Nissan Magnite vs BYD SEALION 5 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.

Nissan Magnite in South Africa

Nissan Magnite

1.0 Acenta Plus EZ-Shift Petrol Current
ZAR 323,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 53 kW 🔧 96 Nm ⛽ 16.9 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance SEALION 5 DM-i
Fuel Economy SEALION 5 DM-i
🛡 Safety SEALION 5 DM-i
📦 Practicality Magnite
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Magnite starts ZAR 280,000 cheaper Magnite from ZAR 229,900 · SEALION 5 DM-i from ZAR 509,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Magnite SEALION 5 DM-i
Maximum Power 53 kW @ 6250 rpm 72 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm 122 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm
Engine Size 999 cc 1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.9 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 205 mm 150 mm
Boot / Load Bay 336 l 463 l
Airbags 6 airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1007 kg 1735 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 6 years / 150,000 km 5 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance SEALION 5 DM-i +23 pts
Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +16 pts
Safety SEALION 5 DM-i +6 pts
Practicality Magnite +3 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Magnite

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Catalogue-index leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

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

Which One's Right for You?

Magnite

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEALION 5 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Magnite SEALION 5 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment First South African SEALION 5 DM-i generation
Facelift History 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact SUV Medium SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1007 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec Magnite SEALION 5 DM-i
Length 3995 mm 4738 mm
Width 1758 mm 1860 mm
Height 1571 mm 1710 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2712 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 205 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 52 l
Boot/Cargo Space 336 l 463 l
Kerb Weight 1007 kg 1735 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1399 kg 2145 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5 m 6.0 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 150 mm
Payload Capacity - 410 kg
Towing Capacity - 0 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 970 mm
Rear Headroom - 910 mm
Front Legroom - 1100 mm
Rear Legroom - 935 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

SEALION 5 DM-i leads by 11 points

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

Index leader 67 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 79% source coverage
67
#1 Index 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 11 points
56
#2

Magnite

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 86 Check Performance 16
Performance 16
Efficiency 65
Safety 86
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SEALION 5 DM-i +23 Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +16 Safety SEALION 5 DM-i +6 Practicality Magnite +3

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

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

Magnite

Performance 16/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 86/100
Practicality 64/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 BYD SEALION 5 DM-i leads the catalogue index with 67 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

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

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Magnite and SEALION 5 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: Magnite 16 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 39.

Efficiency index: Magnite 65 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 81.

Safety-equipment index: Magnite 86 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 92.

Practicality index: Magnite 64 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 61.

Ownership-cover index: Magnite 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.