BYD Sealion 7 vs Hyundai Staria
Verdict
The BYD Sealion 7 and Hyundai Staria are close on price but miles apart in job description: a five-seat electric SUV against a ten-seat diesel MPV. The BYD’s 308 hp/380 Nm motor and 6.7-second 0-100 km/h time make the Hyundai’s 175 hp/431 Nm diesel and 12.4 seconds feel workmanlike, and it also gets 567 km EV range, 150 kW DC charging and a 500-litre boot. The Staria counters with 10 seats, a 3,273 mm wheelbase, ceiling-mounted rear vents and a full-size spare.
Pick the BYD Sealion 7 if you want the quicker, better-equipped EV SUV, can live with five seats and have charging access.
Pick the Hyundai Staria if carrying up to 10 people matters more than acceleration, EV hardware and advanced driver assists.
Key differences
- Price: BYD RM183,800; Hyundai RM179,888
- Powertrain: BYD 308 hp/380 Nm electric motor; Hyundai 175 hp/431 Nm 2.2-litre diesel
- Acceleration: BYD 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds; Hyundai 12.4 seconds
- Seating and boot: BYD 5 seats/500 litres; Hyundai 10 seats/430 litres
- Size: BYD 4,830 mm long with 2,930 mm wheelbase; Hyundai 5,253 mm long with 3,273 mm wheelbase
- Warranty: BYD 6 years/150,000 km plus EV battery cover; Hyundai 8 years/160,000 km
Sealion 7
- Much quicker: 308 hp/380 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds
- 567 km EV range with 150 kW DC charging and 3.3 kW V2L
- Has AEB, blind spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist
- Only 5 seats; the Hyundai has 10
- Shorter manufacturer warranty: 6 years/150,000 km versus 8 years/160,000 km
- Tyre repair kit only; the Hyundai has a full-size spare
Staria
- Carries 10 people with 10 three-point seat belts
- Much larger body: 5,253 mm long with a 3,273 mm wheelbase
- Longer manufacturer warranty at 8 years/160,000 km
- Much slower: 0-100 km/h in 12.4 seconds versus 6.7 seconds
- No listed AEB, blind spot system, lane-keeping assist or collision warning
- Smaller quoted boot: 430 litres versus 500 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 183,800 | RM 179,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | MPV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 16-valve DOHC with Common-rail Direct Injection and Variable Geometry Turbocharger |
| Capacity | — | 2,199 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 175 hp |
| Torque | — | 431 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline |
| Timing Type | — | Chain |
| Fuel | Electric | Diesel |
| Bore | — | 85.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 16 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 308 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 380 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium Iron Phosphate | — |
| Battery Capacity | 82.5 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 567 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charger Type (DC) | CCS | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 150 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Hyundai |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.7 seconds✓ | 12.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 215 km/h✓ | 185 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 5,253 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,997 mm |
| Height | 1,620 mm | 1,990 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,930 mm | 3,273 mm |
| Weight | 2,635 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 75 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres✓ | 430 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R19 | 215/65R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R19 | 215/65R17 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Full Size |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Kumho PorTran KC53 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Korea (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front and Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver Centre Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Sliding Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 10 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Second Row Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Occupant Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats, Ventilated | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding, Sliding and Reclining 2nd Row, Two Flat-folding, Sliding and Reclining 3rd Row Captain Chairs, 60:40 Split-folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Manual Air-con |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Ceiling-mounted Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Second-row USB, 1 Third-row USB, 2 Last-row USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 4 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Dynaudio HiFi Audio System | 8" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 4 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Front Windows, Auto Up and Down, Manual Slide Rear Windows |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Entry |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | 160,000 km✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years | 8 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 335✓ | RM 599 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Sealion 7 vs Staria FAQ
Is the BYD Sealion 7 or Hyundai Staria better?
For most private buyers, the BYD Sealion 7 is the stronger car: quicker, better equipped for safety and fully electric. The Hyundai Staria is better if you need 10 seats; the BYD has only five.
What is the price difference?
The BYD Sealion 7 costs RM183,800, while the Hyundai Staria is RM179,888. That makes the BYD RM3,912 dearer.
Which one is more practical for family use?
The Hyundai Staria carries more people, with 10 seats against five. The BYD Sealion 7 has the larger quoted boot at 500 litres versus 430 litres, so it suits smaller families that want more luggage room without using an MPV.