Suzuki Vitara vs BYD Sealion 5
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
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 7 Sep 2026, price 14 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.
$36,350est. RRP
- with the BYD Sealion 5's standard kit: $36,350 (nothing to add)
$33,990RRP
- 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 Suzuki Vitara & BYD Sealion 5
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The Suzuki Vitara starts from $36,350 (our estimated RRP; the brand lists drive-away prices only) before on-road costs, while the BYD Sealion 5 opens at $33,990. 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 $39,985 and $37,389 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 5 by roughly $7,185 in fuel alone.
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
Suzuki Vitara
- REC-006212 · published 11 Dec 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the left rear brake pipe line may have been damaged during assembly.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005515 · published 5 Sep 2022Due to a manufacturing defect, the valve between the engine and the vacuum assist brake booster may swell under certain conditions.Year range on the notice: 2016 - 2022
- REC-005061 · published 17 Feb 2022Vehicles have been supplied with incorrect information in the owner’s manual in regards to the installation of ISOFIX child restraint system.Year range on the notice: 2015 - 2022
- 1 more on the model page.
BYD Sealion 5
None open on our record
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
12.9kWh usableEstimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Suzuki Vitara features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the BYD Sealion 5 gets a 10.1-inch display and 8.8-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Suzuki Vitara stands out with wireless charging — features our data doesn't list for the BYD Sealion 5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Drivetrain
The Suzuki Vitara uses a Petrol producing 80.9kW and 235Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.2 seconds.
The BYD Sealion 5 responds with a Plug-in Hybrid making 156kW and 300Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.
The BYD Sealion 5 has the clear power advantage at 156kW vs 80.9kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BYD Sealion 5 is 2.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Suzuki Vitara measures 4,185mm long on a 2,500mm wheelbase, 553mm shorter than the BYD Sealion 5 at 4,738mm (2,712mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 362L in the Suzuki Vitara and 463L in the BYD Sealion 5, giving the BYD Sealion 5 a 101L advantage.
For towing, the Suzuki Vitara leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 450kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.2m to 12.0m
Based on 10.2m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Based on 12.0m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Compare U-turns side by side
Turning Circle · U-turn compare
kerb-to-kerb, 2 cars0 of 2 clear a 7.0 m street in one sweep
Green cars complete the U-turn; amber need a 3-point turn. Drag the slider to test tighter streets.
Standard widths: AU local streets ~5.5–7 m; main roads ~9–12 m.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,653/year for the Suzuki Vitara and $216/year for the BYD Sealion 5. That is a $1,437 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 5.
Warranty: 3 years / 100,000km (Suzuki Vitara) vs 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 5). The BYD Sealion 5 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Suzuki Vitara if: You need stronger towing, or prefer Suzuki's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the BYD Sealion 5 if: You prioritise performance, need more boot space, want lower running costs, value a longer warranty, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
BYD Sealion 5: Top CarSorted Score, 80 vs 69
The BYD Sealion 5 comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (80 vs 69), taking 4 of 5 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: value (BYD Sealion 5 ahead by 20), performance (BYD Sealion 5 ahead by 17), fuel economy (BYD Sealion 5 ahead by 16). The BYD Sealion 5 will save you roughly $1,437 a year in fuel. If boot space matters, the BYD Sealion 5 has a clear edge. The BYD Sealion 5 adds peace of mind with a longer 6-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Suzuki Vitara and BYD Sealion 5?
The BYD Sealion 5 is the cheapest at $33,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Suzuki Vitara by $2,360.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The BYD Sealion 5 uses the least fuel at 1.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BYD Sealion 5 holds a 3-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for Suzuki Vitara, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BYD Sealion 5 has the largest boot at 463L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Suzuki Vitara has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,200kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD Sealion 5 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150k km.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD Sealion 5 makes the most power at 156kW. The BYD Sealion 5 is quickest to 100km/h in 7.7s.
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!
