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BYD Sealion 7 vs Ford Explorer
Selected trimComfortChange trim300 mi · 82.5 kWh · £44,990
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Sealion 7 leads on family practicality and charging speed, while the Ford Explorer leads on running costs and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BYD Sealion 7 if...
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
Choose the Ford Explorer if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.2p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Ford Explorer edges ahead overall, but it's close - check which categories matter most to you.
Value
BYD
6
Ford
6.1
Too close to call
Motorway Range
BYD
3.1
Ford
3.5
Too close to call
FamilyBYD
BYD
8
Ford
6.7
ChargingBYD
BYD
5.9
Ford
4.6
Cost Per MileFord
BYD
0.8
Ford
3.5
City DrivingFord
BYD
2.2
Ford
5.4
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BYD Sealion 7
Comfort
- 27 miles more WLTP range
- 50 litres more boot space
- 45 kW faster rapid charging
- 90 kW more power
- 1.3s quicker 0-62 mph
Ford Explorer
Style 58kWh
- £9,805 cheaper
- 35 Wh/km more efficient
- 0.8 m tighter turning circle
- 250 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £44,990 | £35,185 (better) |
| Official range | 300 miles (better) | 273 miles |
| Boot space | 520 L (better) | 470 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 24 min (better) | 25 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec (better) | 8 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
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BYD Sealion 7
Ford Explorer
Length
BYD Sealion 74,830mm
Ford Explorer4,468mm-362mm
Width
BYD Sealion 71,925mm
Ford Explorer1,872mm-53mm
Height
BYD Sealion 71,620mm-10mm
Ford Explorer1,630mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,468 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,925 mm | 1,872 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,189 mm | 2,063 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,620 mm | 1,630 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.7 m | 10.9 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 475 mm spare | 528 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 916 mm |
| Boot space (seats up) | 520 L (better) | 470 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1789 L (better) | 1460 L |
| Frunk | 58 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 1,000 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Sealion 7
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- At 4,830 mm, longer than 80% of SUVs we track.
Ford Explorer
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Sealion 7 Comfort |  Ford Explorer Style 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.83m | 4.47m-362mm |
| Width | 1.93m | 1.87m-53mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.19m | 2.06m-126mm |
| Height | 1.62m | 1.63m+10mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.93m | 2.77m-163mm |
| Ground Clearance | 157mm | 193mm+36mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 520L (better) | 470L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1789L (better) | 1460L |
| Frunk | 58L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 916mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.7m | 10.9m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,225kg | 1,908kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,000kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.5kWh (better) | 58kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 300 mi (better) | 273 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW (better) | 105kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £44,990 | £35,185 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £44,990 (not eligible) | £33,685 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 300 miles (better) | 273 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 204 miles (better) | 183 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 24 min (better) | 25 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW (better) | 105 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 199 Wh/km | 164 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.5 kWh (better) | 58 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | Not available | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec (better) | 8 sec |
| Power | 230 kW (better) | 140 kW |
| Torque | 380 Nm (better) | 310 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BYD Sealion 7
Comfort
6.6/10
average across 6 reviews
- Parkers3.9/5
- Auto Express3.5/5
- Electrifying.com7/10
Ford Explorer
Style 58kWh
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BYD Sealion 7
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD Sealion 7 Comfort
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant87%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist79%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Ford Explorer Style 58kWh
Tested 2024
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist72%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km (better) | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Sealion 7
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Ford Explorer
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Sealion 7 worth the extra £9,805 over the Ford Explorer?
The BYD Sealion 7 costs £9,805 more than the Ford Explorer. For that premium it adds 27 miles more WLTP range, 45 kW faster peak rapid charging and 50 litres more boot space. The Ford Explorer is not just cheaper - it also offers lower energy use, 164 versus 199 Wh/km. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Ford Explorer comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Ford Explorer?
The Ford Explorer is £9,805 cheaper to buy. The Ford Explorer is cheaper to charge, roughly £176 a year versus £216 for the BYD Sealion 7, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Ford Explorer comes out roughly £10,005 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 204 miles for the BYD Sealion 7 and 183 miles for the Ford Explorer - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BYD Sealion 7 goes roughly 21 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 24-25 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Ford Explorer?
The Ford Explorer is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 53 mm narrower than the BYD Sealion 7. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 528 mm of total clearance for the Ford Explorer and about 475 mm of total clearance for the BYD Sealion 7. The Ford Explorer also turns in a 0.8 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Ford Explorer?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Sealion 7 and 84% for the Ford Explorer. That gives the BYD Sealion 7 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The BYD Sealion 7's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Ford Explorer's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BYD Sealion 7 comparisons
More Ford Explorer comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Ford Explorer rank among EVs with the biggest boots
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BYD Sealion 7 (2025 on): Comfort, Design or Excellence & What to Pay
A used BYD Sealion 7 buyer’s guide: Comfort RWD, Design AWD and Excellence AWD, the steep depreciation, BYD’s 8-year battery warranty, charging speeds, real-world range, what owners report and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Ford Explorer EV (2024 on): Standard or Extended Range, RWD or AWD, Recalls & What to Pay
A used electric Ford Explorer buyer’s guide: Standard and Extended Range, RWD and AWD explained, the 2026 battery change, recalls, warranty, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay against a new one with the grant, and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .