The BYD Sealion 05 EV and the Atto 3 are the same size class, share a 2720 mm wheelbase and, in their 430 km versions, carry almost the same battery (50.05 kWh against 49.92 kWh). The two real differences are drive layout and charging speed. The Sealion 05 EV is rear-wheel drive and charges from 30% to 80% in about 18 minutes at up to 130 kW. The Atto 3 is front-wheel drive and takes about 30 minutes at up to 70 kW. If your customer uses public fast chargers, the Sealion 05 EV saves time at every stop. If they charge at home overnight, the two are much closer than the badges suggest.
👉 Both cars are already landed in Djibouti: the Sealion 05 EV 430 km and the Atto 3 in 430 km and 510 km versions. Ask us on WhatsApp · See the Djibouti stock →
The specification table
Figures are from BYD’s published configuration sheets for the 2025 model year. The Sealion 05 EV comes in 430 km and 520 km versions; the Atto 3 (China-market name Yuan Plus) in 430 km and 510 km versions.
| Spec | Sealion 05 EV 430 | Sealion 05 EV 520 | Atto 3 430 | Atto 3 510 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLTC range | 430 km | 520 km | 430 km | 510 km |
| Battery (LFP Blade) | 50.05 kWh | 60.9 kWh | 49.92 kWh | 60.48 kWh |
| Drive | Rear-wheel | Rear-wheel | Front-wheel | Front-wheel |
| Motor power | 140 kW | 160 kW | 150 kW | 150 kW |
| Torque | 330 N·m | 330 N·m | 310 N·m | 310 N·m |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.6 s | 7.2 s | 7.3 s | 7.3 s |
| Top speed | 180 km/h | 180 km/h | 160 km/h | 160 km/h |
| DC peak | 130 kW | 156 kW | 70 kW | 80 kW |
| DC 30–80% | about 18 min | about 18 min | about 30 min | about 30 min |
| AC charging | 7 kW | 7 kW | n/a on sheet | n/a on sheet |
| Length | 4520 mm | 4520 mm | 4455 mm | 4455 mm |
| Width × height | 1860 × 1630 mm | 1860 × 1630 mm | 1875 × 1615 mm | 1875 × 1615 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2720 mm | 2720 mm | 2720 mm | 2720 mm |
| Curb weight | 1670 kg | 1780 kg | 1625 kg | 1690 kg |
| Rear suspension | Five-link independent | Five-link independent | Multi-link independent | Multi-link independent |
| Turning radius | 4.65 m | 4.65 m | n/a on sheet | n/a on sheet |
“n/a on sheet” means BYD’s published sheet leaves the field blank. We don’t fill gaps with guesses.
Charging speed is the headline difference
The Sealion 05 EV 430 accepts up to 130 kW on DC. The Atto 3 430 accepts up to 70 kW. Both batteries hold about 50 kWh, so the faster peak translates almost directly into time saved: about 18 minutes from 30% to 80% against about 30 minutes.
That gap is worth something specific to two kinds of buyer:
- Ride-hailing and taxi drivers who top up on public DC chargers during a shift. Twelve minutes saved per stop, once or twice a day, is real working time.
- Owners who travel between cities and have to charge on the way.
It is worth almost nothing to a private owner who charges at home overnight, because an overnight charge fills either car.
One condition applies everywhere: a car charges only as fast as the charger allows. The Sealion’s 130 kW advantage only appears on a charger that can supply more than 70 kW. On a slower DC charger, both cars charge at the charger’s limit and the gap narrows. Ask your customer where they actually charge before selling the charging advantage.
In Ethiopia, public charging is concentrated in Addis Ababa: roughly 100 stations against an estimated 2,300 or more needed nationwide. See our Ethiopia EV import guide for the background.
Rear-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive
This is the difference that changes how the car drives, and neither layout is simply better.
What rear drive gives the Sealion 05 EV:
- Better traction when accelerating uphill or carrying a full load, because weight shifts onto the driven rear wheels.
- A cleaner steering feel, since the front wheels only steer and don’t also put power down.
- A tight 4.65 m turning radius, partly because the front wheels have no drive shafts limiting their angle. That helps on narrow city streets and in tight parking.
What front drive gives the Atto 3:
- More predictable behaviour on loose gravel, mud or wet surfaces for an ordinary driver, because the driven wheels pull the car rather than push it.
- A layout most drivers who came from front-drive petrol cars already know.
For buyers on steep city roads with full loads, rear drive is the advantage. For buyers who regularly leave paved roads, front drive is the more forgiving choice. Neither car offers all-wheel drive in these versions.
Addis Ababa sits at around 2,355 metres, and electric motors don’t lose power with altitude the way petrol engines do. Both cars deliver their full rated output in the highlands.
Size and space
The two cars share a 2720 mm wheelbase, so rear legroom is in the same range. The Sealion 05 EV is 65 mm longer overall and 15 mm taller, and the Atto 3 is 15 mm wider. On paper these are small differences. In the showroom, the Sealion’s extra length goes mostly into its body overhangs and styling, not the cabin.
BYD lists the Atto 3’s boot at 434 L, rising to 1338 L with the rear seats folded. The Sealion 05 EV sheet leaves boot volume blank, so if luggage space decides the sale, measure the actual unit or ask us for photos of the boot.
Performance
The Atto 3 430 is slightly quicker to 100 km/h than the Sealion 05 EV 430 (7.3 s against 7.6 s), despite the Sealion’s higher torque. The Sealion 05 EV 520, with its 160 kW motor, is the quickest of the four at 7.2 s. Both Sealion versions are limited to 180 km/h against the Atto 3’s 160 km/h.
None of these differences matter much in daily driving. Seven-second cars are all quick enough for overtaking on a highway. If your customer is choosing on acceleration figures, the two cars are effectively tied.
Weight
The Sealion 05 EV 430 weighs 1670 kg against 1625 kg for the Atto 3 430, a 45 kg difference. In the bigger-battery versions, the gap is 90 kg (1780 kg against 1690 kg). Neither figure is large enough to change running costs noticeably.
The names on the paperwork
Both cars have naming traps:
- Atto 3 is the export name of the China-market Yuan Plus. A Chinese invoice may say Yuan Plus.
- Sealion 05 EV belongs to BYD’s Ocean series. Don’t confuse it with the Sealion 05 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine, or with the larger Sealion 06 and Sealion 07. Order by VIN, powertrain and battery capacity, not by the model name alone.
If you are unsure which car a supplier is quoting, our guide to Chinese model names vs export names shows how to check. The same trap exists one size up, covered in Sealion 06 EV vs Song Plus EV.
Which one for which customer
Sealion 05 EV fits:
- Ride-hailing drivers and fleets that rely on public DC charging.
- Buyers in hilly cities who often drive with a full load.
- Customers who care about tight-space manoeuvring: a 4.65 m turning radius.
- Buyers who want the newer, sportier-looking design.
Atto 3 fits:
- Owners who charge at home and rarely use public chargers.
- Drivers who regularly use gravel or unpaved roads.
- Customers who know the Atto 3 name. It has been sold abroad for years and is the more recognised model in many export markets.
- Buyers choosing between battery sizes. See Atto 3 430 km vs 510 km.
For a dealer, stocking both covers two different buyer profiles rather than competing for the same one. Browse our current EV stock for what else is ready to ship.
Shipping to Ethiopia
Both cars in our Djibouti stock are quoted CIF Djibouti. That covers the car, Chinese export clearance, sea freight and insurance to the port. The buyer handles the inland leg on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway or by road, plus Ethiopian clearance. Under current rules, fully assembled EVs pay 15% customs duty with VAT, excise and surtax waived. Confirm the rate with your clearing agent before you finalise a landed cost.
Don’t plan to drive either car from Djibouti to Addis Ababa. The road is much longer than either car’s real-world range, and charging along the way is unreliable. Send it by rail or truck.
Before you pay a deposit, we send the VIN, battery version and photos or a live video of the actual unit. Our inspection report explains what we check. For factory orders from China, see how many cars fit in a container and shipping to African ports.
Warranty is territorial. BYD’s Chinese warranty does not automatically follow a car exported by an independent exporter. Agree after-sales arrangements with your customer up front. Our checklist of import traps covers the common mistakes.
More BYD EV comparisons
- Yuan UP vs Yuan Plus (Atto 2 vs Atto 3)
- BYD Atto 2 versions compared
- BYD Dolphin vs Seagull
- Top Chinese SUVs and EVs for export in 2026
- How to choose a Chinese car exporter
FAQ
What is the difference between the BYD Sealion 05 EV and the Atto 3?
They share a 2720 mm wheelbase and similar batteries. The Sealion 05 EV is rear-wheel drive and fast-charges 30–80% in about 18 minutes at up to 130 kW (430 km version). The Atto 3 is front-wheel drive and takes about 30 minutes at up to 70 kW.
Which charges faster, the Sealion 05 EV or the Atto 3?
The Sealion 05 EV. Its 430 km version accepts up to 130 kW and the 520 km version up to 156 kW, against 70 kW and 80 kW for the Atto 3. The advantage only shows on a DC charger that can deliver more than the Atto 3’s peak.
Is the Sealion 05 EV rear-wheel drive?
Yes. Both Sealion 05 EV versions are rear-wheel drive with a five-link rear suspension. The Atto 3 is front-wheel drive.
Is the Sealion 05 EV the same as the Sealion 05 DM-i?
No. The Sealion 05 EV is fully electric. The Sealion 05 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine. Check the powertrain and VIN before ordering.
Which is bigger, the Sealion 05 EV or the Atto 3?
They are close. Both have a 2720 mm wheelbase. The Sealion 05 EV is 4520 mm long against 4455 mm for the Atto 3, and 15 mm taller; the Atto 3 is 15 mm wider.
Do you have the Sealion 05 EV and Atto 3 for Ethiopia?
Yes. The Sealion 05 EV 430 km and the Atto 3 in 430 km and 510 km versions are already landed in Djibouti, quoted CIF Djibouti. Ask us on WhatsApp for current availability.