Compare the BYD Sealion 5 vs Kia EV3

A roomy hybrid SUV, with impressive efficiency
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
7/10
Not built for corners, but built for big range instead
2026
Family Values Award
Highly Commended
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10

AI generated from our expert reviews

The BYD Sealion 5 is longer than the Kia EV3, yet both provide enough space in the back for six-foot adults to get comfortable with plenty of legroom. Out on the road, though, their ride quality differs. The EV3 dispatches bumps and potholes with ease, remaining comfortable to drive. In contrast, the Sealion 5 is uncomfortable over potholes and speedbumps, and on poorly surfaced roads you will feel vibrations transmitted through the seat and the steering wheel.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Compare the specs

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Comfort 1.5 DM-i Auto Hybrid Automatic

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Air 150kW 58.3kWh Auto Electric Automatic

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Standard kit

  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.
  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.

Key information

Body type SUVs Body type SUVs
Available fuel types Hybrid Available fuel types Electric
Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Boot space, seats up 463 litres (3 suitcases) Best Boot space, seats up 460 litres (3 suitcases)
Boot space, seats down 1,410 litres Boot space, seats down —
External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,738 mm x 1,860 mm x ?? mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,310 mm x 1,850 mm x 1,575 mm
Towing capacity — Towing capacity 500 kg
First year tax rate £115 First year tax rate £10 Best
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
2.3 miles / kWh
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
4.1 miles / kWh Best
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
282.0 mpg
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
—
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
—
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
270 miles
Battery size 13 kWh Battery size 58.3 kWh
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 27 · average Best
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 33 · high
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Drivetrain & power

Engine name 1.5 DM-i Auto Engine name 150kW 58.3kWh Auto
Engine size 1.5 L Hybrid • 212 BHP Engine size Electric • 201 BHP
Body type SUVs Body type SUVs
Fuel type Hybrid Fuel type Electric
Transmission Automatic Transmission Automatic
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Forward gears 1 Forward gears 1
Acceleration 7.7 s (0-60 mph) Acceleration 7.5 s (0-60 mph) Best
Battery size 13 kWh Battery size 58.3 kWh
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
—
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
270 miles

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Number of doors 5 Number of doors 5
Boot (seats up) 463 litres Best Boot (seats up) 460 litres
Boot (seats down) 1,410 litres Boot (seats down) —
Length 4,738 mm Length 4,310 mm
Width 1,860 mm Width 1,850 mm
Height — Height 1,575 mm
Wheelbase 2.71 m Wheelbase —
Turning circle 6.0 m Turning circle 10.4 m

Full features list

  • Special metallic paint
  • Vegan leather - Black
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • Anti-lock brake system
  • Automatic emergency braking system
  • Brake override system (BOS)
  • Child presence detection
  • Comfort stop
  • Door open warning
  • Driver airbag
  • Electric parking brake
  • Electronic brake distribution
  • Force limiting pre-tensioned front seat belts
  • Front centre airbag
  • Front passenger airbag with deactivation switch
  • Front side airbags
  • Hill hold control
  • Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
  • Hydraulic brake boost
  • Mechanical child safety lock
  • Pre-tensioned outer rear seat belts
  • Rear middle seat force limiting seat belt
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Traction control system (TCS)
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
  • Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDC)
  • 2 x Smart keys
  • Alarm
  • Automatic door locking
  • Immobiliser
  • Keyless entry and keyless start
  • 12V power outlet
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 4 way electrically adjustable front passenger seat
  • 6 way electrically adjustable drivers seat
  • Boot parcel shelf
  • Driver and passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
  • Front LED reading lights
  • Front centre armrest
  • Front seat footlights
  • Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
  • ISOFIX and i-Size for front passenger and outer rear seats
  • Integrated headrest in front seats
  • LED front door lights
  • PM2.5 air filter
  • Rear air vents
  • Rear armrest with 2 cupholders
  • Rear seats with manually adjustable headrest
  • Rear side LED reading lights
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Split folding rear seats - 40/60
  • Trunk light
  • Vegan leather multifunction steering wheel
  • Vegan leather upholstery
  • 8.8" TFT full LCD instrument panel
  • Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Automatic vehicle hold
  • Blind spot detection
  • Cloud service - BYD APP
  • Controlled deceleration parking (CDP)
  • Drive mode select (Eco, normal, sport, snow)
  • Driver monitoring system
  • Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
  • Forward collision warning
  • Intelligent speed limit control (ISLC)
  • Intelligent voice control - "Hi BYD"
  • Lane departure assistant with lane departure warning and lane departure prevention
  • Onboard 4G connectivity
  • Power assisted steering
  • Rear collision warning
  • Rear cross traffic alert and rear cross traffic brake
  • Rear parking radar
  • Tailgate
  • Traffic sign recognition (TSR)
  • e-Call (emergency call)
  • Aluminium roof rails
  • Automatic headlights
  • Automatic rain-sensing boneless wipers
  • Electric adjustable door mirrors
  • Electric folding and heated door mirrors
  • Exterior mirror footlights
  • Follow me home headlights (The headlights turned on in advance and delayed off function)
  • Front windscreen, UV protection, thermal insulation and sound proofing
  • High beam assist
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • LED Headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED taillights
  • Manual dimming interior rear view mirror
  • Metallic paint
  • One touch electric front/rear windows with pinch protection
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear wiper
  • 12.8" Electrically rotatable touchscreen
  • 6 speakers
  • FM/DAB+ radio
  • Front and rear USB ports - 1 x 18W Type C + 1x 60W Type C
  • 18" Bi-colour alloy wheels
  • Tyre repair kit
  • 3.3kW On-Board charger
  • Cloth - Grey
  • Premium paint
  • 1 x Front 12V socket
  • 2 Spoke artificial leather steering wheel
  • 3 bench rear seats in 2nd row
  • 3 rear headrests
  • 60:40 Split folding rear seats
  • Air styling with blue accents
  • All-round height adjustable headrests
  • Automatic air conditioning
  • Centre console with underneath storage
  • Cloth upholstery
  • Driver and passenger sunvisors with vanity mirrors
  • E-Shift Column Gear Selector
  • Front and rear door storage
  • Front cabin LED light
  • Glovebox
  • Grey headlining
  • Heated front seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • ISOFIX rear child seat top tethers and anchor fixings
  • LED luggage area lights
  • Luggage board
  • Luggage compartment load cover
  • Luggage compartment parcel shelf
  • Luggage net with hooks
  • Manual adjustable driver and front passenger seat
  • Manual tilt/height adjustable steering wheel
  • Rear cabin LED light
  • Rear centre armrest with cupholder
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Under floor storage in luggage area
  • Customisable automatic door locking
  • Customisable automatic door unlocking
  • Engine Start/Stop Button with Smart Entry System
  • Locking wheel nuts
  • Manual child locks
  • Rear occupant alert
  • Smart key with motion sensor
  • Thatcham category 1 security alarm and immobiliser with interior protection
  • Visible vehicle identification number
  • Automatic defog system
  • Automatic headlight control system
  • Black side sills
  • Black wheel arches
  • Black window surrounds
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • Body coloured door mirrors
  • Electric front windows/one touch facility
  • Electrically folding/adjustable/heated door mirrors with LED indicators
  • Flush door handles
  • Frunk
  • Gloss black roof rails
  • Heated rear window
  • LED Headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED high mounted brake lights
  • LED rear fog lights
  • LED rear lights
  • Rain sensing front wipers
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear spoiler
  • Rear wiper
  • Solar glass windscreen
  • Solid paint
  • All round 3-point seatbelts
  • Anti-Lock braking system with emergency stop signalling
  • Curtain airbags
  • Downhill brake control
  • Electric parking brake with auto hold function
  • Electronic stability control
  • Front airbags
  • Front passenger airbag cut-off switch
  • Height adjustable front seatbelts
  • Hill start assist control (HAC)
  • Multi collision brake assist
  • Rear airbags
  • Regenerative braking paddle shifter with iPedal functionality
  • Seatbelt reminder warning
  • Side airbags
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • Vehicle stability management
  • 17" Alloy wheels
  • Tyre mobility kit
  • 12.3" Driver display screen
  • 12.3" Touchscreen navigation system
  • 5.3" Climate control touchscreen
  • Blind spot collision avoidance assist (BCA)
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Drive mode select (Eco, normal, sport, snow and Mydrive)
  • Driver attention warning
  • E-call
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) 2.0 - City/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction turning and junction crossing
  • Front parking sensors
  • Highway Driving Assist 2 with hand-on detection (HDA2 w HOD)
  • Intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA)
  • Lane Follow assist 2.0 with hands-On detection
  • Lane keep assist
  • Over air updates (OTA)
  • Power assist steering
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Rear-Cross traffic collision avoidance assist
  • Reversing camera system
  • Safe exit warning (SEW)
  • Smart cruise control 2.0 with stop and go functionality
  • Speed limiter
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
  • 1x USB-C port in front
  • 2 USB-C charge ports in rear
  • 6 speaker audio system
  • USB-C port for connection of a media device
  • Type 2 charging cable

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.