BYD Seal vs Jaecoo J5

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published ratings include no record for the Jaecoo J5. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Charging times

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.

Feature Showdown

The BYD Seal features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Jaecoo J5 gets a 13.2-inch display and 8.9-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Seal stands out with V2L and Dynaudio audio — features our data doesn't list for the Jaecoo J5. The Jaecoo J5 counters with wireless charging, heated front seats, ventilated seats and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Seal gets leather upholstery while the Jaecoo J5 offers synthetic leather (pet-friendly).

Drivetrain

The BYD Seal uses a Electric producing 230kW and 360Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds.

The Jaecoo J5 responds with a Electric making 155kW and 288Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.

The BYD Seal has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 155kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BYD Seal is 4.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 82.6kWh (BYD Seal) vs 58.9kWh (Jaecoo J5), giving WLTP ranges of 570km and 402km. DC fast charging peaks at 150kW (BYD Seal) vs 130kW (Jaecoo J5).

Space & Comfort

The BYD Seal measures 4,800mm long on a 2,920mm wheelbase, 420mm longer than the Jaecoo J5 at 4,380mm (2,620mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Seal generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Seal and 384L in the Jaecoo J5, giving the BYD Seal a 16L advantage.

For towing, the Jaecoo J5 leads with a 1,250kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Jaecoo J5's turning circle is 0.6 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.4 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the BYD Seal costs about $816 a year (17 kWh/100km) and electricity for the Jaecoo J5 about $792 a year (16.5 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $24 a year less for the Jaecoo J5.

Warranty: 6 years / 150k km (BYD Seal) and 8 years / Unlimited (Jaecoo J5). Capped-price servicing: no data (BYD Seal), 8 years (Jaecoo J5).

Where each one leads

The BYD Seal: more power (230kW against 155kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (400L against 384L).

The Jaecoo J5: the lower starting price ($35,990 against $52,990), the longer warranty (8 years against 6), the higher braked towing limit (1,250kg against 1,000kg) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($792 a year against $816).

The Verdict

BYD Seal scores higher, 77 vs 72

The BYD Seal scores 77 to the Jaecoo J5's 72 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 8 of the 12 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: performance (BYD Seal ahead by 27 points), safety (BYD Seal ahead by 25 points), value (Jaecoo J5 ahead by 6 points). At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Jaecoo J5 costs about $24 less (16.5 kWh/100km against 17 kWh/100km, at 32c a kWh). Warranty: 6 years on the BYD Seal, 8 on the Jaecoo J5.

Common questions