BYD Sealion 7 vs Kia Sorento

The BYD Sealion 7 starts from $54,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sorento opens at $51,380. That makes the Kia Sorento the more affordable entry point by $3,610.

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 $56,518 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 Kia Sorento, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Sealion 7 and Kia Sorento hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Sealion 7 and 82% for the Kia Sorento.

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 7 in the Kia Sorento.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The BYD Sealion 7 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia Sorento gets a 8-inch display and 4-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Sealion 7 stands out with power tailgate and Dynaudio audio that you will not find on the Kia Sorento. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 7 gets leather upholstery while the Kia Sorento offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the BYD Sealion 7 and 1-zone in the Kia Sorento.

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 Kia Sorento responds with a Petrol making 200kW and 332Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 200kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 7 is 1.3s 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, 15mm longer than the Kia Sorento at 4,815mm (2,815mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the BYD Sealion 7 and 179L in the Kia Sorento, giving the BYD Sealion 7 a 321L advantage. The Kia Sorento seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Kia Sorento leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,250kg 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 / 999,999km (Kia Sorento). The Kia Sorento has longer coverage.