BYD Sealion 7 EV SUV open for booking in Malaysia – Tesla Model Y rival, up to 530 PS, 567 km NEDC range

This just in – BYD Malaysia has announced that the Sealion 7 is now open for booking. Confirmation came as part of a social media post that finally revealed the car in full after weeks of teasing. You can click here to book for a RM1,000 booking fee.

Measuring 4,830 mm long, 1,925 mm wide, 1,620 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,930 mm, this electric SUV is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y and should be priced as such, just like how the Seal is currently doing battle with the Model 3. Expect the Sealion 7 to be priced slightly higher than its sedan sibling, which currently retails for between RM163,800 and RM199,800 nett.

Despite its name, the Sealion 7 is closer to the Song L – another coupé-style electric SUV with a long body and low roofline – than the more conventional plug-in hybrid Sealion 6 DM-i. The design, meanwhile, borrows plenty from the Seal, not least the C-shaped headlights, large air intakes, full-width taillights and large rear diffuser.

BYD Sealion 7 EV SUV open for booking in Malaysia – Tesla Model Y rival, up to 530 PS, 567 km NEDC range

The interior is a sleeker affair compared to past BYDs, with a double-layer dashboard neatly integrating the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and illuminated passenger panel. You still, of course, get a massive 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, along with available features such as a 50-inch augmented reality head-up display, Nappa leather upholstery, a panoramic glass roof, front and rear heated and ventilated seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.

In Hong Kong, its first export market, the Sealion 7 is available with two powertrain options, with the base model getting a single rear motor producing 313 PS (230 kW) and 380 Nm of torque, powering the car from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. A standard-fit 82.56 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery provides a range of 567 km on the NEDC cycle.

Meanwhile, the AWD model adds a front motor with 218 PS (160 kW) and 310 Nm, resulting in a total system output of 530 PS (390 kW) and 690 Nm; the century sprint is completed some 2.2 seconds quicker at 4.5 seconds. As a result of the increased performance, range has dropped slightly to 542 km. The car supports up to 150 kW of DC fast charging power and 11 kW of AC charging.

BYD Sealion 7 EV SUV open for booking in Malaysia – Tesla Model Y rival, up to 530 PS, 567 km NEDC range

It should be noted that in Europe, the top AWD model will receive a larger 91.3 kWh battery, as well as support for up to 230 kW of DC fast charging thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture. It remains to be seen which version we’ll get, although our money is on the model sold in Hong Kong.

Whichever version we’ll get, the Sealion 7 certainly sounds like a compelling proposition. What do you think – would you get this over the Model Y? Sound off in the comments section after the jump.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.