BYD Sealion 7 vs MINI Countryman

The BYD Sealion 7 starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the MINI Countryman opens at $49,990. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

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 $54,989 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 MINI Countryman, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Sealion 7 and MINI Countryman hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Sealion 7 and 83% for the MINI Countryman.

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 9 in the MINI Countryman.

The BYD Sealion 7 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen, while the MINI Countryman gets a 9.4-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 MINI Countryman. The MINI Countryman 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 MINI Countryman responds with a Petrol Turbo making 115kW and 230Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 7 is 4.5s 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, 386mm longer than the MINI Countryman at 4,444mm (2,692mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Sealion 7 and 460L in the MINI Countryman, giving the MINI Countryman a 60L advantage.

For towing, the MINI Countryman leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 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 5 years (MINI Countryman). The BYD Sealion 7 has longer coverage.