 km.

Upon reaching Ayu Awana, the battery dropped to 21% SoC with 138 km of remaining range.

During the descent, we activated stronger regenerative braking to maximise energy recovery. As a result, the battery increased by 2%, and the remaining range rose to 150 km as we approached the Gombak toll plaza.

It wasn’t a dramatic gain for an EV with a large battery, but it was enough to ease our concerns.

Ultimately, we completed 509 km of driving with 19% battery SoC and 120 km of remaining range.

In theory, yes you can achieve the range displayed by the vehicle’s computer. But it requires proper driving technique and a light right foot.

Is the Sealion 7 worth buying?

The Sealion 7 is a strong contender for families seeking a spacious and comfortable SUV, priced at just RM188,800.

With its 800V architecture, it offers more efficient energy usage and significantly faster DC charging at 230 kW, enabling 10–80% charging in just 24 minutes.

One of the highlights for the writer is the cockpit layout, which retains many physical buttons for essential functions including drive modes, gear selector, audio controls, and a familiar start button similar to ICE vehicles.

Prefer an alternative?

If fast charging isn’t a priority and range matters more, you can still find the previous Sealion 7 Premium at used‑car dealerships.

Visually, both versions look almost identical.

Performance remains the same at 308 hp, 380 Nm, and rear‑wheel drive. However, the earlier model uses a 400V architecture with an 82.56 kWh battery pack.

It offers 567 km of range and supports DC fast charging up to 150 kW (10–80% in 31 minutes).