The Sealion 7 midsize fully electric SUV has joined our long-term test fleet. Richard Bush grabs the keys.

BYD Sealion 7 Excellence

P11D: £58,960  BiK: 4%  Efficiency: 2.8mpkWh  Range: 312 miles  On fleet: 300 miles

First Report:

Some cars have an unquantifiable aura the moment you sit in them for the first time. That aura isn’t always positive. In motoring circles, we usually simplify it with highly technical industry terms such as ‘boring’, ‘cheap’ or ‘samey’.

The Sealion 7 is the first BYD I’ve driven, so I climbed aboard with no real preconceptions whatsoever. But I can tell you now – it falls into none of those categories.

It exudes the sort of polish you’d expect from a brand that’s been refining premium cars for generations. There are plenty of fanciful touches that – let’s be honest – are probably unnecessary, but they all help create a genuinely luxurious, well-rounded package. Pop-out door handles, a rotating touchscreen, height-adjustable cup holders, an augmented reality-style reversing camera, music-syncing ambient lighting, and enough padded leather trim to make you instinctively lower your voice when you climb in.

Even the doors close with the heavy, reassuring thud of an aircraft cabin door, while the seats resemble those dangerously comfortable airport massage chairs. Honestly, the whole thing feels like a warm hug.

It’s spacious, too. On a quick family trip to the park, the 520-litre boot swallowed two kids’ bikes with ease, while rear legroom feels closer to a luxury saloon than a family SUV.

I’ve only had the chance to sample the Sealion 7 on a handful of shorter journeys so far, but initial impressions are hugely positive. The ride can feel a touch wallowy over uneven roads, yet the car still feels refined, confident and impressively complete – even if it is a little conservative in the fun department.

Now let’s see how it handles weekend road trips with the kids and dog in tow.