It’s time for a showdown between two of the best mid-sized electric SUVs you can buy in 2025 - the Tesla Model Y vs the BYD Sealion!
The question is, which will come out on top in this all-new group test? Let’s take a closer look at the two contenders.
The new Model Y has been updated both inside & out compared to the previous model. On the outside, there’s a Cybertruck-inspired front light bar, new alloy wheel designs, and a redesigned rear bumper, coupled with an illuminated Tesla badge. On the inside, it’s still much of the same as in the old car, apart from a few minor tweaks and changes. Thankfully, there’s also still a stalk for the indicator, unlike in the new Model 3!
In terms of price, the Model Y range starts from £44,990, rising to £52,000 for the top-of-the-range edition. The car we have here is the long-range edition, which has dual motors for AWD, 507hp, 494Nm, and a weight of 1,995kg.
As for the BYD Sealion, it has a pretty imposing look from the outside, with large air intakes on either side of the front bumper. Around the back, there’s a small boot lip spoiler, as well as a full-length light bar. On the inside, there’s a number of differences to the Tesla. There’s leatherette throughout the cabin that gives it a smart feel, while there are a number of physical buttons and a drive mode select lever. There’s a large infotainment screen that can rotated, and the BYD also comes with a set of digital dials.
The BYD starts from £47,000, rising to around £59,000 for the range-topping edition. We had the dual motor Excellence edition for this test, which delivers 530hp and 690Nm, and weighs in at 2,420kg.
The long-term trip computers on these cars recorded energy consumption figures of 3.7 miles per kWh in the Tesla, and 2.5 miles per kWh in the BYD. The Tesla's 75kWh battery means it should manage around 278 miles on a full charge, while the BYD's 91.3kWh battery should deliver around 228 miles.
So will the BYD come out on top? Or will the Tesla reign supreme? You’ll need to stick with Mat to see for yourself!
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:38 Price
00:57 Design
03:16 Door Handles
04:45 Drag Race
06:07 Rolling Race
06:58 Interiors
12:36 Infotainment System
14:32 Charging
14:46 Back Seats
16:42 Boot
17:00 Men in Boot Test
20:05 Front Boot
20:48 Batteries & Range
22:43 Driving
25:03 Verdict
