BYD Sealion 7 vs CUPRA Terramar

The BYD Sealion 7 starts from $54,990 before on-road costs, while the CUPRA Terramar opens at $53,990. That makes the CUPRA Terramar the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

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 $60,489 and $59,389 respectively.

The BYD Sealion 7 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The CUPRA Terramar, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Sealion 7 and CUPRA Terramar hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Sealion 7 and 89% for the CUPRA Terramar.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The CUPRA Terramar packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the BYD Sealion 7.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Sealion 7 and 7 in the CUPRA Terramar. The CUPRA Terramar adds a 360-degree camera that the BYD Sealion 7 misses.

The BYD Sealion 7 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the CUPRA Terramar gets a 12.9-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Sealion 7 stands out with Dynaudio audio that you will not find on the CUPRA Terramar. The CUPRA Terramar counters with heated front seats and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 7 gets leather upholstery while the CUPRA Terramar offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the BYD Sealion 7 and 3-zone in the CUPRA Terramar.

The BYD Sealion 7 uses a Electric producing 230kW and 380Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds.

The CUPRA Terramar responds with a 4-cyl Turbo Petrol MHEV making 110kW and 250Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.3 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 7 is 2.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Sealion 7 measures 4,830mm long on a 2,930mm wheelbase, 311mm longer than the CUPRA Terramar at 4,519mm (2,681mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Sealion 7 and 508L in the CUPRA Terramar, giving the CUPRA Terramar a 108L advantage.

For towing, the CUPRA Terramar leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 800kg 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 Sealion 7) vs 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Terramar). The BYD Sealion 7 has longer coverage.