BYD eMax 7 Review: Levelled Up Plush Electric MPV

Published: Monday, October 28, 2024, 9:00 [IST]

Chinese firm BYD (Build Your Dreams) is the biggest player in the world of electric vehicles and has been trading punches with the likes of Tesla in international markets. BYD's story in India, on the other hand, has been roadblocked since it first arrived as a passenger vehicle manufacturer in 2021 with the e6.

Since then, despite various hurdles and roadblocks thrown its way due to topics a car reviewer has no business discussing, BYD has soldiered on in India. In 2022, BYD made the e6 available to the general public and followed it with the launch of the Atto3 compact crossover EV. It was followed this by launching the Seal electric sports car earlier this year in March.

Now, BYD is back with the eMax 7, a facelifted version of the e6 that was revealed at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show as the Song Max EV. So is the new BYD eMax 7 any better than its predecessor and just how much has it changed? We drove the new BYD eMax 7 in Chennai to get you the answers...

BYD eMax 7 Review: What's Changed? - New Looks & Even More Kit

The BYD eMax 7 features an updated look compared to its predecessor. Changes to the front end include the adoption of the "Dragon Face" design which sees the MPV gain new LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights that are connected by a chrome bar with the BYD nameplate on it.

Other highlights at the front of the new BYD eMax 7 include a new front bumper with intakes on the sides and a large central air intake, similar to what you would find on a regular ICE vehicle, that sports some of the kit for the Level 2 ADAS system.

The sides of the new BYD eMax 7 remain mostly unchanged compared to the e6. The eMax 7 sports a set of new 17-inch alloy wheels that are shod with 225/55 R17 tyres while at the rear the facelifted MPV sports new connected LED taillamps with similar intricate detailing as the headlamps along with a chrome connecting element, BYD and eMax 7 badging.

The BYD eMax 7 sports an electric tailgate that opens up to reveal a 180-litre boot with all three rows up. This can be increased by 400 litres to 580 litres by folding down the third row of seats.

Speaking of the interior, the BYD eMax 7's cabin is where most of the changes made to the electric MPV can be observed. The most easily observable change is the faux leather seat upholstery which features a brown colourway which immediately adds a bit more style and class to the eMax 7 compared to the all-black cabin of the e6. The eMax 7 is offered in six and seven-seater guises.

The eMax 7 also features a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen (the e6 had a 10.1-inch unit) infotainment display that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and also offers onboard satnav. Like before, the infotainment screen can swivel between landscape and portrait modes at the touch of a button.

There is also a new steering wheel, though the dials behind it have been carried forward including the 5-inch multi-information display that sits between the analogue needle turners. New switchgear can also be found on the central console including a new gear lever, drive mode selector, as well controllers for the defoggers and ventilated front seats.

Speaking of the seats, the front seats are electrically adjustable (6-way for the driver and 4-way for the front passenger) and are rather large and comfortable making the journey behind the wheel of the eMax 7 an enjoyable one.

The middle row of seats is offered either in bench form for the seven-seater or as two independent captain seats for the six-seater variant (which we drove). The independent seats are rather comfortable to be in and can be moved forward and backwards depending on your needs. These seats recline as well and are perfect for long road trips and to doze off in chaotic city jams.

The biggest change to the cabin of the eMax 7 compared to its predecessor is the third row of seats, something that was missing on the e6, which was offered as a strict two-row five-seater. The third row of seats is best left for children or those who are not on the taller side of the average adult Indian, though even they should avoid it in case of a long road trip.

Other highlights of the BYD eMax 7 include the massive panoramic roof, that adds to the feeling of space inside the cabin, along with the roof-mounted vents for the AC system for the second and third rows, 360-degree camera, multiple USB A and C ports and dual wireless phone chargers.

The big changes to the eMax 7 come in the form of the powertrain. The eMax7 is offered in two guises - Premium and Superior with the latter featuring the larger of the two battery packs on offer. Both battery packs support 7kW AC charging speeds with the Premium supporting 89kW DC charging and the Superior upping the charging speed to 115kW.

The BYD eMax 7 Premium comes with a 55.4kWh battery pack that powers a single electric motor producing 161bhp and 310Nm of peak torque. The eMax 7 Premium has a claimed range of 420km (NEDC) on a single charge. The eMax 7 Premium sprints from 0-100km/h in 10 seconds and has a top speed of 180km/h.

The BYD eMax 7 Superior, on the other hand, sports a larger 71.8kWh battery pack. Power from the single electric motor mounted to the front axle rises to 201bhp while peak torque remains the same at 310Nm. The BYD eMax 7 Superior sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds and tops out at 180km/h while delivering a claimed range of 530km.

The BYD eMax 7 is packed with safety features including 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, Traction Control, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Hold Assist and TPMS. The e Max 7 also sports a Level 2 ADAS setup with features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lande Departure Warning and Blind Spot Detection among others.

BYD eMax 7 Review: Driving Impressions - Plush eDrive

On the move, the BYD eMax 7 retains all the qualities that made the e6 such an enjoyable vehicle to be in, especially when you have someone else driving for you. The power delivery from the electric motor is linear which makes it quite brilliant for driving through the city.

At lower speeds, the steering feels quite light which makes the eMax7 easy to manoeuvre through busy city streets. At higher speeds on the highway, the steering does weigh up quite nicely.

There are three driving modes on offer - Eco, Normal and Sport - and there is quite a bit of difference when you push down the throttle pedal. In Eco, the response is quite placid, while Normal offers the linear response we've come to expect from BYD's electric MPV. Sports mode feels the most EV-like with the instant torque pushing the eMax 7 to its limit, allowing you to reach triple digits with ease.

The suspension on the BYD eMax 7 is one of the plushest we've seen on an EV to date, especially at this price point and maybe even a few rungs above. Despite the heavy weight of the eMax 7, the suspension isn't so stiff that you feel the bumps and ruts.

Instead, the BYD eMax 7 glides over bumps and ruts especially at slower speeds and at higher speeds the electric MPV feels rather composed. However, that softer setup also means it feels a bit floaty around the bends, especially in the hands of an enthusiastic driver.

The braking system of the BYD eMax 7 consists of ventilated discs at the front and regular discs at the rear. These discs were quite easy to use once you've been on the move for a while but can be a bit bitey when you've just started up.

BYD eMax 7 Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - The Plush Electric MPV

The BYD eMax 7 sees the world's largest EV manufacturer refresh its electric rival to Toyota's Innova Hycross and the results are a more refined EV that looks like it may just be up to the task, which makes the eMax 7 an electric car that you should consider.

While we didn't have enough time to test out the eMax 7's real-world range, previous experience with the firm's Blade battery packs means that it should do rather well on our roads.