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BYD’s new Seal 07 EV is slightly bigger than a Camry and starts around $22,500 in China

BYD put the second-generation Seal 07 on sale in China on Nov. 5, with the all-electric version starting at 149,900 yuan, about $22,500. Electrek’s Peter Johnson, who notes that the updated first-generation car debuted in March, describes the sedan as slightly bigger than a Toyota Camry, which makes the price notable for a car carrying a 76.7 kWh battery and a claimed 481 miles of CLTC range.

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The lineup has five variants, three battery-electric and two plug-in hybrid. The cheapest of all is a plug-in hybrid at 139,900 yuan, about $21,000, which is why the $22,500 figure belongs to the electric version specifically. A limited-time trade-in price trims the electric entry model to 145,900 yuan and the hybrid to 135,900 yuan. The conversion implies roughly 6.7 yuan to the dollar. CnEVPost’s official guide prices list the electric trims at 149,900, 159,900 and 172,900 yuan and the hybrids at 139,900 and 149,900 yuan, with trade-in prices running from 135,900 to 168,900 yuan.

Dimensions, wheelbase and the Camry comparison

Official figures reported by CnEVPost put the car at 5,080 mm long, 1,960 mm wide and 1,495 mm tall on a 2,960 mm wheelbase, identical for both powertrains. Electrek says the wheelbase is slightly longer than the Camry’s, and that is the basis of its size comparison. Against the earlier Seal 07 EV, CnEVPost’s pre-launch report says the new body is 85 mm longer and 50 mm wider, with a wheelbase 60 mm longer. The electric version is rear-wheel drive and the hybrid front-wheel drive, with a 618-liter trunk on the electric against 595 liters on the hybrid, and the electric also gets a standard heat pump.

Inside, BYD says rear passengers get the most space in the class, and the front trunk holds 160 liters, which the company calls the largest in its segment. Equipment includes a 15.6-inch floating center screen, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, two rear entertainment screens and a built-in 6.8-liter refrigerator. Higher trims add God’s Eye B driver assistance with optional roof-mounted LiDAR. Higher trims also bring navigation on Autopilot in cities and on highways and full-scenario intelligent parking, and the Smart Ecosystem 2.0 software includes a smartwatch called Diva for remote vehicle functions. CnEVPost adds a 20-speaker Devialet audio system, zero-gravity front seats and DiSus-M body control on the top trim. BYD describes the package as a new choice for a class-leading luxury experience.

The 76.7 kWh Blade battery, 328 hp motor and five-minute charging claims

The electric version pairs a 76.7 kWh second-generation Blade LFP battery with a single rear motor making roughly 328 hp (245 kW) and 269 lb-ft of torque. BYD claims 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds and a CLTC range of up to 481 miles (775 km). CLTC is China’s most generous test cycle, so real-world range will be lower, a point worth keeping in mind for any American comparison with EPA-rated cars. CnEVPost lists a top speed of 240 km/h and 365 Nm of peak torque, and puts the hybrid at 7.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h with fuel use of 3.3 liters per 100 km on the NEDC cycle with a depleted battery.

Blade Battery 2.0 with flash charging is rated by BYD at 10% to 70% in five minutes and 10% to 97% in nine minutes. Those are company claims from the launch, not independent tests, and they assume a compatible high-power charger. If they hold, a five-minute top-up from 10% to 70% approaches the length of a fuel stop, while nine minutes to 97% is short for a 76.7 kWh pack.

The plug-in hybrid uses BYD’s DM hybrid system: a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine rated at 154 hp, a front motor of 214 hp and a 37 kWh battery good for up to 205 miles of electric range on CLTC, up from 143 miles on the previous generation. CnEVPost lists the hybrid pack as 38 kWh with 330 km of range, the same figure in metric, and outlets round the capacity differently.

A China price, not an American one

None of these prices apply to American showrooms. The yuan figures are China list prices that Electrek converted to dollars, so the totals will shift with exchange rates, and nothing in either report points to a launch outside China. Electrek’s launch report frames the Seal 07 as a Camry-sized car at roughly Corolla money, a comparison aimed at buyers who rarely see Chinese models.

The price history supplies the sharpest number. The earlier Seal 07 EV launched in March at 169,900 yuan, or $25,310, according to CnEVPost’s March launch coverage. The new entry model at 149,900 yuan is 20,000 yuan cheaper while adding length, width and a second-generation battery, and CarNewsChina confirms the flash-charging and God’s Eye content. Electrek’s March coverage of the earlier car cited a 705 km range, so the new 775 km figure is 70 km better on the same test cycle. Whether the top trim at 172,900 yuan keeps the value argument is the open question.

This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Morning Overview editors prior to publication.

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