Latest news with #Sealion7
Canberra Times
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
Australia's EV sales race gets a jolt as surprising new entry knocks off a Tesla
To the end of May, Geely has delivered 1023 examples of its EX5 this year. It's still behind the rival Sealion 7 (1961), of which first deliveries were recorded a month earlier than the EX5's in February, and just below the Atto 3 (1278).
Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
Is the exceptional BYD Sealion 7 the best value electric SUV in South Africa?
The BYD Sealion 7 provides incredible comfort and a smooth drive. BYD has become an unstoppable force in the world of new-energy vehicles globally after surpassing Tesla with sales figures in late 2024. Its momentum in South Africa has been slow, however, but it didn't enter the local market very loudly. In April, BYD finally decided to announce loud and clear that it was here with three new models: the Shark 6, which is a plug-in hybrid bakkie; the Sealion 6, a plug-in hybrid SUV and the Sealion 7, a fully electric SUV that is the flagship model in South Africa. The Mail & Guardian had the Sealion 7 on test for a week. It's always exciting to get hold of EVs to get to understand them better because they are still fairly rare in South Africa. I remember my time with the Volvo EX30 and how I struggled to charge the vehicle because I live about 60km out of Johannesburg. Luckily, a home charger is included with the BYD Sealion 7, so that took my early anxiety away. The Sealion 7 comes with BYD's blade battery, offering 82.56 kilowatt-hour capacity. This means that you get a maximum range of 482km on a full battery, which is a good amount. I drove the vehicle from Sandton to Springs and back and made multiple trips from Springs to Boksburg. I also used it around town for the time I had it on test and only needed to charge it once. While the portable wall charger is only 2.2kWh, and takes about 24 hours to charge from 30% to 80%, BYD does include a 7kWh wallbox charger, when you purchase the vehicle. This means that you could charge it to 100% in 12 hours at home. However, if you are out and about, and can find a fast charging station in the city, the Sealion 7 can charge from 20% to 80% in 30 minutes. The exterior In the last quarter of 2024, BYD released the sporty Seal 7 sedan and the Sealion 7 is meant to be an extension of that vehicle. The Sealion 7 maintains that sporty look with very distinctive headlights in the front and subtle daytime running lights that run sharply below the headlights. The shape in the front is capped off by two bonnet lines that come down towards the headlights. What I love about the Sealion 7 is that it is a very attractive vehicle but the manufacturer has not overdone anything to give it a sporty feel. The back is a treat. The SUV does not become boxy but rather follows the curve shape all the way to the boot with a superb lightbar across the back that gives off Porsche Cayenne vibes. The best word to use for the entire exterior of the BYD Sealion 7 is 'sexy'. There's no doubt that it's a head turner and BYD's intention of producing a sport-coupe SUV is embodied by the exterior. The interior BYD does its best work inside the Sealion 7. The interior is plush, comfortable, spacious and packed with technology. From the time you enter the vehicle, you are treated to beautiful ambient lighting that extends all the way around the vehicle. The leather seats are extremely comfortable and there is ample space even at the back. The BYD Sealion 7 offers 500 litres of boot capacity, with the rear seats in place, and there's also 58 litres of front boot space that is ideal for an overnight bag. The centre console is neatly done but the highlight of the interior is the 15.6 inch infotainment screen that can be rotated to either portrait or landscape. 15.6 inches is huge for a screen in a vehicle. This screen allows you to change interior settings in the vehicle, like colours and themes, and even allows you to schedule charging. There is an exceptional amount of quality and tidiness on the door panels that I appreciated greatly. For me, the interior of the Sealion 7 is appealing, yet calming. There's a type of zen energy that it gives off while still keeping the sporty-coupe aura. The drive Driving EVs is always interesting. The silence when starting the vehicle and moving at slow speeds feels great, but as you pick up speed, that is where you can really understand the ride quality of the vehicle. One issue that I generally face with EVs is that when you press down on the accelerator, because you get instant torque, the kick feels too powerful and there is no gradual pick up in speed. BYD has managed this quite well in the Sealion 7. Yes, there is an instant kick but not so much that you are pushed back in your seat. I also liked that, once you passed 100km/h, the speed picked up gradually but the vehicle still felt very powerful. Of course, with 230kW of power and 380Nm of torque, power is never going to be a problem. The variant I was in went from 0 to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds. You also get the performance all-wheel-drive variant that delivers 390kW of power and 690Nm of torque and goes from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, which is ridiculous. While there was not much wind noise, and the cabin remained silent, I could feel the smoothness of the drive evaporate slightly when I approached the national speed limit. Safety The BYD Sealion 7 has earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating and comes with all the safety features you need. They include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and driver-attention warning. The BYD Sealion 7 also comes with predictive collision technology, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed-limit control. One thing that was impressive was that the steering wheel was not terribly sensitive to the lane-keep assist as it is in most vehicles. Of course, it would warn you if you tried to move out of the lane without indicating but it was not a constant fight with the steering wheel to assert control over the vehicle. Verdict The BYD Sealion 7 is stunning both inside and out, has exceptional features and is more spacious than it looks from the outside. All this, coupled with the fact that it is a fully electric SUV, makes it an exceptional all-round vehicle. Priced at R1 099 900 for the premium variant and R1 299 900 for the performance variant, it is still great value for money, given how EVs are priced in the country.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
BYD Sealion 7 should make a splash in Ireland's hottest EV segment
BYD Sealion 7 Year : 2025 Fuel : Electric Verdict : Spacious and stylish, leaning more to comfort than performance. Definitely worth the test-drive shortlist if considering a crossover EV. BYD just dropped another EV into the mix – time to check how China's car game is basically running the world. Remember, it's only two years ago last month since the brand arrived in Ireland with its Atto 3 . This year it is outselling Tesla and sitting between Opel and Volvo on the sales tables. Globally, China produced 31.3 million vehicles last year, ahead of 19.2 million for all of the Americas, and 17.2 million for all of Europe. BYD Sealion 7 Narrow that down a bit, and the US produced 10.6 million, Japan 8.2 million, while Germany made just over four million cars, according to figures compiled by the OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers). Admittedly, most of that Chinese production goes to the home market and, for all its modern plants, it is still some way behind South Korea in terms of automation in its production processes. The Chinese production is also spread across more than 100 companies, weakening the impact of its volume. READ MORE You can see why Europe's auto executives are worried – and encouraging EU officials to stem the tide. The problem is that many of the arrivals are just very good. BYD's Seal is a sleek saloon, not without flaws, but certainly capable of challenging what Europe has to offer. Its Sealion 7 enters one of the toughest segments of the market, up against the bestselling EV out there at present, the Volkswagen ID.4 , plus pitching against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 . Yes, it's a silly name, but not much sillier than the rest of the coterie that's out there. BYD's naming department may be watching Blue Planet on a loop, but is that any different from VW's previous focus on winds and weather, from the Scirocco and Bora to the Passat? BYD Sealion 7 The Sealion 7 is basically an SUV crossover version of the Seal saloon. It comes in three flavours: single-motor rear-wheel-drive Comfort and dual-motor all-wheel-drive Design. Both use the 82.5kWh battery pack, delivering a claimed range of 482km for Comfort and 452km for Design. Then there is the Excellence version we tested, with its 91.3kWh battery pack and a claimed range of 502km. The smaller battery can take a charge at speeds of up to 150kW, while the larger battery can cope with 230kW. All versions have pep, but the larger battery and AWD set-up give the Excellence a 0-100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds. That means it will outrun most of its EV rivals, never mind the regular or hybrid set, even leaving many premium counterparts in its rear-view mirror. BYD Sealion 7 That figure might suggest a taut racer, but this is anything but: it's soft and pliable, tending towards comfort over outright performance. Getting that balance of power and comfort right is really hard, and it's where the Sealion 7 shows some weakness. By keeping the steering and suspension soft and gentle, it can't deliver the confident handling to make the most of those performance stats. Which is why the Sealion 7 is better suited to the comfort of everyday motoring. This is a natural cruiser, not an edgy racer. If you manage the range – in reality closer to the low 400km than the stated 502km – this can have you complete cross-country runs with little effort. That level of comfort is reflected in the cabin, which is whisper quiet. Material choices match the likes of Tesla, if still not quite on a par with some Europeans, but they are getting close. BYD Sealion 7 Meanwhile, the big talking point as you waft along in this electric-powered livingroom on wheels will be the rear legroom, which is so spacious that it would seem a viable option for taxi drivers. Inevitably we turn to the electronics and gadgetry, and once more the Chinese have thrown every whizz-bang feature at this car. Some are useful, some smart, many irrelevant. It's confusing at first, but give it five minutes and you'll be swiping like a Gen Z on TikTok. One admirable feature is the ability to turn off the speed-limit alert with the touch of a little icon on the top right of the screen. However, it's going to be a steep learning curve for many motorists getting out of older cars, and many will be driven demented by the multiple safety warnings and beeps for relatively inconsequential risks. BYD Sealion 7 BYD Sealion 7 The infotainment system, controlled from the 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, remains overly complex for simple features. Take the sliding cover for the panoramic roof. You need to engage the car feature from the menu, then rotate the admittedly smart graphic of the car until a small dot appears above its roof; touch on that, and then when a new graphic of the roof appears, you get the option to open or close the roof. Seriously: would one actual button kill them? It makes you wonder whether the software engineers who devise these sleek graphic controls spend much time on the road, driving a family around and having to open or close the roof blind while on the move. These are minor gripes, but ones to consider when you weigh the price against rivals: starting at €45,435 for the Comfort version and rising to €56,490 for the Excellence we tested. Tesla's Model Y with 500km range starts at very nearly the same price – €45,058 – while the long-range AWD version – claiming 586km – tops out at €52,990. BYD Sealion 7 Meanwhile, the VW ID.4 starts at €39,675 for the 52kWh battery with a range of 360km, while the 77kWh GTX comes in at €56,385, with a claimed range of 526km. Going up against the ID.4 means the Sealion 7 is now swimming with the big fish, but it's no minnow. It could get a better balance between performance and comfort, but none of its rivals have really managed to nail that either. There are better-handling crossover EVs out there for this money, but weighing up the ample space, smart interior and comfort, if you're EV-curious and tired of the usual suspects, the Sealion 7 deserves a spin. Lowdown: BYD Sealion 7 Excellence Power 390kW from dual e-motors developing 690Nm of torque, taking power from a 91.3kWh battery pack capable of 230kW DC charging and 11kW AC. CO2 emissions (annual motor tax) 0g/km (€120). Electric range 502km (WLTP) 0-100km/h 4.5 sec. Price €56,490 as tested, Sealion 7 starts from €45,435. Our rating 3/5. Verdict Spacious and stylish, leaning more to comfort than performance. Definitely worth the test-drive shortlist if considering a crossover EV.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Skoda Elroq: How many of the new electric SUVs are coming to Australia and when?
Skoda Australia says it'll have limited allocation of its new Elroq EV coming Down Under for the remainder of 2025 after its September launch, but this will "approximately double" the following year. Director for the Czech brand's local division, Lucie Kuhn, told CarExpert at the pre-production drive of the new Elroq that "approximately 350 units" should arrive in 2025, and around double that in 2026. Further, Ms Kuhn said that Skoda Australia is expecting a sales split of "around 50:50" between the entry-level Elroq 85 Select and decked-out Elroq 130 Edition. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. With prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs, both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. That's more driving range than both the entry-level BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications. The European-made Elroq's base price positioning is smack bang up against the physically larger Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Model Y RWD ($58,990). Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming. Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm). Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L). Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq Content originally sourced from: Skoda Australia says it'll have limited allocation of its new Elroq EV coming Down Under for the remainder of 2025 after its September launch, but this will "approximately double" the following year. Director for the Czech brand's local division, Lucie Kuhn, told CarExpert at the pre-production drive of the new Elroq that "approximately 350 units" should arrive in 2025, and around double that in 2026. Further, Ms Kuhn said that Skoda Australia is expecting a sales split of "around 50:50" between the entry-level Elroq 85 Select and decked-out Elroq 130 Edition. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. With prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs, both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. That's more driving range than both the entry-level BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications. The European-made Elroq's base price positioning is smack bang up against the physically larger Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Model Y RWD ($58,990). Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming. Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm). Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L). Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq Content originally sourced from: Skoda Australia says it'll have limited allocation of its new Elroq EV coming Down Under for the remainder of 2025 after its September launch, but this will "approximately double" the following year. Director for the Czech brand's local division, Lucie Kuhn, told CarExpert at the pre-production drive of the new Elroq that "approximately 350 units" should arrive in 2025, and around double that in 2026. Further, Ms Kuhn said that Skoda Australia is expecting a sales split of "around 50:50" between the entry-level Elroq 85 Select and decked-out Elroq 130 Edition. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. With prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs, both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. That's more driving range than both the entry-level BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications. The European-made Elroq's base price positioning is smack bang up against the physically larger Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Model Y RWD ($58,990). Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming. Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm). Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L). Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq Content originally sourced from: Skoda Australia says it'll have limited allocation of its new Elroq EV coming Down Under for the remainder of 2025 after its September launch, but this will "approximately double" the following year. Director for the Czech brand's local division, Lucie Kuhn, told CarExpert at the pre-production drive of the new Elroq that "approximately 350 units" should arrive in 2025, and around double that in 2026. Further, Ms Kuhn said that Skoda Australia is expecting a sales split of "around 50:50" between the entry-level Elroq 85 Select and decked-out Elroq 130 Edition. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. With prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs, both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. That's more driving range than both the entry-level BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications. The European-made Elroq's base price positioning is smack bang up against the physically larger Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Model Y RWD ($58,990). Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming. Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm). Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L). Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2025 Skoda Elroq pricing: Czech EV to undercut ID.4 and Model Y
Skoda Australia has confirmed preliminary details of its upcoming Elroq electric SUV, ahead of a sales launch in September. A pair of variants will be available at launch – the 85 Select and 130 Edition – with prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs. That puts the European-made Elroq smack bang up against the physically larger BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,990). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Pre-production vehicle shown Credit: CarExpert Both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. Skoda also quotes an urban cycle range of 661km, again WLTP-certified. That's more driving range than both the entry-level Sealion 7 and Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications. Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are 'under study' for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming. Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm). Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L). Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Skoda Elroq 85 Select equipment highlights: 19-inch Regulus alloy wheels Keyless entry, start 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system Wireless App-Connect Wireless smartphone charger incl. ventilation Dual-zone climate control Heated front seats Leather-wrapped steering wheel – heated Heated, folding, auto-dimming side mirrors Mode 3 (Type 2) charging cable 1 x door-mounted umbrella Elroq 130 Edition adds: 21-inch Supernova alloy wheels Matrix LED headlights Premium LED tail lights Head-up display incl. augmented reality function Intelligent Park Assist Power-adjustable front seats 360-degree parking cameras Canton 12-speaker sound system Power tailgate 'Premium' interior finishes Rear sunshades Supplied Credit: CarExpert Standard safety features include: 7 airbags Travel Assist Front Assist – AEB Side Assist The Skoda Elroq is yet to receive an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, though the vehicle only commenced production in January and just started hitting European roads. Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. Supplied Credit: CarExpert MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq
