Review: The 2026 BYD Sealion 7 — Family SUV, Sports Car Pace
On paper the BYD Sealion 7 looks like a sleek family electric SUV. Then you find out it does 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. We took a closer look to see whether the speed and the comfort really do live in the same car.
Brunei's EV scene has moved quickly over the past couple of years, and BYD has been right at the front of it. Maju Motors, the sole BYD distributor here, recently opened a new flagship showroom at Beribi Telanai, and one of the headliners on the floor is the Sealion 7. On paper this is a family-friendly mid-size electric SUV. In practice, it sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. So what do you get for BND 63,888? Let's break it down.
What’s good
- Very fast — around 523hp, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and a 4.5-second 0–100km/h time.
- Premium-feeling cabin with the signature rotating screen, Nappa leather, and 128-colour ambient lighting.
- Can handle roughly 542km of range, plus a small compartment for cables and small bags.
- Strong value for a feature-loaded electric SUV at this price.
What’s not so good
- Strictly a five-seater. Families needing seven seats will want to look at the Sealion 8.
- Brunei's public charging network is still building out, so longer trips need a bit of planning.
- The 20-inch wheels look great but can feel firm over rougher patches of road.
First Impressions
The Sealion 7 has more in common with a fastback coupe than a typical family SUV, exactly like a Porsche. The body sides are sculpted, the roofline slopes back into a dual rear spoiler, and the 20-inch alloys fill the wheel arches nicely. It's eye-catching without being shouty, and the proportions look more expensive than the price suggests.
Brunei buyers get four colours: Aurora White, Shark Grey, Atlantis Grey and Cosmos Black. The two greys are the standout picks. Shark Grey in particular suits the sporty silhouette and gives the car a slightly more under-the-radar look than the brighter white.
Inside the Cabin
Step inside and the cabin sells the price tag. The dashboard is built around BYD's signature rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen, which really does spin between landscape and portrait at the press of a button, paired with a 10.25-inch driver's display. Materials are good throughout, with Nappa leather on the seats and soft-touch surfaces on the doors and dash.
The feature list runs long. Ventilated front seats, ambient lighting in 128 colours, a ventilated 50W wireless charging pad so your phone doesn't cook, deep cupholders that hold a tall drink properly, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system. Dynaudio has become a staple across BYD's Brunei lineup after featuring in the Sealion 6 and Shark 6, and it sounds the part here too. Apple CarPlay is built in. The whole cabin feels like something from a much pricier badge.
Practical bits matter too. There's plenty of head and legroom in both rows, the boot easily takes a Mall run or weekend bags up to Miri, and there's a frunk under the bonnet for cables. It's a five-seater only — if you need a third row, the larger Sealion 8 is the one to look at.
The Driving Experience
This is where the Sealion 7 stops behaving like an ordinary family SUV. Two electric motors, one on each axle, make it all-wheel-drive and produce a combined 523 horsepower. The result is a 0–100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds, which is sports-car territory. Four driving modes let you dial things back for daily duty or open it up when you want more bite.
In normal driving, around Kiarong on the school run, a quick stop at Gadong, or out on the highway to KB, the Sealion 7 is calm, quiet and easy to live with. The steering is light at low speeds, the ride soaks up most of what Brunei's roads throw at you (the big wheels can feel firm on rougher patches), and refinement is excellent with no engine noise in the way. Then prod the throttle and it just goes. Silent and serene one moment, properly quick the next.
Range is rated at around 542km on a full charge, enough for a week of normal driving in Brunei or a comfortable round trip up to Miri.
Safety and Tech
BYD doesn't skimp here. The Sealion 7 comes with a full ADAS suite (advanced driver assistance), including adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. There are multiple airbags, electronic stability control, and a 360-degree camera that makes parking this big SUV in tight carparks at The Mall a lot less stressful. For an EV at this price, the safety package is comprehensive.
Value for Money
At BND 63,888, the Sealion 7 sits in interesting territory. It's an all-wheel-drive EV with a luxury cabin, a sub-5-second 0–100km/h time, and a feature list that punches above its price. Comparable performance from a German badge will easily double the bill, before you even factor in the cheaper running costs of going electric. Even in the EV space, this much equipment and pace at this price is rare.
Final Thoughts
The Sealion 7 makes its case quickly. It's fast where you don't expect it, comfortable where it counts, and well-equipped for the money. If you need seven seats it's not for you, and it's worth doing your homework on home charging before going fully electric in Brunei. But for a couple or a small family who want one car that handles the school run and still puts a smile on your face, it's hard to find a match at this price.
Speed or comfort? The Sealion 7 quietly answers: both.
You can view the Sealion 7 at the new BYD flagship showroom at Beribi Telanai, with test drives available through Maju Motors.