BYD Sealion 6 vs Kia Sportage

The BYD Sealion 6 starts from $42,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sportage opens at $38,490. That makes the Kia Sportage the more affordable entry point by $4,500.

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 $47,289 and $42,339 respectively.

The BYD Sealion 6 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Kia Sportage, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $10,415 in fuel alone.

Both the BYD Sealion 6 and Kia Sportage hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Sealion 6 and 87% for the Kia Sportage.

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

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Sealion 6 and 6 in the Kia Sportage.

The BYD Sealion 6 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia Sportage gets a 12.3-inch display and 4-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Sealion 6 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto that you will not find on the Kia Sportage. The Kia Sportage counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 6 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia Sportage offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the BYD Sealion 6 and 1-zone in the Kia Sportage.

The BYD Sealion 6 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 160kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Kia Sportage responds with a Petrol making 115kW and 192Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 6 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 115kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Sealion 6 measures 4,775mm long on a 2,765mm wheelbase, 90mm longer than the Kia Sportage at 4,685mm (2,755mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 6 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Sealion 6 and 543L in the Kia Sportage, giving the Kia Sportage a 143L advantage.

For towing, the Kia Sportage leads with a 1,650kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 650kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $226/year for the BYD Sealion 6 and $2,309/year for the Kia Sportage. That is a $2,083 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $226 (BYD Sealion 6) vs $2,309 (Kia Sportage). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $2,083 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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