BYD Sealion 7 Vs BMW iX1 LWB Vs Volvo C40 Recharge
The entry level luxury car segment is buzzing with activity but only at the EV end and that's where the disruption is happening. These three for example are EVs which have changed the segment while both the Volvo and the BYD are only available in EV form. Plus, the iX1 LWB comes with a price-tag that raised eyebrows in the automotive world while also being in long wheelbase form. Hence, for your first luxury EV, which one to get? Read on.
Which Is The Best Looking Of The Lot?
Styling is a subjective matter and more so here with a variety of shapes and sizes. The BYD Sealion 7 is the biggest car here and also the one with the longest wheelbase while the styling is brilliant but with a crisp European flair. The coupe like styling and the BYD Seal like front gel well and it grabs a lot of attention plus the big wheels (biggest here) also gives it a sportier stance. It is a wow design for sure. The iX1 is understated but in LWB form, it has a stately air about while familiar BMW styling elements mark it out. It has the nes ground clearance too and has the most traditional shape. The Volvo C40 is stunning though with a coupe like roofline and some gorgeous detailing which grabs your attention while length wise it slots between the other two.
What About The Interiors?
You are paying more than half a crore and hence, expect to be bombed with a luxurious cabin and here you do get your money's worth. The iX1 has the usual X1 dash where the design is slick and radical while the touchscreen has all of the controls which make syou wish for a few physical ones too. The cabin design is cool overall and fairly practical but the rear seat experience is the best here in terms of sense of airiness. The Sealion 7 meanwhile has one of the best cabins in terms of quality and it feels more like an Rs 80 lakh car here with the soft touch bits and the overall quality. Space is excellent too though you sit a bit low. The Volvo is minimalist and gets a leather free cabin along with not even a start/stop button while again most of the functions are limited to the main screen although the screen in the Volvo is the smallest amongst the three. While overall rear seat legroom is good, the coupe roofline eats into the headroom. Equipment levels are relatively high in all cars with all of the usual features but the BMW/Volvo does miss out on some features given on the BYD. All three have premium audio systems which sound great and all safety features. The BYD has the most complex touchscreen, while the BMW and Volvo are easier to use.
Which Car Is The Best To Drive?
The Sealion 7 has a 82.56 kwh battery pack and comes with a single/dual motor. This dual motor version that we have here develops a whopping 530bhp and range is around 456km. Performance is unreal and simply put it is one of the fastest cars that you can get at this price. 0-100 km/h is 4.5 seconds and it is absurdly fast. It is also stable with the AWD providing excellent grip levels. It also rides pretty well despite those huge wheels and ground clearance is also ample. Range though is a bit less than others but you can still get near 400km. When pushed hard, you do feel the weight of the car but all things considered, the performance is superb. The BMW surprisingly is the most comfort focussed and that's not a bad thing though. The iX1 LWB rolls a bit but rides better than the imported dual motor iX1. There is some low speed firmness, but it is the most comfortable of the trio while power wise it is down at 204bhp with a single motor but range is just above 400km which is good with a 66.4kwh battery pack. The Volvo is fast and is the most nimble of the trip with its smaller size while the steering feels sharper. The dual motor version pumps out more than 400 bhp and that's again plenty of power while grip is also lovely with its AWD set-up. That said, the Volvo has limited rear visibility which is an issue. Even the range is more than 400km in the real world with a 78kwh battery pack.
Which One To Buy?
The Sealion 7 is priced from Rs 48.9 lakh to Rs 54.9 lakh for the dual motor. The iX1 LWB from BMW is priced at Rs 49 lakh. The Volvo C40 Recharge is priced at Rs 62.9 lakh. The Sealion 7 is a fantastic choice due to its looks, quality, performance and all this at a price which is unreal. It is more self driven though and is tuned towards the performance variety. We do wish for more BYD dealers but it is a superb car. The iX1 LWB is the one to buy if you are looking for a more comfort focused offering and with a focus on the rear seat space. The fact that it is priced so well is a bonus. The Volvo like the Sealion 7 is fast and is tuned for being a sporty drivers car but is more nimbler while its minimalist design has a different appeal. All three EVs are great and suited for different tastes plus requirements but you can't go wrong with any of these three!
auto