Tesla Model Y L vs BYD Sealion 8: Specs and Price Comparison (2026)

The Sealion 8 Premium undercuts the Model Y L by $3,910 before on-road costs. The Model Y L, as a battery-electric vehicle, qualifies for the federal fringe benefits tax exemption on novated leases. The Sealion 8, as a plug-in hybrid, does not qualify for new FBT-exempt novated lease arrangements, since PHEV eligibility for new commitments ended on 1 April 2025 unless grandfathered under a pre-existing agreement.

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The Sealion 8 is the physically larger car overall, longer and taller, but the Model Y L is wider and rides on a longer wheelbase thanks to its dedicated EV platform. The Sealion 8 holds the key advantage of having one more passenger.

The Sealion 8's extra mass comes down to running two powertrains at once, a turbo-petrol engine, fuel tank and dual electric motors, on top of a large SUV body. The Model Y L carries only its battery and electric motors, which helps explain the near-500kg gap despite similar overall footprints.

Despite the Sealion 8's substantial weight disadvantage, the two are closely matched in a straight line, with the BYD's combined petrol-electric torque narrowly ahead on the sprint.

The Sealion 8's extra torque, delivered through the combination of its turbo-petrol engine and electric motors, is enough to offset roughly half a tonne of extra weight and edge ahead of the lighter, more powerful Model Y L on the sprint. In reality, both are quick for six or seven-seat family SUVs.

This is where the two cars diverge most. The Model Y L is a genuine long-range EV, while the Sealion 8 is built for short electric commutes backed by a petrol engine for everything else.

The Model Y L's 250kW DC peak more than triples the Sealion 8's 74kW, meaning a Supercharger stop takes a fraction of the time a Sealion 8 needs on a public fast charger. The Sealion 8's smaller battery is designed to be topped up overnight on a home AC charger rather than relied on for DC fast charging, with the petrol engine covering the rest of any longer trip.

The Model Y L leads on cargo space at every measurement point, while the Sealion 8 has a confirmed towing rating well ahead of the Model Y L's.

The Model Y L holds a clear cargo advantage at every measurement point despite the Sealion 8's larger physical footprint, a result of its dedicated electric architecture freeing up more usable space. The Sealion 8's confirmed 2,000kg braked towing capacity provides a practical edge for buyers who need to tow a heavier trailer, boat or camper.

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Both cars centre on large touchscreens but differ in smartphone integration and driver assistance.

The Model Y L pairs a 16-inch central touchscreen with an 8-inch rear display. Tesla offers no wireless CarPlay or Android Auto, so all functions run through its own software. Driver assistance uses Tesla Vision, a camera-only system with Traffic Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer standard, plus an optional Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package. It holds a 5-star ANCAP rating, with the top Safety Assist score of any vehicle tested.

The Sealion 8 Premium AWD has a 15.6-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a 26-inch head-up display (Premium only). Standard ADAS includes AEB, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, front/rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and driver attention monitoring via an in-cabin RGB/infrared camera. It also adds interactive cockpit modes (Nap, Camping, Car Wash), a first for BYD in Australia, and had not been ANCAP tested at time of writing.

The Model Y L carries a five-star ANCAP rating, largely based on testing of the standard five-seat Model Y with additional third-row and documentation assessments. The Sealion 8 had not been independently crash tested by ANCAP at the time of writing.

Model Y L

• 5-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty
• 8-year, 192,000km battery and drive unit warranty.

Sealion 8

• 6-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty
• 8-year, 160,000km battery warranty.

Exclusive to the Tesla Model Y L:

• 250kW DC fast charging, more than triple the Sealion 8's rate
• Continuous variable damping with Balanced and Rear Comfort modes
• 116L front trunk (frunk)
• Fringe benefits tax exemption on novated leases as a battery-electric vehicle
• 5-star ANCAP rating

Exclusive to the BYD Sealion 8 Premium:

• Seventh seat, for genuine three-across middle-row seating
• Massaging rear seats
• 21-speaker DiSound sound system
• 26-inch head-up display
• Heated steering wheel
• Confirmed 2,000kg braked towing capacity
• $3,910 cheaper before on-road costs

These two cars suit different priorities more than they compete head to head on the same terms. The Model Y L is the stronger choice for buyers who want a genuine long-range EV with fast charging, more cargo capacity and are comfortable with six seats instead of seven.

The Sealion 8 Premium makes sense for families who need a genuine seventh seat, want a confirmed higher towing capacity, and would rather have the peace of mind of the petrol engine for longer trips than rely on public DC charging. It's also the cheaper of the two before on-road costs, and adds more standalone luxury features at this trim level.

Buyers who want a pure EV experience with the fastest charging and biggest boot should lean Model Y L. Buyers who want maximum seating, more towing capacity, and PHEV flexibility for a lower price should lean Sealion 8 Premium.

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