PHEV family car battle gains yet another contender, with BYD’s new Sealion 6 boasting a 26.6kWh battery and combined range of 1000km
BYD has added another new variant to its Sealion 6 model range, increasing the versatility of its popular plug-in midsize SUV.
Joining the Dynamic Extended Range ($47,990), the new Premium Extended Range picks up more equipment and costs $52,990. Prices are before on-road costs.
That price makes the new flagship, with more power and driving range, the same price as the existing, regular range Sealion 6 Premium — don’t expect this to be the case forever.
Digging into the details, the twin motor Sealion 6 Premium Extended Range (ER) packs more power (253kW up from 238kW) and larger 26.6kWh BYD Blade battery.
This sees the Sealion 6 Premium ER’s EV-only driving range climb to 128km (NEDC), while the Dynamic ER is rated at 140km. BYD’s range figures are based on a 100-20 percent battery charge.
Both models see their EV range figures increase by around 65 percent, however BYD’s quoted range figures for the SR Essential (92km) and Premium (81km) are based on a driving distance produced from 100-25 percent of battery charge — a 5.0 percent charge point of difference.
BYD notes a combined fuel consumption of 1.1L/100km for the Premium ER, again matching or improving upon the respective 1.1L/100km and 1.4L/100km figures posted by the Essential and Premium SR variants. All figures are NEDC.
Equipment across all BYD Sealion 6 models continues to be nearly identical regardless of trim grade, although the Essential base trim receives a smaller 12.8-inch infotainment screen (usually 15.6 inches), and a six-speaker audio system, rather than a 10-speaker Infinity audio system.
The freshly introduced Sealion 6 variant joins an almost bewildering array of plug-in hybrid midsize SUVs from China which tout extended EV driving ranges.
Direct rivals include Chery, which offers the Chery Tiggo 7 ($39,990) and Tiggo 8 ($45,990) SHS models, along with its upmarket Jaecoo J7 ($47,990, all national driveaway).
Then there’s the new Geely Starray ($39,990, before on-road costs), plus the MG HS Super Hybrid ($50,990, driveaway), and don’t forget old faithful from Japan, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $57,290, before on-road costs).
Despite being a fresh face in the Australian car market, the BYD Sealion 6 has quickly become a plug-in hybrid favourite amongst local buyers.
Up to July 2025, BYD has sold 5,498 Sealion 6 models year-to-date, with the prospect of new Extended Range models no doubt helping to secure more sales in the future.
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