Kia EV5 vs BYD Sealion 7

The Kia EV5 starts from $56,770 before on-road costs, while the BYD Sealion 7 opens at $54,990. That makes the BYD Sealion 7 the more affordable entry point by $1,780.

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 $62,447 and $60,489 respectively.

Both models currently qualify for the electric-vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax exemption (battery-electric and under the $91,661 threshold; battery-electric and under the $91,661 threshold), a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases.

Both the Kia EV5 and BYD Sealion 7 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Kia EV5 and 87% for the BYD Sealion 7.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the BYD Sealion 7, against 6 on the Kia EV5.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia EV5 and 7 in the BYD Sealion 7.

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

The Kia EV5 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BYD Sealion 7 gets a 15.6-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Sealion 7 counters with head-up display, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, Dynaudio audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Kia EV5 gets cloth upholstery while the BYD Sealion 7 offers genuine leather.

The Kia EV5 uses a Electric producing 160kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 responds with a Electric making 230kW and 380Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 7 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 160kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BYD Sealion 7 is 1.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 64.2kWh (Kia EV5) vs 82.6kWh (BYD Sealion 7), giving WLTP ranges of 511km and 482km. DC fast charging peaks at 150kW (Kia EV5) vs 150kW (BYD Sealion 7).

The Kia EV5 measures 4,615mm long on a 2,750mm wheelbase, 215mm shorter than the BYD Sealion 7 at 4,830mm (2,930mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 513L in the Kia EV5 and 500L in the BYD Sealion 7, giving the Kia EV5 a 13L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Sealion 7 leads with a 750kg braked capacity vs 300kg. That 450kg 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: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV5) vs 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 7). The Kia EV5 has longer coverage.