The Truth About My Sealion 7 After 38,000 km

BYD Sealion 7 Ownership Update

The owner reports roughly 1.5 years and 38,000 km with the Sealion 7. Overall, it has been reliable, with no serious mechanical problems, though some software and minor hardware annoyances remain.

Positives and Ownership Experience

• Reliability: Trouble-free overall; the owner describes the car as dependable.
• Range display: A full charge typically shows about 455 km, which the owner says is generally accurate.
• Original tires: Replaced at around 38,000 km, with roughly 20% tread remaining.
• Run-flat tires: Chosen for added reassurance, particularly because the owner’s wife also drives the car and they often travel across the Malaysia border. Options were limited because the front and rear tires are different sizes, so the owner fitted Bridgestone tires in front and Pirelli in the rear.
  • The run-flats may be slightly noisier, and their stiffer sidewalls make steering feel a little sharper.
  • The owner notices little difference in everyday driving and considers them worthwhile.
• Servicing: The 20,000-km service was described as professional. The owner was approaching the 40,000-km service.

Downsides and Issues

• Software updates: Only two over-the-air updates arrived during the ownership period. Each took around two hours, longer than the on-screen estimate, and the car was unusable during installation. The owner felt the updates added few notable features.
  • One useful addition was the ability to switch off the daytime running lights.
  • A driver-assistance notification sound was removed. The owner would prefer a quieter alert rather than no sound, since it can be useful to know when the system is off.
• Air-conditioning controls: Since a recent update, the controls have occasionally become greyed out and unusable—reportedly two or three times. The air-conditioning continues running, but restoring control requires parking and fully rebooting the system.
• Range estimate at low charge: The displayed range may fall faster once the battery drops below 20%. The owner finds the estimate less dependable at low charge and advises caution. They have not taken the battery below 5%.
• Side mirrors: The folding mechanism intermittently failed to fold properly. Silicone lubricant did not seem to help at first, but the mirrors began working again after a delay. The owner suggests contacting BYD or trying silicone spray if this occurs.
• Steering wheel: A faint squeak occurs at the beginning of a turn, then disappears. The owner suspects it may need lubrication and planned to ask BYD to inspect it.

Comparisons and Ratings

No direct comparison with another vehicle or specific ratings were given. The only product comparison was between the mixed-brand Bridgestone and Pirelli run-flat tires; the owner did not find the difference significant in normal use.

Verdict

The owner’s experience is strong on reliability and everyday usability, with the original tires lasting about 38,000 km and no major vehicle faults. The main reservations are slow, limited software updates, occasional software glitches, and small mechanical nuisances. The update presents the Sealion 7 as a generally dependable choice, but owners should be aware that the range estimate can be less reassuring at low battery levels.

Speaker Perspective

The video contains one owner’s account; no other speakers offer separate views.