Inside BYD’s lush & roomy Sealion 7 EV as Chinese firm’s hi-tech ‘Ocean Series’ motors set to storm the UK

DOLPHIN. Seal. Shark. Sealion. DolphinMini.

Sounds similar a crippled of I Spy astatine The Deep.

But it’s not an aquarium.

It’s a car showroom.

Packed with hi-tech motors from BYD. China’s megalodon.

BYD arrived connected these shores a small implicit a twelvemonth agone and is already stirring things up. Like, truly stirring things up.

They’ve got Premier League stars driving their cars. Kyle Walker. Phil Foden. Ollie Watkins. Wayne Rooney.

They’ve got Uber drivers driving their cars.

By this clip next year, they’ll person 120 UK dealers encouraging YOU to thrust their cars.

Some axenic electric. Some petrol/electric plug-in hybrids.

But each packed with cutting-edge tech and TikTok-pleasing rotating touchscreens.

Now earlier we speech Sealion 7 — the car you spot successful the large representation — I request to explicate what a unit BYD is.

Last period it sold fractional a cardinal cars. I repeat, fractional a cardinal cars. In a month.

Make that 4 million-plus by the extremity of the twelvemonth — DOUBLE the full UK market.

Like I say, megalodon.

BYD is present gathering factories successful Hungary and Turkey to nutrient galore of its vehicles for Europe successful Europe — thereby avoiding tariffs. Then there’s BYD electrical London buses, trucks and vans.

BYD astir apt made the batteries successful your laptop and smartphone.

Right, let’s unpack Sealion 7.

Basically, it’s a Tesla Model Y. But better. Although pricier than you mightiness think.

The level Blade artillery is portion of the car’s structure, adding spot and improving driving fun.

The rear e-motor revs to 23,000rpm, the fastest successful wide production. Part of the assemblage operation uses Submarine-class steel.

Another marine notation for you there.

The cheapest version, astatine £46k, is 310hp and nudges 300 miles. The £50k mentation we tested is 530hp, four-wheel thrust and arsenic accelerated AF.

You bash suffer a smidge of scope for that other oomph.

But that’s not truly an contented erstwhile recharging to 80 per cent takes lone 24 minutes. That’s a speedy tea-and-pee break.

We liked the suspension. Good equilibrium betwixt assemblage rotation and thrust comfort, particularly for an SUV weighing a hefty 2.3 tonnes.

The wheels were wrapped successful all-weather Pirelli tyres.

But we didn’t similar the brakes much. It needs much wound astatine the apical of the pedal, if you cognize what I mean. Plus, the compartment wasn’t arsenic hushed arsenic we were told.

I’m definite BYD volition work this review and lick each that. The Chinese larn quickly.

On the flipper side, everything other from present connected retired is decent. The compartment is lush and roomy. That 15.6in rotating touchscreen is gaming-speed fast.

You get heated seats each circular and a immense solid roof. Everyone volition beryllium happy. They won’t get oversea sick.

Also worthy noting. It’s a five-seater. Not seven, arsenic the sanction mightiness suggest. We’re told “7” refers to the size and shape of the car.

As for petrol/electric, BYD has Seal U and volition widen the nett with 4 much plug-in hybrids adjacent year. Hatchback. Saloon. SUV. All with fishy names nary doubt. Plus, the awesome Shark pick-up truck.

Bosses confirmed a smaller EV to beryllium beneath the £26k Dolphin volition beryllium called DolphinMini (known arsenic Seagull successful its location market).

They should headhunt Sir David Attenborough arsenic the frontman.