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BYD Sealion 7 vs Hyundai IONIQ 5
Selected trimComfortChange trim300 mi · 82.5 kWh · £44,990
Selected trimStandard Range RWDChange trim273 mi · 63 kWh · £40,695
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Sealion 7 stays competitive across the board, while the Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Hyundai IONIQ 5 if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 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 Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
BYD
6
Hyundai
6.1
Too close to call
Motorway RangeHyundai
BYD
3.1
Hyundai
6.4
Family
BYD
8
Hyundai
7.7
Too close to call
ChargingHyundai
BYD
5.9
Hyundai
7.9
Cost Per MileHyundai
BYD
0.8
Hyundai
6.8
City DrivingHyundai
BYD
2.2
Hyundai
3.3
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
- 105 kW more power
- 1.8s quicker 0-62 mph
- 0.3 m tighter turning circle
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £44,990 | £40,695 (better) |
| Official range | 300 miles (better) | 273 miles |
| Boot space | 520 L | 520 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 24 min | 18 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec (better) | 8.5 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
BYD Sealion 7
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Length
BYD Sealion 74,830mm
Hyundai IONIQ 54,655mm-175mm
Width
BYD Sealion 71,925mm
Hyundai IONIQ 51,890mm-35mm
Height
BYD Sealion 71,620mm
Hyundai IONIQ 51,605mm-15mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,655 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,925 mm | 1,890 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,189 mm | 2,116 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,620 mm | 1,605 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.7 m (better) | 12 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 475 mm spare | 510 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 520 L | 520 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1789 L (better) | 1587 L |
| Frunk | 58 L (better) | 57 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 750 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Sealion 7
- One of 32 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- At 4,830 mm, longer than 80% of SUVs we track.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
- Peak DC charging of 260 kW, faster than 85% of SUVs in our catalogue.
- One of 32 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 3,000 mm wheelbase, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Sealion 7 Comfort |  Hyundai IONIQ 5 Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.83m | 4.66m-175mm |
| Width | 1.93m | 1.89m-35mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.19m | 2.12m-73mm |
| Height | 1.62m | 1.60m-15mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.93m | 3.00m+70mm |
| Ground Clearance | 157mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 520L | 520L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1789L (better) | 1587L |
| Frunk | 58L (better) | 57L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.7m (better) | 12m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,225kg | 1,920kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 750kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.5kWh (better) | 63kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 300 mi (better) | 273 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 260kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £44,990 | £40,695 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 300 miles (better) | 273 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 204 miles | 228 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 24 min | 18 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 260 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW (better) | 10.5 kW |
| Energy consumption | 199 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.5 kWh (better) | 63 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NCMA |
| Battery architecture | Not available | 800V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.7 sec (better) | 8.5 sec |
| Power | 230 kW (better) | 125 kW |
| Torque | 380 Nm (better) | 350 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
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Standard Range RWD
8.9/10
average across 7 reviews
- Car Magazine5/5
- DrivingElectric5/5
- Electrifying.com9/10
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
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £30,211 | £29,990 |
| Average used price | £30,993 | £33,990 |
| Saving vs RRP | £13,997 below new | £6,705 below new |
| Recent used-price trend | Up 11.3% over ~6 months | Down 7.7% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
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 - Hyundai IONIQ 5 Standard Range RWD
Vulnerable Road Users63%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BYD Sealion 7Comfort | Hyundai IONIQ 5Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Sealion 7
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD Sealion 7
No active listings.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
- £29,9902025Cars2View
- £40,4902026Cars2View
- £33,9902026Cars2View
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Sealion 7 worth the extra £4,295 over the Hyundai IONIQ 5?
The BYD Sealion 7 costs £4,295 more than the Hyundai IONIQ 5. For that premium it adds 27 miles more WLTP range, 105 kW more power and a 1.8s quicker 0-62mph time. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 110 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Hyundai IONIQ 5?
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is £4,295 cheaper to buy. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is cheaper to charge, roughly £160 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 Hyundai IONIQ 5 comes out roughly £4,575 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 Hyundai IONIQ 5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 204 miles for the BYD Sealion 7 and 228 miles for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 goes roughly 24 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 18-24 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Sealion 7 or the Hyundai IONIQ 5?
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 35 mm narrower than the BYD Sealion 7. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 510 mm of total clearance for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and about 475 mm of total clearance for the BYD Sealion 7. The BYD Sealion 7 also turns in a 0.3 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 Hyundai IONIQ 5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Sealion 7 and 89% for the Hyundai IONIQ 5. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. The BYD Sealion 7's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Hyundai IONIQ 5's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use.
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.
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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 Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .