Two new players in the battery-powered SUV game have entered ANCAP’s crash test arena and walked away with five stars apiece—BYD’s Sealion 7 and the Geely EX5. But while the stars shine brightly, a closer look reveals some dings in the armour that Aussie families will want to clock before signing on the dotted line.

BYD Sealion 7: Safety and Smarts in an Electric Package

The BYD Sealion 7, a mid-sized electric SUV, becomes the latest in BYD’s rapidly expanding local lineup to earn ANCAP’s top safety rating, following the recently tested SHARK 6. In the four key assessment areas, it impressed across the board, with 87% for Adult Occupant Protection. It achieved full marks in side impact, oblique pole, and far side impact tests—impressive feats for a newcomer.

That said, it wasn’t a clean sweep. ANCAP noted “Weak” chest protection for rear adult passengers in the full-width frontal test, a shortfall BYD will want to address in future models. Still, if you’re carting around a small tribe, the Sealion 7 does shine where it matters: Child Occupant Protection scored a stellar 93%, the highest mark currently available under ANCAP’s latest 2023–2025 protocols.

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Part of that gold-star performance comes from the inclusion of a direct child presence detection (CPD) system, which sounds the alarm if a child is left behind in the back seat—a potentially life-saving feature that ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg says should be standard across all family vehicles. “Around 5,000 children are rescued from locked cars every year in Australia,” she noted, adding that systems like BYD’s belong “on every family’s shopping list.”

On the active safety front, the Sealion 7 did well too. Its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system earned high marks in interactions with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, contributing to a 76% score for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 78% for Safety Assist. BYD’s investment in safety tech seems to be marching in lockstep with its push for electrification—and that’s encouraging to see.

Geely EX5: A Strong First Impression with Room to Grow

Geely might be a new name for many Aussies, but the Chinese brand has made a confident local debut with the Geely EX5, its medium electric SUV. Like its BYD rival, it earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating, sending a clear message: Geely means business.

The EX5’s Adult Occupant Protection score matches the Sealion’s 87%, and it performed exceptionally well in physical crash testing, earning full points in side impact, far side impact, and whiplash tests. However, it stumbled slightly in the frontal offset (MPDB) test, which simulates a head-on collision. Several welds around the base of the A-pillar detached during the

crash, and although Geely showed that the structure remained safe in more extreme tests, ANCAP applied a penalty. That, along with “Weak” protection for the rear chest in the full-width test, echoed the same soft spot seen in the BYD.

For little passengers, the EX5 also scored well, achieving 87% for Child Occupant Protection. It delivered Good protection for 6- and 10-year-old crash test dummies, save for Adequate neck protection for the older child in the frontal offset test. Geely included a CPD system, but unlike BYD’s, it failed to meet ANCAP’s standards and scored no points. Oops.

On the tech side, driver assistance features like lane support and AEB in car-to-motorcycle tests earned high praise, showing that Geely’s safety suite is on the right track—even if it’s not quite as polished as BYD’s yet.

Final Thoughts: Stars With Asterisks

It’s heartening to see Chinese electric vehicles coming to Australia not just with longer range and flashier tech, but with serious safety cred. Both the BYD Sealion 7 and the Geely EX5 offer real peace of mind for families wanting an electric ride that doesn’t compromise on protection.

Still, the weak rear chest protection in both SUVs, and Geely’s CPD hiccup, remind us that five stars don’t mean perfection. As more EVs flood the Aussie market, these kinds of small print details will help buyers separate the standouts from the also-rans.

For now, both these SUVs have earned their stripes—and their stars. But we’ll be watching to see how they evolve as competition (and scrutiny) grows.

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