Formerly known as the Seal U (still the name used in Europe), the Sealion 6 has been renamed to avoid confusion with the existing Seal electric sedan and to align with the similarly-sized but distinct Sea Lion 07 EV unveiled in November 2023. Priced from $48,990 before on-road costs, the entry-level, front-wheel-drive Sealion 6 Dynamic is competitively positioned, nearly matching the Toyota RAV4 XSE FWD ($48,910).
As a bonus, BYD and EVDirect are offering a free home charger to early buyers of the new Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV. While installation is not included, the charger itself is valued at $999 and comes with a warranty from EV Switch Corporation. The package includes a 3.0m Type 2 cable and has a rated output of 7kW. The home chargers will be provided with the first 3000 orders of the new BYD Sealion 6.
The Sealion 6 offers two plug-in hybrid drivetrain options, with both front- and all-wheel drive available. Both models feature over 80km of all-electric range, and the AWD version can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds.
A fully electric version of the Sealion 6 is available in markets like China and Europe, and there is interest in bringing it to Australia, though there is no official confirmation at this time. Later this year, BYD will introduce its first ute, the BYD Shark, to the market.
The BYD Shark features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors, and BYD’s signature Blade battery pack. The 320kW plug-in hybrid system includes a 170kW/310Nm electric motor at the front and a 150kW/340Nm electric motor at the rear, achieving a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds.
Equipped with a standard 30kWh battery pack, the BYD Shark offers an electric-only range of 100km under the NEDC testing protocol. It also supports DC fast charging up to 40kW.
The top-of-the-line Sealion 6 Premium AWD is available for $52,990, undercutting the RAV4 Cruiser AWD ($54,410). In comparison, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ranges from $57,290 to $73,790 before on-road costs, and the Mazda CX-60 PHEV is priced even higher, between $73,600 and $86,800 plus on-road costs.
The MG HS PHEV, marketed as the HS Plus EV, is more affordable than the BYD Sealion 6, with prices ranging from $43,690 to $46,690 drive-away. However, an all-new HS model is expected later this year, likely with increased prices.
