BYD SEALION 5 DM-i vs Suzuki Swift

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.

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
VS
Suzuki Swift in South Africa

Suzuki Swift

1.2 GLX CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 296,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 113 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i vs Suzuki Swift: the short answer

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

Swift starts ZAR 281,000 cheaper SEALION 5 DM-i from ZAR 509,900 · Swift from ZAR 228,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification SEALION 5 DM-i Swift
Maximum Power SEALION 5 DM-i72 kW @ 6000 rpm Swift60 kW
Maximum Torque SEALION 5 DM-i122 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm Swift113 Nm
Engine Size SEALION 5 DM-i1498 cc Swift1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy SEALION 5 DM-i19.2 km/l Swift18.2 km/l
Ground Clearance SEALION 5 DM-i150 mm Swift0 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

Dynamic DM-i

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Suzuki Swift

1.2 GLX CVT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

SEALION 5 DM-i

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Swift

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

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
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Swift

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec SEALION 5 DM-i Swift
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation First South African SEALION 5 DM-i generation Current market generation
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Current market specification
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Medium SUV Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Hatchback
Spec SEALION 5 DM-i Swift
Length 4738 mm 3860 mm
Width 1860 mm 1735 mm
Height 1710 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 2712 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 150 mm 0 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 150 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 37 l
Boot/Cargo Space 463 l 265 l
Kerb Weight 1735 kg 920 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2145 kg 1380 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 460 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.0 m 5.2 m
Front Headroom 970 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 910 mm 950 mm
Front Legroom 1100 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 935 mm 900 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This SEALION 5 DM-i and Swift 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: SEALION 5 DM-i 39 vs Swift 23.

Efficiency index: SEALION 5 DM-i 81 vs Swift 69.

Safety-equipment index: SEALION 5 DM-i 92 vs Swift 87.

Practicality index: SEALION 5 DM-i 61 vs Swift 42.

Ownership-cover index: SEALION 5 DM-i not separately scored vs Swift 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 13 points

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

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 13 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 13 points
54
#2

Swift

74% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 23
Performance 23
Efficiency 69
Safety 87
Practicality 42
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SEALION 5 DM-i +16 Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +12 Safety SEALION 5 DM-i +5 Practicality SEALION 5 DM-i +19

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

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

Swift

Performance 23/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 42/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD SEALION 5 DM-i leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 54 pts for Swift

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SEALION 5 DM-i leads. However, Swift 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 Africa models and comparable body styles.

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SEALION 5 DM-i vs Swift 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.