BYD Sealion 5 vs Subaru Crosstrek

The BYD Sealion 5 starts from $33,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Crosstrek opens at $36,490. That makes the BYD Sealion 5 the more affordable entry point by $2,500.

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 $37,389 and $40,139 respectively.

The BYD Sealion 5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Subaru Crosstrek, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 5 by roughly $10,685 in fuel alone.

Both the BYD Sealion 5 and Subaru Crosstrek hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Sealion 5 and 83% for the Subaru Crosstrek.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BYD Sealion 5 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Subaru Crosstrek.

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 Subaru Crosstrek.

The BYD Sealion 5 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Subaru Crosstrek gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru Crosstrek counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate that the BYD Sealion 5 does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BYD Sealion 5 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 156kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.

The Subaru Crosstrek responds with a Petrol making 115kW and 196Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 5 has the clear power advantage at 156kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 5 is 3.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Sealion 5 measures 4,738mm long on a 2,765mm wheelbase, 243mm longer than the Subaru Crosstrek at 4,495mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Sealion 5 and 559L in the Subaru Crosstrek, giving the Subaru Crosstrek a 159L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Crosstrek leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $58/year for the BYD Sealion 5 and $2,195/year for the Subaru Crosstrek. That is a $2,137 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 5.

Estimated annual total: $58 (BYD Sealion 5) vs $2,195 (Subaru Crosstrek). The BYD Sealion 5 saves you roughly $2,137 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Crosstrek). The BYD Sealion 5 has longer coverage.