BYD Seal vs Kia EV4

The BYD Seal starts from $46,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV4 opens at $49,990. That makes the BYD Seal the more affordable entry point by $3,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $51,689 and $54,989 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the BYD Seal and Kia EV4 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BYD Seal packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Kia EV4.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The BYD Seal features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV4 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Seal stands out with Dynaudio audio that you will not find on the Kia EV4. The Kia EV4 counters with wireless charging, heated front seats and V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BYD Seal uses a Electric producing 150kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.6 seconds.

The Kia EV4 responds with a Electric Motor making 150kW and 283Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the Kia EV4 is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 61.4kWh (BYD Seal) vs 58.3kWh (Kia EV4), giving WLTP ranges of 460km and 630km. DC fast charging peaks at 110kW (BYD Seal) vs 140kW (Kia EV4).

The BYD Seal measures 4,800mm long on a 2,920mm wheelbase, 70mm longer than the Kia EV4 at 4,730mm (2,820mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Seal generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Seal and 490L in the Kia EV4, giving the Kia EV4 a 90L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Seal leads with a 1,000kg braked capacity vs 500kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Seal) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV4). The Kia EV4 has longer coverage.