Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs BYD SEALION 6 DM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Discontinued model
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Discontinued model
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm
VS
BYD SEALION 6 DM-i in South Africa

BYD SEALION 6 DM-i

Premium DM-i AWD Plug-in Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 96 kW 🔧 220 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs BYD SEALION 6 DM-i: the short answer

IONIQ 5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while SEALION 6 DM-i remains close.

Recorded price context IONIQ 5: last listed from ZAR 859,900 · SEALION 6 DM-i: current from ZAR 639,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification IONIQ 5 SEALION 6 DM-i
Maximum Power IONIQ 5225 kW SEALION 6 DM-i96 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque IONIQ 5605 Nm SEALION 6 DM-i220 Nm @ 1500-3500 rpm
Engine Size IONIQ 5Not Applicable SEALION 6 DM-i1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy IONIQ 5Not Applicable SEALION 6 DM-i17.2 km/l
Ground Clearance IONIQ 5160 mm SEALION 6 DM-i180 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai IONIQ 5 72kWh AWD Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

SEALION 6 DM-i

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

IONIQ 5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEALION 6 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec IONIQ 5 SEALION 6 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2022 2024
Generation First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers First South African SEALION 6 DM-i generation
Facelift History Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Tare Mass Kg 2190 kg -
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed Medium SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Passenger vehicle
Spec IONIQ 5 SEALION 6 DM-i
Length 4635 mm 4775 mm
Width 1890 mm 1890 mm
Height 1605 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 3000 mm 2765 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 160 mm 180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 72.6 l 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 527 l 425 l
Kerb Weight 2190 kg 2100 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not confirmed 150 mm
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not confirmed 2510 kg
Payload Capacity Not confirmed 410 kg
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 1300 kg
Number of Rows Not confirmed 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius Not confirmed 5.5 m
Front Headroom Not confirmed 980 mm
Rear Headroom Not confirmed 910 mm
Front Legroom Not confirmed 1120 mm
Rear Legroom Not confirmed 820 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This IONIQ 5 and SEALION 6 DM-i comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: IONIQ 5 100 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 58.

Efficiency index: IONIQ 5 90 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 75.

Safety-equipment index: IONIQ 5 98 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 99.

Practicality index: IONIQ 5 70 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 59.

Ownership-cover index: IONIQ 5 65 vs SEALION 6 DM-i not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 14 points

IONIQ 5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while SEALION 6 DM-i remains close.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 75% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

IONIQ 5

75% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 points
72
#2

SEALION 6 DM-i

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Performance 58
Performance 58
Efficiency 75
Safety 99
Practicality 59
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +42 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +15 Safety SEALION 6 DM-i +1 Practicality IONIQ 5 +11

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

SEALION 6 DM-i

Performance 58/100
Efficiency 75/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 59/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 72 pts for SEALION 6 DM-i

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, IONIQ 5 leads. However, SEALION 6 DM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South African models and comparable body styles.

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IONIQ 5 vs SEALION 6 DM-i questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.