Same Tiguan sale numbers, laid out against BYD's electric lineup — the cheaper alternative to Tesla, new and used.
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Comfortline, 65,821 km. Same figures as the other comparison pages — this doesn't change based on what you replace it with.
BYD's fully-electric range in Australia, cheapest to priciest. All prices before on-road costs unless noted.
Small hatch · entry-level EV
Compact SUV · established since 2022
Mid-size sedan · direct Model 3 competitor
Mid-size SUV · direct Model Y competitor
Every new BYD SUV/sedan above is more expensive than the used Tesla Model Y range you and Anna are already leaning toward ($38,000–$52,000). BYD only wins the comparison if new-with-warranty matters more to you than saving cash — the Dolphin and Atto 3 are the exceptions, genuinely undercutting anything Tesla offers at any age.
BYD only really took off in Australia from 2022–2023, so there isn't a mature multi-year used market yet the way there is for Tesla. The gap between "used" and "new" is small.
| Model | New (from) | Used market range | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atto 3Compact SUV · most established, best used supply | $39,990 | $30,000 – $45,000 | ~$2k–$10k less |
| SealSedan · newer to AU, thin used market | $46,990 | $40,000 – $55,000est. — few listings yet | ~$5k–$12k less |
| DolphinHatch · newest of the four, very few used listings | $29,990 | $27,000 – $38,000est. | ~$2k–$8k less |
| Sealion 7SUV · launched 2024/25, essentially no used stock | $54,990 | No real used stock yet | n/a — too new |
Not a concern anymore — there's a dedicated BYD service centre at 10 Amaroo St, Maroochydore, and mycar Sunshine Coast also services BYD with brand-trained technicians. Same convenience level as Tesla's local presence.
Same math as the other pages, against the Tiguan private-sale range ($20k low – $25k high).
The BYD Dolphin Essential (from $29,990 + on-roads, ~$33k drive-away) needs the least extra cash on top of the Tiguan sale — roughly $8,000–$13,000 extra. That's in the same ballpark as the cheapest used Tesla Model 3, but brand new with full manufacturer warranty instead of secondhand.
| Target car | Condition | Drive-away est. | Extra needed (low sale $20k) | Extra needed (high sale $25k) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Dolphin EssentialCheapest new BYD | New | $33,000 | $13,000 | $8,000 |
| Used Atto 3 (2023)Cheapest used BYD | Used | $30,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| Atto 3 Essential (new) | New | $44,000 | $24,000 | $19,000 |
| Seal Dynamic (new)Model 3 rival | New | $51,000 | $31,000 | $26,000 |
| Sealion 7 Premium (new)Model Y rival | New | $60,000 | $40,000 | $35,000 |
| Seal Performance AWD (new)390kW, fastest here | New | $67,600 | $47,600 | $42,600 |
| Sealion 7 Performance AWD (new) | New | $70,000 | $50,000 | $45,000 |
Where BYD genuinely wins: the Dolphin undercuts every EV on either page and comes brand new. Where it doesn't: any BYD SUV comparable to a Model Y still costs more than the used Model Y range you've already found ($38k–$52k) — the used-Tesla market is simply more mature, so it wins on pure value. If new-with-warranty and zero unknown history matters more than saving the last few thousand dollars, BYD (especially Dolphin or Atto 3) is the cheapest new-EV path. If saving cash is the priority, a used Tesla Model 3 or Model Y still comes out on top overall.