Triumvirate. I love that word. It means three people holding power and if you transfer that to the automotive world, it could be China.
My triumvirate comes in the form of three EVs on the trot, one a hybrid and two fully electric – the super value for money Great Wall Motors Haval, the simply stunning MG Cyberster and lastly the utterly brilliant on so many levels BYD Sealion 7.
BYD has dazzled us with the sheer enormity and ambition of its company – 600,000 employees, 85,000 in R&D, an annual intake of 15,000 masters graduates.
Add in its portfolio of making phones and iPads for Apple, electric buses and trains and a factory that’s more of a city and it’s a brand that obviously means business.
Then we take a look at the range. Dolphin impressed with its 200hp city car nature, Atto3 struck a chord with its guitar string doors, Seal blew us away with its blend of style and performance, then the Seal U DM-i shocked the world by installing a petrol engine next to the electric motor.
Now there’s Sealion 7, a large SUV that is soooo good it’s almost convinced me to buy electric for three reasons.
The range is 311 miles; at last a useable mileage which means I don’t have to charge twice a day. It takes its time to suck charge out of the house but is rapid to top back up if you use the big bore chargers at the supermarket.
The performance is staggering, especially for a big lump. How about 523hp? Do you fancy that because I know I do.
It will sprint to 60mph in four seconds but more impressive still is its ability to overtake slow moving traffic. I come across four dithering cars happy to sit behind a wagon on a straight road; Sealion7 does the lot in the blink of an eye and in perfect safety.
If you think your petrol engine is high-revving then think again – those twin electric motors spin up to 23,000rpm. No wonder they could power a small town.
Handling is also great thanks to extended wheelbase for added stability, decent suspension and all-wheel-drive for additional grip.
Then there’s the price – under £60,000 for what is a super-luxurious, very well made and finished, high performance vehicle.
It looks great too, all swoopy and sculpted, inspired by the ocean apparently, with great proportions and a fresh modern look.
Groovy taillights combine sleek linear light strips with water-drop-shaped dots, creating a sense of movement and energy.
The interior is marvellous, really plush, comfortable and with a specification that wants for nothing. Materials are extremely high quality and tactile. The interior is shapely with trim and doorhandles that are interesting and stimulate the eye.
It has all the trappings of a premium brand; I can’t fault anything about it at all. The full length glass roof floods the cabin with light and when you park up a blind shuts automatically to prevent the interior from overheating.
The premium quilted Nappa vegan leather seats are opulent, comfortable and supportive. This leather covers 80 per cent of the interior and boosts cabin ambience off the scale.
Controls and infotainment are excellent and even the touchscreen is clear and easy to navigate, which helps take the stress out of driving.
The combination of feel-good factors, incredible performance and good range make the Sealion 7 a vehicle you always look forward to travelling in.
BYD is fast becoming a tour de force in the supply of cutting edge vehicles which not only match but surpass the opposition on every level, especially the price.
Factfile
| Engine: 91.3 kWh electric motors |
| Power: 523hp |
| 0-62mph: 4.5 secs |
| Top speed: 133mph |
| Range: 311 miles |
| Transmission: automatic, all-wheel-drive |
| CO2 g/km: 0 |
| Price: £59,000 |
