Mercedes-AMG GLC43 vs BYD Sealion 5

What's the difference?

The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 has your back if you’re looking for a thrilling performance SUV that moonlights as the daily family driver. It boasts a fairly practical cabin with good storage. Is it too expensive? Yep. Would I have one? Absolutely. It’s fun and full of features.

This rocked my kid's world – the lighting, the cool superhero vibes of the styling … the ‘tatatata’ chirps of the engine. It won him over completely.

While the BYD Sealion 5 lacks the polish of some more established plug-in hybrids, it has a seriously compelling price advantage over some competitors. It makes a base-model Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV feel positively outdated and it’s $13,800 cheaper.

BYD's lack of ANCAP rating for the Sealion 5 and the uncertainty around it still being a new brand are downsides, even if BYD is quickly moving past the latter. But being the most affordable PHEV available while having this much showroom appeal is bound to work in the Sealion 5’s favour, just don’t expect a dynamic masterpiece once you’re out on the road.

The GLC43 looks distinctly more aggressive than its GLC300 sibling.

The grille features vertical struts instead of the star motif and there’s a sporty spoiler lip at the rear that complements the quad exhausts.

The large headlights featuring Mercedes Digital Light LEDs dance when you first put them on and add a sporty dynamic to the styling, as does the 20-inch alloy wheels.

The interior is largely the same with a dashboard that is headlined by an 11.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The ambient lighting system transforms the space at night time and honestly, makes it look pretty flash compared to some of its rivals. I also love the big panoramic sunroof and cute circular air-vents found in the front – they add some interest to the cabin.

The optioned performance seats of our test model make this look the part of a performance SUV and there is AMG badging everywhere - just so you don’t forget what you're driving. This looks beautiful inside and out and it earns its luxury tag.

The BYD Sealion 5, from the outside, is inoffensive but also uninspiring. That’s likely not such a bad thing for a mid-size SUV – it’s rare you’re hearing someone talk about how beautiful the Mazda CX-5 or Toyota RAV4 is. 

Its quartet of colour palette options comes in on the safe side, too. Aurora White is standard, Atlantis Grey, Harbour Grey and Cosmos Black are cost-options.

Our test car is Atlantis Grey, which is interestingly quite blue. 

The relatively upright shape is a slight departure from the more ‘aquatic’ silhouettes of BYD’s line-up, but the front grille and light layout are decidedly in step with the brand’s oceanic design language. There’s a bit going on, you could say.

The slimline tail-lights are the rear, especially from a three-quarter angle to the side, look attractive and help break up the rear without looking messy.

The Sealion 5’s design is overall net-good, but it’s inside where the mid-sizer feels like you’re getting plenty for your dollar.

The seats, despite the leather fakery, feel like decent material, and the layout uses buttons and physical controls cleverly without feeling outdated.

The cabin up front feels like a cockpit because the optioned performance seats absolutely lock you into place.

The adjustments are pretty good for the lumbar and under-thigh supports but the highlight are the kinetic stretching massage functions on both front seats, it really helps to alleviate fatigue on a longer journey. 

While I find the seats comfy, my husband didn’t! He said he needed more ‘space’ between the legs and with the bucket-style, he um … didn’t get that required space. Take from that what you will.

Getting in and out of the backseat is easy enough but the side steps are overkill and can dig into the calves.

The back seats are not super comfortable as they are on the harder side but the headroom and legroom are great for my 168cm height. The back row would still be most comfortable as a four-seater when filled with adults, though.

The individual storage is excellent up front with a decently sized glove box, middle console and a huge storage bin and drink bottle holder in each door.

The centre console features a good-sized cubby that includes a phone shelf and two retractable cupholders.

The storage and amenities in the rear are okay with directional air vents, reading lights and a fold-down armrest with two cup holders. You also get shallow storage bins in each door but this row misses out on charging options, which is a shame.

The other technology looks high-end and the graphics in both the 11.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster assert that the GLC43 is a luxury vehicle.

Both are easy to use, highly customisable and look fantastic. What a combo!

The augmented reality satellite navigation shows dynamic directions overlaid on a live video feed, so there's no excuse for getting lost while using it. There's also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as, a Mercedes Me Connect app, so you can access features on your car remotely.

Charging options are only found in the front row but you get a good selection with three USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad.

The GLC43 gets a large coloured head-up display, fingerprint scanner (that can lock a certain profile or features) and dual-zone climate control but it would have been nice to see climate control in the rear row as well.

The boot is pretty large for a medium SUV at 620L, and can comfortably fit shopping or luggage.

There’s a tyre mobility kit and extra underfloor storage, and the rear row has a 40/20/40 split fold, which opens up your storage options. You also get a powered tailgate in this model, which is always handy.

To actually interact with the interior is, at times, another story. BYD’s tech interface is generally easy to manage, but could be simpler when it comes to navigating menus for the sake of driver distraction.

While larger text and buttons would be welcome, the multimedia system is easy to use when parked, and the functionality is impressive for the price point.

Winning more points for the Sealion 5, though, are the physical controls – buttons and the traditional gear selector – which make the cockpit much more intuitive while on the move.

Ergonomically, though, the adjustment between the steering wheel and driver’s seat could do with some work, as I found it difficult to find a truly comfortable driving position. This is coming from someone 178cm tall, a very normal height in Australia.

Better adjustability on the steering column would be helpful, as it’s something I’m not sure I’d ever get totally used to.

Visibility and physical space inside the Sealion 5 is impressive, though. The car is 4738mm long, 1869mm wide and 1710mm tall, and the roof and window lines don’t swoop too aggressively towards the rear.

There are low window shoulders even into the rear, so light isn’t at a premium, though under-leg support could be better on the pew.

It’s otherwise un-cramped. The 2712mm wheelbase means decent legroom for second-row folk, plus behind the 60/40 split-fold seats there’s 463 litres of space for luggage. That becomes 1410L with the seats folded.

There’s unfortunately no spare tyre, just a tyre repair kit.

The BYD Sealion 5 Essential kicks off from $33,990 before on-road costs, four big ones less than the Premium ($37,990). We’re focusing on the Essential today, but don’t think that means a shallow list of features.

As you’d expect from BYD if you’ve been paying attention to the Chinese brand in its emergent years, the Sealion 5 comes with more than $34K would normally get you – a 10.1-inch central multimedia touchscreen, an 8.8-inch driver display, synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone climate, a six-speaker sound system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, USB-A and -C ports front and rear, digital radio and keyless entry.

On the outside, LED headlights and tail-lights are the same for both variants.

Both also have 18-inch wheels, not unwelcome for the benefits of on-road comfort.

Consider that the most popular SUV in the country, the Toyota RAV4, costs at least $45,990 without the benefit of a plug-in drivetrain (yet) and comes with, on paper, a more sparse list of features.

The closest PHEV competitors are still more pricey, including the Geely Starray ($37,490) and Chery Tiggo 7 ($39,990), and arguably lack the brand power BYD has come to enjoy.

The 43 gains the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the AMG A45 hot hatch, which replaces the 3.0L turbo V6 from the previous model.

What makes this one interesting is that it’s been designed with Formula 1 tech and its performance is boosted by an electric turbocharger. Which means you have instant power delivery.

The new engine produces a power output of 310kW and 500Nm of torque. So, a little more power (23kW) but a little less torque (20Nm) than the previous model. The GLC43 is an AWD and has a nine-speed auto transmission which is mostly smooth.

The new GLC43 features a true AMG engine and that means it was hand-built by a master engine builder. Every AMG engine features a plaque with the builder's signature, which is very cool.

The Sealion 5’s front wheels are driven by a combined maximum of 156kW thanks to a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (145kW/300Nm) and a permanent magnet synchronous motor (72kW/122Nm).

BYD claims a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.7 seconds for the Sealion 5 Essential, four tenths faster than the Premium despite only a 61kg difference in kerb weight.

You might be surprised given its outputs, but the new GLC43 is fairly frugal when it comes to consumption.

The official combined fuel-cycle consumption figure is 9.9L/100km and my real-world usage came out at 8.8L.

I have put the GLC43 through its paces too – mountain roads, urban and long trips … and have not been shy using it’s power.

That's excellent usage for such a powerful SUV but expect higher in an urban setting.

Based on the official combined fuel cycle and 62L fuel tank, expect a theoretical driving range of 626km.

Mercedes recommends a minimum 98-octane unleaded petrol to be used.

With a charged 12.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a full 52-litre (95 RON minimum) fuel tank, BYD reckons the Sealion 5 Essential can cover 1001km under NEDC testing, which is optimistic. It claims 71km can be done on EV power alone.

Not only due to the lenient nature of NEDC testing (WLTP is more common and usually results in lower ranges), but the reality is that once the battery is flat, the engine is doing a lot more work.

Charging is slow, limited to 3.3kW (AC only), which should take between 4 and 5 hours to charge from the lower end of the gauge for the battery size. Given most PHEV owners will do this overnight at home, that’s certainly not the end of the world.

Claimed consumption figures are 1.2L/100km with more than 25 per cent battery charge, or 4.5L/100km when it dips below that.

Realistically you could do sub-50km trips and use no fuel, or never plug your Sealion 5 in and see fuel consumption soar. In any case, anything close to 1001km in a single run is extremely unlikely.

After driving the GLC43, it proves why its considered a performance SUV – the new engine and that Formula One tech creates a fun on-road experience. 

Power delivery is quick and stable – you never feel overwhelmed by what the car is doing but you do get excited.

It has a dedicated 'Track Pace' feature for when you take it to a race track. I mean … is that needed for a family car? Probably not but it’s cool nonetheless.

This new model sees a redesigned adaptive suspension and rear axle steering. The suspension is firm and it hits the road with a definitive thump. I like the feedback when I’m pushing it around bends but for the daily school run, it’s a pretty hard ride.

The rear axle steering is fantastic when you hit big mountain hair-pin turns or need to manoeuvre precisely in your lane. It’s extremely agile on the road, when it needs to be. 

It’s a bummer that the cabin is loud with road noise and while you can do long journeys, just know it’s not a comfort tourer. You drive this for the fun factor.

All of the pillars are quite wide, which I found impeded my vision on bends but on the straights it was fine. I just did more of a weave and bob to check all of the blind spots this week.

Because of the electric turbocharger, power stays high but revs low at lower speeds. This can make parking can feel a little bunny-hoppy at times until you get used to how to accelerate at low speeds. Once you do, it’s a breeze to park and the 360-degree camera is top-notch.

You might expect a car at this price, regardless of its drivetrain, to be underwhelming from behind the wheel.

That, then, makes it even more pleasantly surprising that the BYD Sealion 5 is actually rather competent. Not massively exciting or dynamic, but certainly not a disappointment.

The Sealion 5 is, save for a couple of arguably minor annoyances, quite easy to get used to and drive.

Firstly, when making proper use of its electric power, the drivetrain provides enough shove for its intended use. It’s not overly powerful, but you won’t have trouble overtaking. It’s the same with most of the inputs, the steering is light but not completely numb – again about right for how the Sealion 5 will be driven.

Perhaps its biggest departure from expectations based on other cars from China is its suspension is on the stiffer side of things, but again it’s not unruly or too rugged. In fact, it does provide a better sense of control than many of its compatriots.

Again, the biggest issue with the Sealion 5 day-to-day is its driving position, the steering column adjustment isn’t up to scratch and there’s not really a perfectly comfortable seating position (I’m a very standard 178cm).

On long trips, you might also find the engine gets quite noisy once the battery power is gone as it works hard to pull the mid-size SUV along under acceleration.

Its driver-assist systems are, you might be pleased to hear, on the calmer side of things – BYD is getting better at calibrating its safety features and I didn’t find myself rushing to switch it all off as quickly as usual.

It can still be a bit too persistent in its lane-keeping, but it’s a big improvement on the way things were.

There’s no ANCAP rating for the Sealion 5, but the list of safety kit isn’t lacking on paper.

BYD lists seven airbags ,including full-length side-curtain bags and an important centre airbag, plus there’s a whole suite of tech that’s, as noted, better behaved than past driver-assist systems from BYD.

The Essential only misses out on a surround-view parking camera and front parking sensors, both arguably important safety features for parents, but the rest of the list is the same as the Premium including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane departure assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with rear AEB (as well as front AEB, of course) and tyre pressure monitoring.

The GLC comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

You can pre-purchase either a three-, four- or five-year servicing plan, priced at $4420 for three years, $5520 for four and $6245 for five years. 

Services on the five-year plan cost an average of $1249 per service which is very expensive for the class.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or an extra-long 25,000km, whichever occurs first.

BYD has a six-year/150,000km warranty, which is probably more than you’d need in terms of distance but is behind many competitor brands’ timelines – seven to 10 years is becoming the norm, even if it’s conditional.

An eight-year/160,000km warranty covers the battery, which is about par for the industry.

Servicing for the first five proper services ranges from between $285 and $930, plus there's a free check-up six months into ownership and a total cost over the span of $2355 – an average of $471 per service.

BYD has just over 100 dealerships in Australia, so finding one for servicing shouldn’t be too challenging.