Plug-in hybrids are enjoying a surge in demand across many important markets around the world, and after recently spending a week with the BYD Sealion 6, it’s easy to see why.The Sealion 6 forms part of BYD’s expanding Ocean Series, which also includes the Seagull, Dolphin, Seal, and the larger Sealion 7. It’s unlikely to ever reach the US, but after debuting in China as the Song Plus in 2020 and receiving a facelift in 2023, it has since rolled out to several key western regions including Europe and Australia.Down Under, it’s not only the most affordable plug-in hybrid SUV on sale, but also the country’s best-selling PHEV. There’s more to that than price alone.BYD sells the Sealion 6 in four different versions. They start at AU$42,990 ($27,900) for the Essential that we tested, while sitting about it in the range are the Sealion 6 Dynamic Extended (AU$46,990 / ($30,500), the Premium ($AU$52,990 / $34,400), and the Premium Extended, which, despite having a larger battery pack, also starts at AU$52,990.The Essential and Dynamic models have the same powertrain, consisting of a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder working alongside an 18.3 kWh battery pack and an electric motor. This results in a combined 160 kW (214 hp) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque, enough for a respectable 8.5-second run to 100 km/h (62 mph) in the Essential, or 8.9 seconds in the Dynamic.Review: BYD Sealion 7 Performance Could Be Tesla’s Worst NightmareThose seeking more performance can opt for either the Premium or the Premium Extended. Both use a turbocharged 1.5-liter with dual electric motors, but whereas the Premium is capped at 238 kW (319 hp) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft), the Premium Extended has 253 kW (339 hp). BYD says the Premium can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds and the Extended needs just 5.5 seconds.Key rivals to the Sealion 6 include the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Cherry Tiggo 7, and GWM Haval H6 GT.A Cabin With QuirksAlthough the model we tested was the entry-level Essential, its cabin felt surprisingly premium, especially given the price tag.The interior has some similarities to other BYD models, but there are some distinctive features as well. Perhaps the biggest disappointment, at least from a design perspective, is the steering wheel. While it’s comfortable to use, it looks ugly and doesn’t have quite the same flowing design as the rest of the cabin.The Essential model sports a 12.8-inch rotating infotainment screen sitting in the center of the dash. It’s smaller than the 15.6-inch display that comes standard on the Premium versions, as well as standard on the Sealion 7 EV, but it is definitely big enough. Complementing it is a smaller 12.3-inch display.Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard and worked flawlessly during by time with the Sealion 6. The infotainment system also supports an advanced voice assistant and over-the-air software updates, while also providing access to the BYD app store.Plush leather adorns the bottom half of the dashboard, complete with metallic accents, including the air vents. The piano black plastic trim stretching across the dash is, however, a little ungainly. On the plus side, I did like the small electronic shifter and the metal toggle buttons, as well as the volume dial on the center console. As standard, all Sealion 6 Essential models have seats clad in brown leather with black bolsters and bright orange accents. While the seats are plush and comfortable, their sleek profile means there’s no way to adjust the headrest, which is not nice. It’s also unfortunate that the Essential is only fitted with a six-speaker sound system that’s neither particularly crisp nor particularly loud. Those seeking a better audio experience will need to upgrade to the Premium, which includes a 10-speaker setup.Interior space is good, and there’s easily enough room for two adult passengers in the rear seat. Rear cargo space sits at 425 liters (15 cubic feet) with the seats up, or 1,440 liters (50.5 cubic feet) with them folded down – albeit not completely flat. This is pretty poor. Additionally, the tiny rear window does no favors for visibility. A Smooth CruiserIn 2024, BYD sold almost 2.5 million plug-in hybrids worldwide. It should thus come as no surprise that it knows how to build an efficient and smooth PHEV powertrain.If the battery pack is fully charged, the Sealion 6 will operate primarily on electric power alone, allowing it to sip just 1.4 l/100 km (168 US mpg) on average. That means that owners who drive less than 100 km (62 miles) per day and can fully recharge it overnight will be able to enjoy this exceptional fuel efficiency without the range anxiety of an EV.Of course, once you drive beyond 100 km, the battery drains, and the engine has to be used more of the time. During my time with the Sealion 6 Essential, I averaged 5.6 l/100 km (42 US mpg), which is good for an SUV of this size, but not much better than a conventional hybrid.With a fully-charged battery and a full tank of regular unleaded, the Sealion 6 can travel up to 1,092 km (678 miles).Read: BYD Shark 6 Is Faster Than A Ranger Raptor But That Is Only Half The SurpriseBut it’s not the powertrain’s efficiency that’s most impressive; rather, it’s how smooth it is. Like we recently experienced in the Shark 6 PHEV, the Sealion 6 feels like an EV most of the time, and the engine only fires into life under heavy acceleration or at higher speeds. There’s also a regenerative braking system, although there is no one-pedal as in some other plug-in hybrids from competitors, like GWM.BYD’s DM-i hybrid system can operate like a range-extender, where the engine acts as a generator and the electric motor directly drives the wheels, or like a more traditional parallel hybrid where the electric motor and petrol engine work in partnership to drive the wheels. Aiding in the EV-like feeling of driving the Sealion 6 is the fact that it uses a single-speed reduction gear, meaning there’s no interruption in power like a normal transmission.Although the Essential version that we tested is only front-wheel drive, there is no torque steer, like in other hybrids, due to the instantaneous power offered by the electric motors. The most obvious explanation for this is that the Sealion 6 doesn’t have much torque, capped at just 300 Nm (221 lb-ft). Importantly, it feels like it has more than enough grunt for everyday driving duties, and feels just at home in town as it does on the highway.Dynamically, the Sealion 6 leaves a lot to be desired, which isn’t surprising for the base model. Unlike the Sealion 7, which we recently drove, the 6 has a keener focus on all-around family comfort and doesn’t like being hustled around corners. Given that it doesn’t have to lug around a massive battery pack like an EV, the suspension is softer than the 7. Interestingly, the Sealion 6 was criticized when first launched in Australia last year, with complaints about the ride being overly soft, resulting in a floaty feeling at highway speeds. For 2025, it has been stiffened and strikes a nice middle ground, remaining comfortable over speed bumps and potholes while feeling a little more stable at higher speeds.The steering is light and direct, making the Sealion 6 a breeze to maneuver, which will be welcome news to drivers.VerdictBYD continues to go from strength to strength, and while the Sealion 6 may be one of its older models, it still feels up to date. It’s certainly not the most appealing mid-size SUV to look at, but one could argue that rivals like the Kia Sportage or the Toyota RAV4 aren’t particularly good-looking either.The plug-in hybrid powertrain is the standout, ensuring the Sealion 6 is quiet, smooth, and efficient. The somewhat small trunk will limit its appeal to larger families, but for those with younger kids and young teenagers, it ticks most boxes.
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