BYD Sealion 8 vs Kia EV5
Two electric SUVs go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 20 Sep 2026, price 4 Oct 2026
Driver assistance, as the maker lists it
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
$56,990RRP
- no option data for this car
$56,770RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the BYD Sealion 8 & Kia EV5
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The BYD Sealion 8 starts from $56,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV5 opens at $56,770. That makes the Kia EV5 the more affordable entry point by $220.
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 $62,689 and $62,447 respectively.
The Kia EV5 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The BYD Sealion 8 does not: plug-in hybrids lost the fbt exemption on 1 april 2025.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Recalls on our record
BYD Sealion 8
None open on our record
Kia EV5
- REC-006557 · published 6 Mar 2026Due to a software error, the Instrument Cluster may display a blank screen or may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
19kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 40kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 40kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
How long to charge
64.2kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 150kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 150kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Sealion 8 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV5 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD Sealion 8 stands out with wireless charging, panoramic roof, ventilated seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Kia EV5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 8 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia EV5 offers cloth & artificial leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the BYD Sealion 8 and 2-zone in the Kia EV5.
Drivetrain
The BYD Sealion 8 uses a Petrol Turbo PHEV producing 205kW and 315Nm of torque, sent through a 1-speed auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6 seconds.
The Kia EV5 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 310Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.
The BYD Sealion 8 has the clear power advantage at 205kW vs 160kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Kia EV5 is 0.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Battery: 19kWh (BYD Sealion 8) vs 64.2kWh (Kia EV5), giving WLTP ranges of 103km and 400km. DC fast charging peaks at 40kW (BYD Sealion 8) vs 150kW (Kia EV5).
Space & Comfort
The BYD Sealion 8 measures 5,040mm long on a 2,950mm wheelbase, 425mm longer than the Kia EV5 at 4,615mm (2,750mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 8 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 270L in the BYD Sealion 8 and 513L in the Kia EV5, giving the Kia EV5 a 243L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1960L vs 1714L. The BYD Sealion 8 seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the BYD Sealion 8 leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 300kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
11.7m diameter
Average
Based on 11.7m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Average
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 10.4 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.9 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 8) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV5). The Kia EV5 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the BYD Sealion 8 if: You prioritise performance, need stronger towing, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Kia EV5 if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, value a longer warranty, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
BYD Sealion 8: Top CarSorted Score, 78 vs 75, but the Kia EV5 is $220 cheaper
The BYD Sealion 8 comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (78 vs 75), taking 3 of 9 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: fuel economy (BYD Sealion 8 ahead by 35), safety (Kia EV5 ahead by 21), value (BYD Sealion 8 ahead by 9). If boot space matters, the Kia EV5 has a clear edge. The Kia EV5 adds peace of mind with a longer 7-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Sealion 8 and Kia EV5?
The Kia EV5 is the cheapest at $56,770 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD Sealion 8 by $220.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The BYD Sealion 8 uses the least fuel at 1.1L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Kia EV5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for BYD Sealion 8, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia EV5 has the largest boot at 513L with the seats up (1,714L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The BYD Sealion 8 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia EV5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / Unlimited.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD Sealion 8 makes the most power at 205kW. The Kia EV5 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.5s.
Stay across the market
Get our weekly new-car rundown of launches, price moves, deals and reviews, straight from the data.
- Weekly new-car rundown
- Price cuts and new deals
- New launches and reviews
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
