BYD Sealion 7 variants and pricing (2026)
The Sealion 7 sits in BYD's mid-size SUV segment — broadly competing with the Tesla Model Y but at a lower price point. Both variants qualify for the FBT exemption, with the Performance AWD still $27,397 under the $91,387 LCT threshold.
Sealion 7 Premium RWDSealion 7 Performance AWD
Drive-away price$54,990$63,990
Battery82.5 kWh Blade LFP82.5 kWh Blade LFP
Range (WLTP)482 km456 km
Power230 kW390 kW
0–100 km/h6.7 sec4.5 sec
DC fast charging150 kW150 kW
FBT exemptYesYes
Under LCT thresholdYes ($36,397 under)Yes ($27,397 under)
Novated lease cost breakdown — Sealion 7 Premium RWD
The table below shows estimated annual savings over a 3-year novated lease at 7.5% p.a. for the Sealion 7 Premium RWD ($54,990), including a standard running cost package.
SalaryAnnual sacrificeTax savingGST saving (yr 1)Yr 1 total benefit
$70,000~$20,340~$7,017$4,999~$12,016
$90,000~$20,340~$7,017$4,999~$12,016
$120,000~$20,340~$9,429$4,999~$14,428
Full worked example — $90,000 salary, 3-year lease
Vehicle price$54,990
ATO residual (3yr, 46.88%)$25,780
Monthly finance paymentAt 7.5% p.a.~$1,070
Annual finance cost~$12,840
Annual running costsCharging, insurance, rego, servicing~$7,500
Total annual sacrificeAll pre-tax (EV exempt)~$20,340
Taxable incomeDown from $90,000$69,660
Income tax + Medicare saved34.5% marginal + 2% Medicare~$7,017
GST saving on vehicle1/11th of $54,990 (year 1 only)$4,999
FBT payableBlade Battery EV — fully exempt$0
Year 1 total benefitTax saving + GST saving~$12,016
Why the Blade Battery matters for a leased car
BYD's Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which has two practical advantages over the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries in most Tesla and Zeekr models. First, LFP is significantly safer — it does not thermal-runaway in the same way. Second, LFP tolerates frequent fast charging and regular charges to 100% without the same degradation risk as NMC. Over a 3-year lease with regular home and public charging, the Sealion 7's battery should retain better capacity than most competitors.
The 82.5 kWh pack is also meaningfully larger than many competitors in this price range, giving real-world range that holds up well in mixed driving conditions.
Sealion 7 vs Tesla Model Y — head to head for novated lease
BYD Sealion 7 RWDTesla Model Y RWD
Price$54,990$58,900
Range (WLTP)482 km466 km
DC fast charging150 kW170 kW
Battery typeLFP (charge to 100%)NMC
Charging networkAny CCS2 chargerSupercharger + CCS2
Est. annual sacrifice~$20,340~$21,100
GST saving (yr 1)$4,999$5,355
FBT exemptYesYes
The Sealion 7 is $3,910 cheaper than the
Model Y RWD, has slightly more range, and uses the charge-to-100%-friendly Blade Battery. The Model Y wins on charging network coverage. For city-based commuters with home charging, the Sealion 7 is the stronger value proposition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Sealion 7 eligible for the EV FBT exemption?
Yes. Both the Premium RWD ($54,990) and Performance AWD ($63,990) are below the $91,387 LCT threshold and qualify for full FBT exemption on a novated lease.
Can I charge the Sealion 7 to 100% every day?
Yes — this is one of the advantages of LFP chemistry over NMC. BYD recommends charging to 100% regularly and the battery management system is designed for it. NMC batteries in most other EVs should only be charged to 80–90% daily to preserve longevity.
How long does it take to charge the Sealion 7?
At a 150 kW DC fast charger, 10–80% takes approximately 32 minutes. On a 7 kW home wallbox, a full charge from low takes around 12 hours — ideal for overnight charging.