Volkswagen Id.4 vs BYD Sealion 8

What's the difference?

The all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 Pro has finally landed on our shores! Hurrah! The benefit of waiting almost half a decade for it means we get some mid-life technology upgrades and interior features for the single variant that's available to us (at least for now).

The biggest question this mid-size SUV really poses, though, is has it been worth the wait? Is it practical enough? Is it fun enough? Let’s find out.

As the flagship variant, the BYD Sealion 8 Premium all-wheel drive makes a big first impression as it arrives with seven seats, a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a features list that reads like a wish list.

It’s also stepping into a competitive space, lining up against the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid, Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV and Mazda CX-80 P50e Azami - all promising similar blends of efficiency, space and value for Australian families.

The Sealion 8 Premium looks like a strong contender on paper … but does that translate to the real world?