Tesla Model Y vs BYD Sealion 7: Which Electric SUV Should You Buy?

Two electric SUVs now sit near the top of Australia's sales chart. In the first half of 2026 the Tesla Model Y was the third best-selling new vehicle in the country, and the best-selling SUV, with 20,396 sales. The BYD Sealion 7 was eighth, with 12,516, up 233.2% on a year earlier. If you are choosing between them, you are comparing two of the most popular cars on the road, and either one is a sound choice.

The differences are real but specific: price, range, charging, how each cabin works, and warranty. Here they are side by side, with prices as listed in September 2026. For many buyers, how you pay changes the numbers more than any of those. Rodar helps people buy both cars through a novated lease, which is where the saving on these two brands sits.

Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a five-seat mid-size SUV. It starts at $58,900 plus on-road costs for the Premium RWD, with a WLTP range of 466km. The Premium Long Range AWD is $68,900 plus on-road costs and quotes 600km.

Since 1 January 2026, new Model Y deliveries carry a 5-year, unlimited km vehicle warranty, with 8 years on the battery and drive unit. Tesla's software is its strength. The Supercharger network is built into the car's navigation, which plans charging stops on a long trip for you. Nearly every control lives on the central screen, which some drivers love and others take time to get used to. If you need a third row, Tesla now sells the Model Y L as a separate six-seater, at $74,900 plus on-road costs with a WLTP range of 681km.

BYD Sealion 7

The BYD Sealion 7 is also a five-seat mid-size SUV. The Premium RWD is $54,990 plus on-road costs, with 230kW and a WLTP range of 482km. The Performance AWD is $63,990 plus on-road costs, with 390kW and 456km. Both use an 82.56kWh Blade battery and charge at up to 150kW DC.

The Sealion 7 takes a more conventional approach inside, with more physical controls, and it charges on the public fast-charging networks. It has a 500-litre boot and a 58-litre front boot. BYD's vehicle warranty is 6 years or 150,000km, and the battery is covered for 8 years or 160,000km.

Side by side

Prices are list prices as at September 2026 and exclude on-road costs. They change, so confirm them on the day.

Range and charging

At entry level the two are close: 466km for the Model Y against 482km for the Sealion 7. Spend more and they go in opposite directions. The Model Y's Long Range adds range, to 600km, while the Sealion 7's Performance trades some range for power, down to 456km.

How much this matters depends on where you charge. If you charge at home and drive mostly around town, both cover a normal week with room to spare. If you drive interstate often, the Model Y's range on the Long Range and the Supercharger route planning are real advantages.

Cabin and technology

This one is personal, so drive both. The Model Y is minimal, with nearly everything on one screen and frequent over-the-air updates. The Sealion 7 keeps more buttons and a more traditional layout, which many drivers find easier day to day. Both have a front boot as well as a rear one.

Paying for either one: the novated lease

On Tesla and BYD there is no cash discount for us to chase, and we do not offer one. Where you can save is in how you pay. Both cars are battery electric and list below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, which is $91,661 for 2026-27. That makes them eligible for the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption on a novated lease.

With a novated lease, your employer pays the lease and running costs out of your salary, largely before tax. With the FBT exemption, that can bring the real cost of the car down a long way compared with paying cash or taking a car loan.

The exemption applies in full until 31 March 2027. In the May 2026 Budget the government announced a phase-down, which is still subject to legislation:

• From 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029: the full exemption applies only to EVs valued at $75,000 or less. Above that, up to the luxury car tax threshold, there is a 25% FBT discount instead.
• From 1 April 2029: only the 25% discount remains.

Every variant in the table lists below $75,000 before on-road costs. How your car is valued for FBT is worth confirming when the lease is quoted. This is general information only, not tax advice, so speak to your accountant or financial adviser about your own situation. For the full picture, read our guide to a novated lease on an electric car.

Which one should you buy?

• Choose the Tesla Model Y if you drive long distances often, want the most range, value the Supercharger route planning, or like a minimal cabin run from one screen.
• Choose the BYD Sealion 7 if you want the lower entry price, charge mostly at home, prefer more physical controls, or want the extra year of vehicle warranty.

If neither shape is right, the same brands make the Tesla Model 3 sedan and the smaller BYD Atto 3 SUV, and both can be packaged on a novated lease in the same way. For a wider view, see our list of the best electric cars in Australia.

How Rodar helps you get a Model Y or Sealion 7

Choosing between two good cars is the enjoyable part. Working out a novated lease is less so, and that is the part we can take off your hands. Tell us which car, grade and colour you want. We work out the novated lease with you, compare finance across a panel of over 30 lenders, and show you what it costs from your pay in plain numbers, next to what the same car costs on a loan.

We can also value your trade-in and arrange delivery to your door. You decide in your own time, with no pressure either way. When you are ready, get your competitive offers on a novated lease, or read our FAQs first.

Rates and repayments are indicative only and subject to lender approval. Rodar Pty Ltd is an Authorised Credit Representative (555548) of Fintelligence Pty Ltd (ACL 511803).