Head-to-head
BYD Sealion 7 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
At $54,990 the BYD Sealion 7 undercuts the Hyundai Ioniq 5 by $21,210 (28%) — but does the premium deliver enough of an edge to justify itself? Here's how the two compare on price, range, charging, safety and warranty.
Option A · SUV
BYD Sealion 7
BYD's mid-size electric SUV launched in Australia in February 2025 and rose to second on the EV sales chart by early 2026 — only the Tesla Model Y outsells it. Pairs an 82.5 kWh Blade LFP battery with rear- or all-wheel-drive options, 150 kW DC fast charging and a 5-star ANCAP rating.
- From
- $54,990
- Range
- 482 km
- Battery
- 82.5 kWh
Option B · SUV
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai's retro-futuristic Ioniq 5 shares mechanicals with the Kia EV6 but adopts a more upright, lounge-like cabin and pixel-art lighting. The N performance variant brings tracky thrills to the family EV space.
- From
- $76,200
- Range
- 507 km
- Battery
- 84 kWh
Key differences at a glance
The biggest material gaps between the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, ranked by how much they're likely to matter day-to-day.
- 1
DC charging · advantage Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 accepts 83 kW more DC peak charging (233 vs 150 kW), meaning shorter road-trip stops.
- 2
Price · advantage BYD Sealion 7
The BYD Sealion 7 undercuts the Hyundai Ioniq 5 by $21,210 (28%) on starting price.
- 3
Range · advantage Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 goes 25 km further on a charge (507 vs 482 km WLTP).
- 4
Power · advantage BYD Sealion 7
The BYD Sealion 7 puts down 62 kW more (230 vs 168 kW).
- 5
Warranty · advantage BYD Sealion 7
The BYD Sealion 7 covers the vehicle for 1 more year (6 vs 5 yrs).
Spec for spec
Highlighted cells show the better number in each row.
Where the BYD Sealion 7 wins
- ▸ Cheaper by $21,210
- ▸ Quicker 0–100 km/h (6.7s vs 7.4s)
- ▸ Longer warranty (6 years)
Where the Hyundai Ioniq 5 wins
- ▸ 25 km longer WLTP range
- ▸ Faster DC charging peak (233 kW vs 150 kW)
BYD Sealion 7
What we like
- ✓ Long 482 km WLTP range from the Premium RWD variant
- ✓ Five-star ANCAP rating tested 2025
- ✓ Class-leading 8-year battery warranty
- ✓ Genuinely quick — 4.5s 0–100 in Performance trim
What we don't
- ✕ DC fast-charging peak (150 kW) trails 800V Korean rivals
- ✕ Software lacks the polish of Tesla's
- ✕ BYD dealer network still limited outside capital cities
Hyundai Ioniq 5
What we like
- ✓ Distinctive design inside and out
- ✓ Class-leading 800V fast charging
- ✓ Cavernous flat-floor interior
What we don't
- ✕ 5-year vehicle warranty trails Kia
- ✕ Rear visibility hampered by tall belt-line
- ✕ Wide turning circle for the segment
Frequently asked: BYD Sealion 7 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
Quick answers to the questions cross-shoppers most often ask about this pair.
- Which is cheaper, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5?
- The BYD Sealion 7 is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $54,990 versus $76,200 for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, a $21,210 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.
- Which has the longer driving range?
- The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 507 km, 25 km further than the BYD Sealion 7's 482 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.
- Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?
- The Hyundai Ioniq 5 accepts a peak DC charging rate of 233 kW versus 150 kW for the BYD Sealion 7. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.
- Which is quicker off the line?
- The BYD Sealion 7 does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds — 0.7 s quicker than the Hyundai Ioniq 5's 7.4 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.
- Is the BYD Sealion 7 better value than the Hyundai Ioniq 5?
- On paper the BYD Sealion 7 is $21,210 cheaper, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 edges ahead on most other measurable specs. Whether the saving justifies the gap depends on which features matter most to you, and how much weight you give to brand and dealer factors.
Which one should you buy?
The short version, based on where each car pulls ahead.
Choose the
BYD Sealion 7
if…
- ✓ you want to save $21,210 on the sticker
- ✓ you match the profile: model y cross-shoppers
Choose the
Hyundai Ioniq 5
if…
- ✓ you regularly do long road trips (faster DC peak)
- ✓ you match the profile: design-led buyers
Verdict reasoning is derived from published specs; brand preference, dealer experience and how a car drives are personal — always take a test drive before deciding.