BYD Sealion 7 vs KGM Rexton

The BYD Sealion 7 starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the KGM Rexton opens at $50,000. That makes the BYD Sealion 7 the more affordable entry point by $10.

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 $54,989 and $55,000 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 KGM Rexton, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Sealion 7 and KGM Rexton hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

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 6 in the KGM Rexton.

The BYD Sealion 7 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen, while the KGM Rexton gets a 12.3-inch display. 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 KGM Rexton. The KGM Rexton counters with ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BYD Sealion 7 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 230kW and 380Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.

The KGM Rexton responds with a Turbo DDi Diesel making 149kW and 441Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 149kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 7 is 7.0s 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, 20mm shorter than the KGM Rexton at 4,850mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Sealion 7 and 236L in the KGM Rexton, giving the BYD Sealion 7 a 164L advantage. The KGM Rexton seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the KGM Rexton leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 2,500kg 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 7 years (KGM Rexton). The KGM Rexton has longer coverage.