The Sealion 07 DM-i is a mid-to-large plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV under BYD's Ocean series and a core member of the "Sealion" model line-up. Serving as the next-generation successor to the previous Frigate 07, the SUV adopts the Ocean series' latest naming convention, and was officially launched on 8 May 2025 across 3 variants with official pricing ranging from RM169,800 to RM205,800, representing a direct RM20,000 reduction over its pre-sale pricing. Early-bird buyer privileges include five promotional packages, featuring zero down payment with zero-interest financing, trade-in subsidies of up to RM26,000, 3-year complimentary pick-up and delivery service, and 3-year complimentary valet parking services. Built on BYD's next-generation dedicated PHEV platform, the model embraces a "smart and spacious 5-seater" concept, featuring the Eye of the Gods ADAS suite and DiSus-C intelligent damping body control system as standard across the range. Positioned as a flagship family SUV, the Sealion 07 DM-i targets larger households seeking a premium, tech-laden mobility experience, competing against segment rivals such as the Li Auto L6, Leapmotor C16, and Lynk & Co 08 EM-P.
The Sealion 07 DM-i incorporates BYD's signature Ocean Aesthetics design philosophy, penned under the direction of global design master Wolfgang Egger. Up front, the styling draws from the Ocean X concept car’s "X" motif, flanked by full-width "Ocean Circulation" LED headlights and an extensive closed-off grille, combining a high-tech presence with aerodynamic efficiency. The sleek side profile is highlighted by flush pop-out door handles and 20-inch two-tone star-spoke alloy wheels, with its fastback roofline and floating roof effect yielding an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.26 Cd. Around the rear, full-width LED taillights integrate an intricate Chinese knot lighting motif, complemented by an illuminated "BYD" badge that lights up with the position lamps for distinctive nighttime road presence. Dimensionally, the SUV measures 4,880 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,750 mm tall (1,940 mm for the drone-equipped edition), riding on a 2,820 mm wheelbase. Four exterior colours are available: Atlantis Grey, Cangyan Mist, Ocean White, and Obsidian Black.
The cabin echoes the Ocean Aesthetics theme with an "Oceanic Cockpit" design, featuring a symmetrical floating dashboard. A 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster is seamlessly embedded into the gloss black horizontal fascia, while a 15.6-inch rotatable floating infotainment touchscreen sits prominently in the centre, creating a clean, tech-forward ambiance. The vehicle also adopts a steering column-mounted electronic gear selector for the first time, freeing up valuable centre console real estate for dual wireless smartphone fast charging pads, cupholders, and an integrated cooling/heating compartment. Finished in a primary "Twilight Blue" colourway, higher-spec grades gain Nappa leather upholstery, a 12-speaker Dynaudio premium sound system, a 26-inch W-HUD head-up display, a panoramic glass roof, and multi-colour ambient lighting. Configured as a generous 5-seater, boot capacity starts at 645 litres and expands to 1,721 litres with the rear seats folded, forming a completely flat 2-metre loading bay.
The Sealion 07 DM-i is powered by BYD's 5th-generation DM hybrid technology, offering two powertrain configurations: the DM-i high-efficiency hybrid (FWD) and DM-p high-performance hybrid (AWD). Both share a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 115 kW (156 PS) and 225 Nm of torque, engineered to run on RON 92 fuel.
FWD variants (150 Pilot Edition / 150 Pilot+ Edition) utilise a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor pushing out 200 kW (272 PS) and 315 Nm of torque, paired with an E-CVT. The 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in 7.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 200 km/h.
The AWD variant (135 High Performance LiDAR Edition) adopts a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, combining a 200 kW front motor with a 150 kW rear motor for a combined system output of 350 kW (476 PS) and 655 Nm of torque. It completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.7 seconds, with top speed capped at 200 km/h.
Supplying energy is a 26.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery pack developed by FinDreams Battery. CLTC-rated all-electric range is rated at 150 km for FWD models and 135 km for the AWD model. On a full tank and full charge, total cruising range extends up to 1,320 km. NEDC-rated fuel consumption under battery-depleted conditions is rated at an impressive 4.7 L/100 km (FWD) and 5.4 L/100 km (AWD), while WLTC combined fuel consumption stands at 0.94 L/100 km and 1.15 L/100 km respectively. It is fitted with a 60-litre fuel tank. DC fast charging is supported at up to 53 kW, alongside Vehicle-to-Load (VtoL) reverse-charging functionality delivering up to 6 kW of external power.
Underneath, the Sealion 07 DM-i rides on front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension. It comes standard with the DiSus-C intelligent damping body control system, which continuously monitors road surface inputs via onboard sensors and alters damper stiffness within milliseconds. This effectively absorbs road imperfections, curbs body roll during cornering, and prevents pitch during acceleration and braking. Steering is handled by an electric power steering (EPS) rack with a tight turning radius of 5.7 metres. Braking is managed by ventilated front discs and solid rear discs with an electronic parking brake (EPB), riding on 20-inch tyres. It features an approach angle of 19°, a departure angle of 22°, and a kerb weight of 2,103 kg for FWD models and 2,270 kg for the AWD model.
The Sealion 07 DM-i features the DiLink 100 high-end intelligent cockpit, boasting a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch rotatable central touchscreen as standard, complemented by a 26-inch W-HUD head-up display on top-spec variants. The infotainment system incorporates the DeepSeek AI large model, supporting four-zone voice commands, 5G connectivity, GPS navigation, and over-the-air (OTA) updates for intuitive, continuous voice interaction.
On the comfort front, standard amenities across all grades include a heated steering wheel, a 50W wireless smartphone fast charger, 8-way driver and 4-way passenger power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. The top-spec variant adds 10-point massage functions for the front seats, power-adjustable rear seats with heating and ventilation, and an onboard wide-temperature mini-fridge (cooling to -6°C, heating to 50°C). In-car entertainment is handled by a 12-speaker Dynaudio premium sound system, supported by 28 practical storage compartments scattered across the interior.
For passive safety, the Sealion 07 DM-i is engineered around a high-strength cage body structure tailored for new energy vehicles and comes fitted with 10 airbags as standard (front, side, and full-length curtain airbags for both rows), designed to meet C-NCAP 5-star crash safety standards. Additional standard equipment includes a built-in dashcam, Sentry Mode, 12-sensor front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
In terms of driver assistance, the SUV is equipped with BYD's Eye of the Gods ADAS suite as standard, available in two hardware tiers:
"Eye of the Gods C" (Trifocal Vision-Based Edition): Standard on the 150 Pilot and 150 Pilot+ editions, this camera-based vision system supports Highway Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) (including automated lane changes, overtaking, highway ramp navigation, and sharp curve handling), indicator-activated lane changes, adaptive high beam, and remote parking assist.
"Eye of the Gods B" (LiDAR-Equipped Edition): Exclusive to the 135 High Performance LiDAR Edition, this setup adds a roof-mounted front LiDAR sensor, enabling City Navigation on Autopilot (City NOA) (traffic light auto start-stop, pedestrian avoidance, dynamic detour routing, unprotected turns, etc.), Highway NOA, and Valet Parking Assist.
Additionally, all variants can be optioned with the Lingyuan BYD Intelligent Vehicle-Mounted Drone System (priced at RM16,968), co-developed with DJI. Housed in a dedicated roof pod with an automotive-grade anemometer and positioning module, the drone features dynamic take-off/landing, follow-me tracking, dual ground-to-air recording, fast in-dock charging, and one-touch cinematic video creation, relaying HD feeds to the central screen to check blind spots and explore terrains ahead.
The Sealion 07 DM-i initially generated strong buzz upon its 2025 debut, pulling in over 8,000 pre-orders. However, post-launch sales momentum fell short of expectations, recording 5,756 units in June 2025 before dropping to 3,124 units in July, after which market interest steadily tapered off. Market analysts point to its relatively steep pricing and equipment discrepancies against direct rivals as the main culprits preventing it from replicating BYD’s typical runaway sales success. At comparable price points (around RM169,800), rivals like the Leapmotor C16 deliver more kit, offering seat massage functions, rear seat entertainment screens, and LiDAR-driven high-level ADAS as standard, placing substantial pressure on the Sealion 07 DM-i.
From an owner feedback perspective, users have widely lauded its generous rear legroom and completely flat floor, the punchy 4.7-second century sprint of the AWD variant, the fluid UI of the DiLink 100 system, and the supple ride comfort delivered by the DiSus-C chassis. On the flip side, complaints have centred on noticeable blind spots around the A-pillars and side mirrors at highway speeds, battery range drops when the air conditioning runs heavily, and an entry-level price of RM169,800 that feels slightly uncompetitive given the feature gaps compared to range-topping trims.
All in all, with BYD’s 5th-gen DM PHEV tech, DiSus-C chassis, Eye of the Gods ADAS suite, and the innovative Lingyuan drone system, the Sealion 07 DM-i showcases the brand's flagship-level engineering and tech prowess. Nevertheless, with an entry price hovering near RM170,000, this mid-to-large PHEV SUV faces a demanding test of price-to-spec value in an increasingly cutthroat new energy vehicle (NEV) market. Whether subsequent dealer discounts and positive word-of-mouth can spark a sales turnaround remains to be seen.
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