BYD Seal vs Subaru WRX

The BYD Seal starts from $46,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru WRX opens at $48,190. That makes the BYD Seal the more affordable entry point by $1,200.

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 $53,009 respectively.

The BYD Seal qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Subaru WRX, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

The BYD Seal holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Subaru WRX.

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 5 in the Subaru WRX.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Seal and 8 in the Subaru WRX.

The BYD Seal features a 15.6-inch touchscreen, while the Subaru WRX gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Seal stands out with power tailgate and Dynaudio audio that you will not find on the Subaru WRX. The Subaru WRX counters with Harman Kardon audio. 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 5.9 seconds.

The Subaru WRX responds with a Petrol making 202kW and 350Nm, paired to a manual driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

The Subaru WRX has the clear power advantage at 202kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Seal is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Seal measures 4,800mm long on a 2,920mm wheelbase, 200mm longer than the Subaru WRX at 4,600mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Seal generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Seal and 441L in the Subaru WRX, giving the Subaru WRX a 41L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru WRX leads with a 1,000kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 0kg 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 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru WRX). The BYD Seal has longer coverage.