BYD Sealion 7 vs Skoda Kodiaq

The BYD Sealion 7 starts from $54,990 before on-road costs, while the Skoda Kodiaq opens at $54,990. 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 $60,489 and $60,489 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 Skoda Kodiaq, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

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

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 Skoda Kodiaq.

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 Skoda Kodiaq gets a 13-inch display and 10-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 Skoda Kodiaq. The Skoda Kodiaq counters with heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

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 Skoda Kodiaq responds with a Petrol making 140kW and 320Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 140kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 7 is 1.2s 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, 72mm longer than the Skoda Kodiaq at 4,758mm (2,791mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the BYD Sealion 7 and 289L in the Skoda Kodiaq, giving the BYD Sealion 7 a 211L advantage. The Skoda Kodiaq seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Skoda Kodiaq leads with a 2,300kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,550kg 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 (Skoda Kodiaq). The Skoda Kodiaq has longer coverage.