Why I Replaced My European Diesel Wagon with a Chinese Electric SUV
Against compelling competition from Tesla, Ford, Hyundai, and Polestar, this Ford Mondeo owner picked BYD’s Sealion 7 as his new family car.
My wife and I have chosen to novate lease a BYD Sealion 7 AWD. The BYD is our first leased vehicle and our first SUV. We made this choice after carefully considering competing electric mid-size vehicles. Like any car buyer, we have our own unique circumstances and requirements, and the new vehicle needed to match these.
Why Leasing?
No one wants to pay more tax than necessary, and this was the main reason we chose to novate lease an EV. Although you can save money leasing a conventionally powered car, the present FBT exemption rules for EVs leased under the Luxury Car Tax threshold increase those savings dramatically. In our case, the savings amount to $40,000 over the three years of our lease.
What We Wanted in Our New Car
We needed space, comfort, and features. For over 10 years, a Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0L diesel wagon has been our family car. It features a massive 800+ liter boot, making family road trips easy. The Mondeo has also served as transport for our giant dog and for towing large trailer loads.
We considered several electric mid-size SUVs:
- Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium: Liked for its look and known Ford handling, but lacked tow rating and AWD option under LCT limit.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD: Spacious interior, good DC charge speeds, and comfortable ride quality. However, styling and long wait-time for fresh orders were drawbacks.
- Polestar 4: Distinctive and stylish with impressive interior, but ‘Euro-style’ pricing kept desirable features as options, making it expensive.
- Tesla Model Y AWD: Industry benchmark with generous. 40.5″ rear legroom, class-leading features, and access to the best charging network. However, poor warranty and austere cabin were negatives.
Our Pick: BYD Sealion 7 AWD
The BYD Sealion 7 AWD was spacious, well-built, and well-equipped. It offered near 42″ rear legroom, a comfortable 520-liter boot, and a useful 58-liter frunk. The interior finish quality was high, and it was quieter than the Tesla Model Y. Although Tesla had better software and charging efficiency, BYD’s value for money, better warranty, and overall quality made it the better choice for us.
Stay tuned for the CarExpert Owner Review to see whether the Sealion 7 can effectively replace our Mondeo.
