LEPAS L4 vs BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

LEPAS L4 in South Africa

LEPAS L4

1.5T Pantera 6DCT Petrol 6-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 419,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 108 kW 🔧 225 Nm ⛽ 14.3 km/l
VS
BYD SEALION 5 DM-i in South Africa

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

Dynamic DM-i Plug-in Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 569,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 72 kW 🔧 122 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

LEPAS L4 vs BYD SEALION 5 DM-i: the short answer

L4 and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

L4 starts ZAR 210,000 cheaper L4 from ZAR 299,900 · SEALION 5 DM-i from ZAR 509,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification L4 SEALION 5 DM-i
Maximum Power L4108 kW @ 5500 rpm SEALION 5 DM-i72 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque L4225 Nm @ 2000-4000 rpm SEALION 5 DM-i122 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm
Engine Size L41499 cc SEALION 5 DM-i1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy L414.3 km/l SEALION 5 DM-i19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance L4160 mm SEALION 5 DM-i150 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

L4

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance
Specification evidence leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

L4

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

SEALION 5 DM-i

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec L4 SEALION 5 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation First-generation LEPAS L4 compact SUV First South African SEALION 5 DM-i generation
Facelift History The L4 launched as the first LEPAS model in South Africa in 2026. No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact SUV Medium SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec L4 SEALION 5 DM-i
Length 4406 mm 4738 mm
Width 1820 mm 1860 mm
Height 1635 mm 1710 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2712 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 160 mm 150 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 170 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 52 l
Boot/Cargo Space 458 l 463 l
Kerb Weight 1346 kg 1735 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1844 kg 2145 kg
Payload Capacity 498 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 1200 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.275 m 6.0 m
Front Headroom 1005 mm 970 mm
Rear Headroom 975 mm 910 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1100 mm
Rear Legroom 890 mm 935 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This L4 and SEALION 5 DM-i comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: L4 47 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 39.

Efficiency index: L4 56 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 81.

Safety-equipment index: L4 92 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 92.

Practicality index: L4 59 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 61.

Ownership-cover index: L4 not separately scored vs SEALION 5 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

SEALION 5 DM-i leads by 3 points

L4 and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 79% source coverage
67
#1 Evidence leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 81
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Leads by 3 points
64
#2

L4

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 56
Safety 92
Practicality 59
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance L4 +8 Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +25 Safety Level Practicality SEALION 5 DM-i +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

L4

Performance 47/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 59/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD SEALION 5 DM-i leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 64 pts for L4

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SEALION 5 DM-i leads. However, L4 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

L4 vs SEALION 5 DM-i questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.