BYD Sealion 5 vs Chery Tiggo 7
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 7 Sep 2026, price 4 Oct 2026
Chery Tiggo 7: we're still completing kerb weight, 0-100km/h, ground clearance, turning circle and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the BYD Sealion 5 & Chery Tiggo 7
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Price Breakdown
The BYD Sealion 5 starts from $29,990 before on-road costs, while the Chery Tiggo 7 opens at $27,500. That makes the Chery Tiggo 7 the more affordable entry point by $2,490.
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 $32,989 and $30,250 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 5 by roughly $8,755 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
The Chery Tiggo 7 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 3 stars for the BYD Sealion 5.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 6 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Sealion 5 and 7 in the Chery Tiggo 7.
Recalls on our record
BYD Sealion 5
None open on our record
Chery Tiggo 7
None open 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 ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
12.9kWh usableEstimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Sealion 5 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 8.8-inch digital dash, while the Chery Tiggo 7 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 5 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Chery Tiggo 7 offers cloth.
Drivetrain
The BYD Sealion 5 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 156kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.7 seconds.
The Chery Tiggo 7 responds with a 1.5L Turbo Petrol making 108kW and 210Nm, paired to a 6 speed dual clutch transmission driving the rear wheels.
The BYD Sealion 5 has the clear power advantage at 156kW vs 108kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BYD Sealion 5 measures 4,738mm long on a 2,712mm wheelbase, 198mm longer than the Chery Tiggo 7 at 4,540mm (2,661mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 5 generally means more rear legroom.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
12.0m diameter
Average
Based on 12.0m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Average
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 10.7 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.9 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $216/year for the BYD Sealion 5 and $1,967/year for the Chery Tiggo 7. That is a $1,751 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 5.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 5) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Chery Tiggo 7). The Chery Tiggo 7 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the BYD Sealion 5 if: You prioritise performance, want lower running costs, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Chery Tiggo 7 if: You want the lower entry price, value a longer warranty, or prefer Chery's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
BYD Sealion 5: Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 68, but the Chery Tiggo 7 is $2,490 cheaper
The BYD Sealion 5 comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (73 vs 68), taking 1 of 4 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: fuel economy (BYD Sealion 5 ahead by 26), safety (Chery Tiggo 7 ahead by 19), performance (BYD Sealion 5 ahead by 16). The BYD Sealion 5 will save you roughly $1,751 a year in fuel. The Chery Tiggo 7 adds peace of mind with a longer 7-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
One enquiry, local dealers' best price on each. Free for you to use. If you buy, the dealer may pay us a commission.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Sealion 5 and Chery Tiggo 7?
The Chery Tiggo 7 is the cheapest at $27,500 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD Sealion 5 by $2,490.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The BYD Sealion 5 uses the least fuel at 1.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
The Chery Tiggo 7 has the highest ANCAP rating at 5 stars.
Which has the best warranty?
The Chery Tiggo 7 has the longest warranty at 7 years / Unlimited.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD Sealion 5 makes the most power at 156kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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