Tesla Model Y RWD vs BYD Sealion 7 Premium: Specs Comparison

Both cars are sold in a single base variant locally. The Sealion 7 Premium undercuts the Model Y RWD by $3,910 before on-road costs.

Stepping up the range, Tesla's Performance AWD jumps to $89,400, a $30,500 premium over the RWD. BYD's Sealion 7 Performance AWD is a smaller step up at $63,990, just $9,000 more than the Premium. Both cars qualify for the federal fringe benefits tax exemption on novated leases.

Get a novated lease quote

The Sealion 7 is longer and wider than the Model Y, while the Model Y rides on a longer wheelbase and offers more ground clearance. Kerb weight favours the Model Y by a wide margin.

The Sealion 7's body is classified as a SUV Coupe with a sloping roofline, which costs it boot space against the Model Y's more conventional SUV shape. The Model Y's 222kg weight advantage is notable given the Sealion 7 carries a larger battery, and it likely reflects Tesla's dedicated EV platform versus the heavier overall packaging of BYD's e-platform 3.0 in this application.

The Sealion 7 Premium claims more range than the Model Y RWD, helped by a substantially larger battery. The Model Y is quicker off the line despite less power, partly thanks to its lighter weight.

The Sealion 7's 16km range advantageis due to carrying a 22.5kWh larger battery. The Model Y is the significantly more efficient car of the two at 129Wh/km against the Sealion 7's 171Wh/km.

Acceleration favours the Model Y by 0.8 seconds to 100km/h, helped by its 222kg weight advantage despite near-identical power outputs. The Model Y also tows 200kg more on its braked rating.

Specs

2025 BYD Sealion 7 Price and Specs Revealed: Undercuts Tesla Model Y by over $8000

The 2025 BYD Sealion 7 lands in Australia soon priced from $54,990 plus on-road costs. With up to 390 kW power, 456 km range, and premium tech, it’s a game-changer. See specs before the official launch!

Read More →

Both cars use LFP battery chemistry. The Sealion 7 charges faster on AC, but the Model Y has the faster maximum DC rate on paper, though real-world charging on Australia's public network typically falls well short of either car's peak figure.

Despite the Model Y's higher peak DC figure, the Sealion 7 charges its much larger battery in a similar window thanks to a favourable charging curve. Neither car supports vehicle-to-home or vehicle-to-grid in Australia. The Sealion 7 offers vehicle-to-load as standard at 6.6kW, enough to run power tools, camping gear or appliances during an outage. The Model Y RWD does not offer V2L, a notable gap against BYD's standard feature, though the larger Model Y L variant does support it.

Comparison

Tesla Model Y L vs Long Range AWD: Price, Specs and Range Comparison

Tesla Model Y L costs $6,000 more than the Model Y Long Range AWD. Compare price, range, dimensions and charging to see which is worth it.

Read More →

Both cars carry a five-star ANCAP safety rating and come standard with a comparable suite of Level 2 driver assistance features.

Standard on both:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keep assist and lane departure warning
• Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• 360-degree camera system

The Model Y relies entirely on camera-based Autopilot and does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in any variant. The Sealion 7 uses a more conventional radar and camera array and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a point of difference buyers used to smartphone integration will notice immediately.

On infotainment, the Model Y centres its cabin entirely around a single 15.4-inch central touchscreen with no separate instrument display, reflecting Tesla's minimalist design philosophy. The Sealion 7 Premium pairs a 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen with a separate 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display, giving the driver more conventional sightlines.

Both include wireless phone charging and a companion smartphone app for remote lock, climate control and charge monitoring. Tesla's software update cadence is more frequent, and its built-in app ecosystem (streaming, games, navigation with live Supercharger occupancy) is more developed than BYD's offering. The Sealion 7's advantage is CarPlay and Android Auto support, which the Model Y lacks entirely.

Outside the core spec sheet, each car has features the other does not offer.

Exclusive to the Tesla Model Y RWD:

• 117L frunk in addition to a 854L rear boot
• Access to the Tesla Supercharger network across Australia
• Lighter kerb weight (2,003kg vs 2,225kg), which benefits efficiency and handling
• Higher peak DC charging rate on paper (175kW vs 150kW)

Exclusive to the BYD Sealion 7 Premium:

• Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) as standard, rated to 6.6kW
• Longer claimed WLTP range (482km vs 466km)
• Lower entry price by $3,910 before on-road costs

Tesla and BYD take different approaches to coverage. BYD offers a longer term on the core vehicle warranty, while both back their batteries for the same eight years.

BYD's 150,000km cap is less than Tesla's unlimited limit which only applies for private use. Commercial use is limited to 150,000km.

Tesla's condition-based servicing means will automatically flag issues like brake fluid checks or cabin filter replacement as needed, rather than booking in at fixed intervals, and Zecar's own servicing data shows this keeps typical annual costs low at around $225 a year. BYD's Sealion 7 Premium carries capped-price servicing across 10 years, totalling $4,157 over that period, giving buyers a clearer upfront picture of long-term running costs.

Both cars are closely matched on paper. The Sealion 7 Premium offers more range, a cheaper entry price, standard CarPlay and Android Auto, and standard V2L. The Model Y RWD counters with a lighter kerb weight, a larger frunk, a higher peak DC charging rate and access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

Buyers prioritising outright specs and smartphone integration will find a stronger case in the Sealion 7 Premium. Buyers who want Tesla's charging network and software ecosystem will likely stick with the Model Y despite the higher price and shorter range.

Sales data suggests Australian buyers are still leaning toward the Model Y overall, though the Sealion 7's growth rate is the more interesting trend to watch through the rest of 2026.

Get a novated lease quote