BYD Sealion 7 vs Tesla Model S (2016-2019)

The Tesla Model S costs £30,860 more than the BYD Sealion 7. For that premium it adds 225 litres more boot space, 53 kW more power and a 1.2s quicker 0-62mph time. The BYD Sealion 7 is not just cheaper - it also offers 41 miles more WLTP range and 30 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BYD Sealion 7 comes out ahead overall.

The BYD Sealion 7 is £30,860 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £208 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the BYD Sealion 7 comes out roughly £30,820 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 204 miles for the BYD Sealion 7 and 198 miles for the Tesla Model S - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 24 minutes in the BYD Sealion 7 and 40 in the Tesla Model S, so the BYD Sealion 7 loses less time at each stop.

The BYD Sealion 7 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 39 mm narrower than the Tesla Model S. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 475 mm of total clearance for the BYD Sealion 7 and about 436 mm of total clearance for the Tesla Model S.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Sealion 7 and 85% for the Tesla Model S. 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 Tesla Model S's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.