CarSorted Verdict:
- Cheapest five-star: BYD Seal 6 sedan, $34,990 RRP, 3.6 L/100km with the battery flat.
- Wagon: Seal 6 Touring, $39,990 RRP, 670 litres.
- SUV: Geely Starray EM-i from $37,490 RRP, or the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid at $34,990 drive-away.
- Seven seats: Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid, $45,990 drive-away, five stars.
- Ute: JAC Hunter PHEV from $49,988 RRP or BYD Shark 6 from $55,900 RRP; both five stars.
- Wait for: Geely's Monjaro EM-i (first half of 2027, confirmed), the Omoda 7 (launch confirmed; plug-in reported) and the Jolion Max plug-in (reported).
Tax and incentive figures current as of November 2026
Thresholds, rebates and rules on this page change each financial year. We check them against the ATO, but always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before you sign. Plug-in hybrids lost the electric cars FBT exemption from 1 April 2025, per the ATO. Battery-electric cars under the fuel-efficient luxury car tax threshold can still qualify. Confirm current ATO rules before you sign a novated lease.
Chinese brands have turned the plug-in hybrid from a pricey niche into something you can buy for the price of a regular small SUV. Heading into 2027 they sell plug-ins in nearly every shape: sedans and wagons, family SUVs, seven- and eight-seaters, utes that tow 3,500 kg and range extenders. And more are coming, from Geely, Omoda and GWM. So the useful question isn't only “which is best?”. It's also “which one suits how I'll actually charge it, and is a better one about to land?”.
This guide works from 62 plug-in hybrid and range-extender rows on sale in our directory on 13 November 2026, from 12 Chinese brands and 28 nameplates. If you're only shopping SUVs from any brand, our 2027 plug-in hybrid SUV guide is the one to read, and our 2027 Chinese cars guide covers every powertrain. This one goes deep on Chinese plug-ins of every body type. The 2026 edition still has the quick category list. The facts, side by side. Your decision.
The picks at a glance
One row per question, with the figure from our row for that car on 13 November 2026 and its price basis. RRP is before on-road costs; drive-away includes them. Detail and runners-up are below.
| Question | Pick | Winning figure | ANCAP on record | Buy now or wait? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest five-star (RRP) | BYD Seal 6 Essential sedan | $34,990 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest (drive-away) | Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban | $34,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star SUV (RRP) | Geely Starray EM-i Complete | $37,490 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now; Monjaro due 2027 |
| Lowest battery-flat fuel use | BYD Seal 6 Essential sedan | 3.6 L/100km, about $21 a week | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Wagon | BYD Seal 6 Touring Premium | $39,990 RRP, 670 L | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Longest WLTP range, plug-in hybrid SUV (range extenders aside) | Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range | 136 km WLTP, $41,490 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Seven seats (drive-away) | Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban | $45,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Eight seats (RRP) | BYD M9 Dynamic | $61,990 RRP | Hasn't been rated | Now |
| Cheapest five-star ute (RRP) | JAC Hunter PHEV Pro | $49,988 RRP, 3,500 kg | 5 stars (2024) | Now |
| Off-roader | GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T | 3,000 kg, $57,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2022) | Check today's price |
| Range extender | Leapmotor C10 REEV | $43,888 RRP, 546 L | Hasn't been rated | Now |
Compare these picks side by side
6 of them on 200+ specs, price, safety and running cost in one view.
Each price is that car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Buying now or waiting: how to use this guide
2027 brings more Chinese plug-ins, mostly SUVs. Geely Australia has confirmed the Monjaro EM-i SUV and Emgrand L EM-i sedan for the first half of 2027 and the Battleship 700 off-roader for the second half. Omoda Jaecoo says the Omoda 7 launches in the first half, with a plug-in version reported. GWM is reported to have the Jolion Max plug-in due early in the year, and Freelander's Australian boss has said the plug-in Freelander 8 is the version confirmed here. BYD has already put a plug-in Atto 2 on sale from $24,990 before on-road costs, per our story.
Our rule of thumb: buy now when the car isn't changing, the price is on the manufacturer's list or on an offer you can use before it ends, and you can charge at home on a typical night. Wait when something in the size you want is confirmed and close. Negotiate when an update is coming and the outgoing car is still in stock.
“Confirmed” and “reported” aren't the same, and we keep them apart. Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means Australian motoring media have it, often quoting the manufacturer's local people, but it isn't on the manufacturer's own page.
CarSorted Manufacturer offer
BYD Australia has an offer on the Seal 6 until 21 December 2026
Offer from BYD Australia, checked 5 Nov 2026
The state of Chinese plug-in hybrids heading into 2027
The 62 rows split into 47 SUVs, nine utes, four people movers, one sedan and one wagon. BYD has the most variants (15), then GWM (13), and 12 Chinese brands sell at least one plug-in here, from Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda to Geely, Leapmotor, MG, GAC, Denza, JAC and Forthing.
On safety, 40 of the 62 rows hold five stars from ANCAP and two hold three (the BYD Sealion 5). The other 20 hold no result on our record, including the BYD Sealion 8 and M9 Dynamic, Chery Tiggo 9, Jaecoo J8, GAC M8, GWM Cannon Hi4-T and Haval H7, and the Leapmotor C10 REEV. A missing rating isn't a bad result. It's no data, and we won't borrow a sibling's stars to fill it.
On tax, nothing has changed since 2025: new plug-in hybrids don't get the electric cars FBT exemption, so a novated lease on one pays fringe benefits tax. That makes the sticker price and the fuel bill matter more than they do for an EV.
How we picked
Prices. An RRP is before on-road costs; a drive-away price includes them. We never rank one against the other. RRP picks only use prices whose source on our row is the manufacturer's own configurator, price feed, list or release: 23 of the 62 rows. That's the same rule as our 2027 mid-size SUV guide, so the guides agree. Rows without a named source appear in the tables but don't win a price pick.
Electric range. NEDC and WLTP are different tests, and NEDC reads higher for the same car, so we only rank range inside one test, the same way our plug-in hybrid SUV guide does. A figure whose test isn't named is shown but not ranked.
Running costs. The fuel label on a plug-in is measured from a full battery, so it flatters every car. We cost each one with the battery flat, from the manufacturer's charge-sustaining figure: 15,600 km a year, $1.95 a litre for regular unleaded and $2.10 for premium. That's the honest worst case. 30 of the 62 rows hold that figure; the rest get no estimate rather than a guess.
Safety. We show the ANCAP result our row holds and its year. Where we hold none, we say ANCAP hasn't rated it or we have no data. Nothing here is called the safest (ANCAP explained).
CarSorted
Shortlisting already?
Compare any two side by side or see this month's manufacturer deals. Figures come from manufacturers' own published documents.
Cheapest five-star Chinese plug-in on RRP: BYD Seal 6 sedan, $34,990
Why. The Seal 6 Essential sedan is $34,990 before on-road costs on BYD's Build & Price, the cheapest Chinese plug-in with a five-star ANCAP result (2025) on a published RRP. It also has the lowest battery-flat figure of any car in the set at 3.6 L/100km, about $1,095 a year or $21 a week on our sums, and a 491-litre boot. Our row holds 55 km of electric range without naming the test. The Sealion 5 Essential SUV is $1,000 cheaper at $33,990 but ANCAP gave it three stars (2026).
Who it suits. Someone who wants a plug-in for the commute and a frugal car for the long drives, and doesn't need an SUV. What to watch. BYD's Australian brochure publishes no towing rating for the Seal 6. BYD's warranty on our row is six years or 150,000 km.
Buy now or wait? Buy now; nothing replaces it on our record. If you'd rather a small SUV for less, BYD has put the plug-in Atto 2 DM-i on sale from $24,990 before on-road costs, with a launch drive-away price for buyers who order and take delivery by 31 December, per our Atto 2 DM-i story. It isn't in our on-sale set yet, so we haven't ranked it. Geely has confirmed an Emgrand L EM-i sedan for the first half of 2027 (Geely story).
Best plug-in wagon: BYD Seal 6 Touring
The Seal 6 Touring Premium is $39,990 on BYD's Build & Price, the only plug-in wagon from a Chinese brand on our rows, with a 670-litre boot, five stars (2025) and 4.1 L/100km with the battery flat, about $24 a week. Our row holds 100 km of electric range without naming the test. BYD marked its 150,000th Australian delivery with a Seal 6 Touring in October (our story).
Our take: a wagon gives you an SUV-sized boot with a lower roof for the bikes and less fuel on the highway. If you don't need the ride height, the Seal 6 Touring is a very practical buy for the money. Seal 6 vs Octavia | Seal 6 vs Outback.
Best plug-in SUV: Geely Starray EM-i, and the Tiggo 7
The Starray EM-i Complete is $37,490 on Geely's Build & Price, the cheapest five-star (2025) Chinese plug-in SUV on a published RRP, the same pick as our mid-size and plug-in SUV guides. The Inspire Extended Range at $41,490 has 136 km of WLTP electric range on Geely's brochure, the longest WLTP figure of any plug-in hybrid SUV here, range extenders aside (the Forthing Taikon 5 range extender claims 170 km WLTP) (Starray story). On drive-away, the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban is $34,990 on our row with five stars (2025) and 93 km on NEDC. For the lowest battery-flat fuel use in a five-star SUV, the BYD Sealion 6 holds 4.72 L/100km, about $28 a week. MG's HS Super Hybrid is $48,990 RRP with 120 km WLTP, five stars (2024) and MG's 10-year warranty.
Our take: the Starray is the value pick on RRP, the Tiggo 7 on drive-away. If you'll often run the battery flat, the Sealion 6 is the frugal one. Our 2027 plug-in hybrid SUV guide compares these against other brands. Sealion 6 vs Tiggo 7 | Sealion 6 vs J7 SHS.
Buy now or wait? Geely Australia has confirmed the larger Monjaro EM-i for the first half of 2027, without a price, and Omoda Jaecoo says the Omoda 7 arrives in the same window with a plug-in reported (Omoda story). GWM is reported to have the Jolion Max plug-in due in the first three months (Jolion Max story) and a next-generation Haval H6 early in 2027. If you want something bigger than a Starray, those are worth waiting to price.
Longest electric range: one winner per test
On WLTP: the Forthing Taikon 5 range extender claims 170 km, the BYD M9 Premium people mover 145 km, then the Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range at 136 km, the Starray Inspire AWD at 130 and the MG HS Super Hybrid at 120. On NEDC: the seven-seat Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid claims 170 km on Chery's spec sheet, and the Jaecoo J8 and Omoda 9 169 km. The Haval H6GT's 183 km and the Leapmotor C10 REEV's 145 km are on our rows without a test named, so we don't rank them.
For a typical buyer the range only has to cover a normal day. At 300 km a week, a plug-in with 80 km or more of real electric range can cover a lot of weekday driving on electricity if you charge nightly. Range matters more if your commute is long or you can only charge at work.
Ways to buy
For the 4 cars on this page.
Compare 6Finance
From ≈$124/wk(≈$537/mo)
Estimate on the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid at $31,800 estimated RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Work the numbers on your own salary and term. We state the rules and the sums; what it saves you depends on your package.
Lease the BYD Seal 6Seven and eight seats: Tiggo 8, Sealion 8, BYD M9
On drive-away, the Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban is $45,990 on our row, the cheapest seven-seat Chinese plug-in, with five stars (2025) and 95 km on NEDC. On a published RRP, the BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD is $56,990 with 1,800 kg towing (2,000 kg for the AWD) and 5.3 L/100km battery flat, but ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record. The Jaecoo J8 is $59,990 RRP with 169 km NEDC and an eight-year warranty, also without a rating on our rows, and the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is $65,469 drive-away for the AWD. At the top, the Denza B8 tows 3,500 kg. Our third-row boot figures for the Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 Elite look low against the Tiggo 9 AWD, so check them in the metal.
People movers. The BYD M9 Dynamic seats eight for $61,990 on BYD's configurator, with 80 km of WLTP electric range; the seven-seat M9 Premium is $72,990 RRP with 145 km WLTP and five stars (2026). Our M9 Dynamic story explains why that rating doesn't cover the Dynamic. GAC's M8 is $76,590 RRP on our row (source not yet named) with an eight-year warranty; ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record.
Our take: the Tiggo 8 is the price and rating pick for seven seats. If the third row gets used daily, a people mover like the M9 is the more comfortable answer. Our 2027 seven-seat hybrid and electric guide compares them with other brands. Sealion 6 vs Tiggo 8 | Tiggo 9 vs J8.
Buy now or wait? GWM's Wey G9 people mover is reported as approved for sale as a plug-in, with no price or date from GWM Australia (Wey G9 story). If you need seven seats now, the Tiggo 8 has a price and a rating.
Best plug-in ute: JAC Hunter, BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha
Why. The JAC Hunter PHEV Pro is $49,988 before on-road costs on JAC's configurator, the cheapest Chinese plug-in ute on a published RRP, with five stars (2024), 100 km on NEDC and a 3,500 kg towing rating. The BYD Shark 6 starts at $55,900 for the Dynamic cab-chassis and $57,900 for the Premium, both RRP, with five stars (2025) and 2,500 kg towing; the Shark 6 Performance at $62,900 RRP is rated to 3,500 kg. GWM's Cannon Alpha PHEV is $57,490 drive-away in Victoria on our row from a September GWM campaign, with five stars (2024) and 3,500 kg, and the newer Cannon Hi4-T is $50,990 drive-away in Victoria on our row but ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record.
What to watch. With the battery flat, these are thirsty: 7.9 L/100km for the Shark 6 and Cannon Alpha on our rows, about $46 a week, and 10.5 for the Shark 6 Performance. Towing near the limit drains the battery fast. Check payload too: a plug-in's battery eats into it.
Towing and payload calculator
Check a 2,500 kg caravan against the plug-in utes and off-roaders that publish their masses: the rig check compares the trailer with each one's tow rating, payload and gross combination mass.
Our take: the Hunter is the value pick for heavy towing; the Shark 6 has the newer rating (2025) and BYD's dealer network behind it. Shark 6 vs Hunter PHEV | Shark 6 vs Cannon Alpha | Shark 6 vs Ranger. Our plug-in ute guide covers other brands too.
Best plug-in off-roader: GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500
The Tank 300 Hi4-T is $57,990 drive-away in Victoria on our row (a September GWM campaign, so check today's price), with five stars (2022), a 3,000 kg towing rating and 115 km on NEDC. The bigger Tank 500 Hi4-T is $72,490 RRP on our row (its source isn't named yet), with five stars (2024) and a 640-litre boot. BYD's Denza brand sells the B5 (3,000 kg, five stars 2025) and the seven-seat B8 (3,500 kg, five stars 2025). All four use 8.3 to 9.9 L/100km with the battery flat on our rows, so they make the most sense if you charge between weekend trips.
Buy now or wait? Geely has confirmed the Battleship 700 off-roader for the second half of 2027, and the plug-in Freelander 8 is reported for the second half too (Freelander story). Neither has a price. The Tank 300 and 500 are the established choices today.
Range extenders: Leapmotor C10 REEV and Forthing Taikon 5
The Leapmotor C10 Hybrid Style (REEV) is $43,888 on Leapmotor's pricing, with 145 km of electric range (no test named on our row), a 546-litre boot and 1,500 kg towing. ANCAP hasn't rated the REEV on our record, and we don't carry the electric C10's stars across. The Forthing Taikon 5 Range Extender is $36,990 drive-away on Forthing's pricing with 170 km WLTP and a seven-year warranty; ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record, and we don't hold a battery-flat fuel figure for either.
Our take: a range extender drives its wheels with electric motors only and uses the engine as a generator. It suits people who want EV manners without range worry, but with the battery flat it's still burning petrol, and it gets no EV tax break.
Pick two
Any two of the picks, side by side
Tap two to compare price, fuel, electric range and safety.
| Spec | BYD Seal 6 sedan | BYD Seal 6 Touring |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $34,990RRP, before on-roads | $39,990RRP, before on-roads |
| Fuel use | 1.1 L/100kmfrom a full battery, 3.6 once flat | 0.8 L/100kmfrom a full battery, 4.1 once flat |
| Electric-only range | 55 km | 100 km |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Braked towing | No data | 0 kg |
| ANCAP | 5 starstested 2025 | 5 starstested 2025 |
| Warranty | 6 yr150k km | 6 yr150k km |
| Service interval | No data | No data |
Figures come from our car database, which is built from Australian manufacturer documents. A blank field reads “No data” rather than a zero or a dash.
Cars in this story
7 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Images: BYD Australia.
See all BYD modelsChinese plug-in hybrid comparison table
The picks and the main rivals, read live from each linked row. The fuel column is the label figure, measured from a full battery.
| Plug-in hybrid | RRP | Drive-away | Fuel (label) | Boot | Towing | ANCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Sealion 5 Essential | $33,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.2 L/100km (4.5 L/100km as a hybrid) | 463L | 750kg | 3 stars (2026) |
| BYD Seal 6 Essential sedan | $34,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.1 L/100km (3.6 L/100km as a hybrid) | 491L | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban | $31,800 est. RRP | $34,990 drive-away (VIC) | 1.4 L/100km | 475L | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| Geely Starray EM-i Complete | $37,490 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 2.5 L/100km | 428L | 750kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| BYD Seal 6 Touring Premium | $39,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 0.8 L/100km (4.1 L/100km as a hybrid) | 670L | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| Starray EM-i Inspire ER | $41,490 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.6 L/100km | 428L | 750kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| Leapmotor C10 REEV | $43,888 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 0.9 L/100km | 546L | 1,500kg | no data |
| BYD Sealion 6 Essential | $42,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.1 L/100km (4.72 L/100km as a hybrid) | 425L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2023) |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban | $41,800 est. RRP | $45,990 drive-away (VIC) | 1.3 L/100km | 117L | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| MG HS Super Hybrid | $48,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 0.7 L/100km | 507L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| JAC Hunter PHEV Pro | $49,988 RRP | $53,113 drive-away (VIC) | 1.6 L/100km | no data | 3,500kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| BYD Shark 6 Dynamic | $55,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 2 L/100km (7.9 L/100km as a hybrid) | no data | 2,500kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD | $56,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.1 L/100km (5.3 L/100km as a hybrid) | 270L | 1,800kg | no data |
| GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV | no RRP on record | $57,490 drive-away (VIC) | 1.7 L/100km (7.9 L/100km as a hybrid) | no data | 3,500kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T | no RRP on record | $57,990 drive-away (VIC) | 1.9 L/100km (8.3 L/100km as a hybrid) | 360L | 3,000kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| Jaecoo J8 SHS | $59,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.2 L/100km | 200L | 1,600kg | no data |
| BYD M9 Dynamic | $61,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 2.7 L/100km (7.1 L/100km as a hybrid) | 470L | 1,500kg | no data |
“No data” means our row doesn't hold the figure yet, not that the car lacks it.
Running costs: the battery-flat bill, per week
Fuel only, with the battery never charged, on our arithmetic from each row on 13 November 2026: 15,600 km a year and the manufacturer's charge-sustaining figure. This is the worst case. Charge every night and your fuel bill can fall to a fraction of this, replaced by a smaller electricity bill.
| Plug-in hybrid | Body | Price | Battery flat, a year (est.) | A week (est.) | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Seal 6 Essential sedan | Sedan | $34,990 RRP | $1,095 | $21 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Seal 6 Touring Premium | Wagon | $39,990 RRP | $1,247 | $24 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Sealion 5 Essential | SUV | $33,990 RRP | $1,369 | $26 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Sealion 6 Essential | SUV | $42,990 RRP | $1,436 | $28 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic ER | SUV | $46,990 RRP | $1,460 | $28 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| GWM Haval H6 Lux PHEV | SUV | $44,990 drive-away (VIC) | $1,521 | $29 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| GWM Haval H6GT Ultra | SUV | $54,990 drive-away (VIC) | $1,612 | $31 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD | 7-seat SUV | $56,990 RRP | $1,612 | $31 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic AWD | 7-seat SUV | $63,990 RRP | $1,916 | $37 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD M9 Dynamic | People mover | $61,990 RRP | $2,160 | $42 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD M9 Premium | People mover | $72,990 RRP | $2,221 | $43 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| GWM Haval H7 Lux PHEV | SUV | $49,990 drive-away (VIC) | $2,278 | $44 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| BYD Shark 6 Premium | Ute | $57,900 RRP | $2,403 | $46 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| BYD Shark 6 Performance | Ute | $62,900 RRP | $3,194 | $61 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV | Ute | $57,490 drive-away (VIC) | $2,403 | $46 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T | Off-roader | $57,990 drive-away (VIC) | $2,525 | $49 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T | Off-roader | $72,490 RRP | $2,555 | $49 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Denza B5 | Off-roader | $74,990 RRP | $2,890 | $56 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Denza B8 | Off-roader | $91,000 RRP | $3,012 | $58 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
The pattern: battery flat, the sedan and wagon cost about $21 to $24 a week, most five-seat SUVs $26 to $31, the Haval H7 and the seven-seaters $31 to $44, and the utes and off-roaders $46 to $61. We don't hold a battery-flat figure for the Starray EM-i, Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8, Jaecoo J7 and J8, MG HS, Omoda 9, Hunter, Tiggo 9, GAC M8, Cannon Hi4-T or the range extenders, so they're not in the table. For comparison, a regular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid costs about $28 a week on the same sums, so a plug-in only beats a good hybrid on fuel if you charge it.
On warranty, MG offers 10 years or 250,000 km on the HS Super Hybrid, with servicing conditions. Jaecoo, Omoda and GAC give eight years, Chery, GWM, Geely, JAC and Forthing seven, and BYD, Denza and Leapmotor six years or 150,000 km on our rows. Battery warranties are usually separate and often longer.
Weekly fuel cost at a glance
Put in your own week and how often you'll charge. The calculator prices the same driving in the Seal 6, Sealion 6, Sealion 8 and Shark 6. Cars without the figures it needs sit out rather than run on a made-up one.
- BYD Seal 6 Essential Sedan
$730 a year, rated 3.6 L/100km as a hybrid (charge-sustaining)
$14 a week
Lowest - BYD Sealion 6 Essential
$1,031 a year, rated 4.72 L/100km as a hybrid (charge-sustaining)
$20 a week
- BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD
$1,158 a year, rated 5.3 L/100km as a hybrid (charge-sustaining)
$22 a week
- BYD Shark 6 Dynamic Cab-Chassis
$1,602 a year, rated 7.9 L/100km as a hybrid (charge-sustaining)
$31 a week
Assumes 20 km each way, 10 trips a week, mild weather and the official combined road mix; unleaded at $1.95/L, premium unleaded at $2.10/L, home charging at 27c/kWh (VIC reference price (Victorian Default Offer, Jemena flat rate (the middle of the five Victorian zones, 25.96c to 31.98c))). Plug-in hybrids are costed with the battery not charged. Fuel only.
Repayments at a glance
What three of the picks cost a week on finance. The rate and term are assumptions you can change, not a quote or advice.
- BYD Seal 6 Essential Sedan
$34,990 RRP, ≈$139 a week
≈$601/mo
Lowest - Geely Starray EM-i Complete
$37,490 RRP, ≈$150 a week
≈$651/mo
- JAC Hunter PHEV Pro PHEV
$53,113 drive-away (advertised), ≈$222 a week
≈$964/mo
Assumes $5,000 deposit over 5 years at an assumed 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not an offer of credit or a quote; your rate and repayments will differ.
Estimates only. Based on standard assumptions. Not financial advice. Individual results vary.
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
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Budget bands: what your money buys
Here's how the set splits by price. We use the manufacturer's RRP where its source is named, otherwise the drive-away figure, so each band mixes the two bases. Four rows hold no price.
| Budget | Rows | Nameplates | Five-star rows | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $40,000 | 10 | 6 | 7 | Seal 6, Tiggo 7, Starray EM-i, Taikon 5 |
| $40,000 to $50,000 | 18 | 10 | 13 | Tiggo 8, Sealion 6, Hunter, C10 REEV, HS |
| $50,000 to $60,000 | 14 | 12 | 8 | Shark 6, Sealion 8, Cannon Alpha, Tank 300 |
| $60,000 to $80,000 | 11 | 9 | 6 | M9, Tank 500, Omoda 9 |
| Over $80,000 | 5 | 3 | 4 | Denza B8, B5 |
Who should buy what
- Lowest price with five stars: Seal 6 sedan.
- Family wagon: Seal 6 Touring, 670 litres.
- Family SUV: Starray EM-i on RRP or Tiggo 7 on drive-away.
- Long commute on electricity: Starray EM-i Extended Range, 136 km WLTP.
- Seven seats: Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid; eight: BYD M9 Dynamic.
- Heavy towing: JAC Hunter PHEV or Shark 6 Performance, 3,500 kg.
- Off-road weekends: Tank 300 Hi4-T.
- EV manners, no range worry: Leapmotor C10 REEV.
How Chinese plug-in hybrids work, and what to watch
The Chinese plug-ins here pair a petrol engine with one or two electric motors and a battery big enough for a commute. Many run on electricity by default and use the engine mainly as a generator or at highway speed. The label fuel figure assumes you start with a full battery, which is why it reads 1 or 2 L/100km; the battery-flat figure is the one to plan with if you won't charge often.
Three things to check before you sign. First, the electric range test: NEDC reads higher than WLTP for the same car. Second, the towing rating for your exact grade and how it changes with the battery state. Third, servicing: a plug-in still has an engine that needs oil changes, so compare the capped-price servicing totals as well as the warranty.
The safety picture: what ANCAP has and hasn't rated
Forty of the 62 rows hold five stars, with ratings from 2022 to 2026. The Haval H6, H6GT and Tank 300 were rated in 2022, which runs to the end of 2028 on our rows; the Sealion 5 and M9 Premium were rated in 2026 under the current rules, the Sealion 5 at three stars.
No ANCAP result on our rows: the BYD Sealion 8, M9 Dynamic, Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid, Jaecoo J8, the newer J7 SHS AWD, GAC M8, GWM Cannon Hi4-T, Haval H7 PHEV, Leapmotor C10 REEV, the B10 Hybrid EV and the Forthing Taikon 5.
Our take: between two otherwise equal cars, the more recent rating is a fair tiebreaker. Don't assume a plug-in shares its petrol or electric sibling's stars; ask whether the variant you're buying was covered.
What's coming for Chinese plug-in hybrids through 2027
Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its own Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means it's in Australian motoring media but not yet on the manufacturer's own pages. None of these is in the picks above.
| Coming | Type | Timing and price, as stated | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 2 DM-i | Small SUV | On sale per BYD; from $24,990 RRP | Confirmed (BYD Australia), our story |
| Geely Monjaro EM-i | Mid-size SUV | First half of 2027; no price | Confirmed (Geely Australia), our story |
| Geely Emgrand L EM-i | Sedan | First half of 2027; no price | Confirmed (Geely Australia), our story |
| Geely Battleship 700 | Off-roader | Second half of 2027; no price | Confirmed (Geely Australia), our story |
| Omoda 7 | Mid-size SUV; plug-in reported | First half of 2027; no price | Launch confirmed (Omoda Jaecoo Australia), our story |
| GWM Haval Jolion Max PHEV | SUV, about 100 km electric | January to March 2027; no price | Reported, our story |
| Freelander 8 | Large SUV | Second half of 2027 reported; no price | Reported, quoting Freelander Australia, our story |
| Wey G9 (GWM) | People mover | No price or date | Reported approved, our story |
Already here and new since the 2026 guide: the Seal 6 Touring, the Starray EM-i Extended Range, the BYD M9, Jaecoo's MY27 J7 SHS range (J7 story), the GWM Cannon Hi4-T and the Haval H7 PHEV. Further out, Avatr's T09 plug-in flagship is reported for 2028 (T09 story). For new brands, see our new Chinese brands guide.
What could change these picks
When the Atto 2 DM-i moves to on sale in our directory it would become the cheapest Chinese plug-in on a published RRP, though ANCAP's view of it matters before it can take a five-star pick. Geely's Monjaro price could reshuffle the SUV picks. ANCAP results for the Sealion 8, Tiggo 9 or J8 would change the seven-seat picks. GWM's campaign prices on the Tank 300 and Cannon Alpha may have moved since September, and the Haval H6 PHEV drive-away price on our row came from an offer that has ended. We'll update this guide when any of these happen, or when a price we quote changes.
Other Chinese plug-in hybrids on sale
Also in the set, from the variant linked: GWM Haval H6 PHEV, Haval H6GT PHEV, Haval H7 PHEV, Jaecoo J7 SHS, Omoda 9 SHS, Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid, GAC M8, Denza B5, Denza B8, Geely Starray EM-i AWD and Leapmotor B10 Hybrid EV.
How to choose a Chinese plug-in hybrid: six checks
- Be honest about charging. A plug-in you rarely charge is a heavy hybrid; check the battery-flat figure.
- Compare range on the same test. NEDC reads higher than WLTP.
- Check the ANCAP result for your exact variant. Several newer plug-ins hold none yet.
- Compare on one price basis. Get a drive-away quote in your postcode, and ask when any offer ends.
- Don't count on FBT savings. New plug-ins pay FBT on a novated lease.
- Drive the shortlist. The figures narrow it down; a test drive tells you how the engine and motor work together in traffic.
Keep reading
Head-to-heads: Shark 6 vs Hunter PHEV | Shark 6 vs Cannon Alpha | Sealion 6 vs Tiggo 7 | Sealion 6 vs Tiggo 8 | Sealion 5 vs Tiggo 7 | Sealion 8 vs Outlander PHEV | Seal 6 vs Camry
The brands: BYD | Chery | Geely | GWM | Jaecoo | Omoda | MG | Leapmotor | JAC | Denza | GAC
More guides: Best Chinese PHEVs (2026) | Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs (2027) | Best Chinese Cars (2027) | Best Chinese Electric Cars (2027) | Best Hybrid Cars (2027) | Best Plug-in Hybrid Utes
Compare what's on sale now
Head-to-heads with the cars this story is about and their closest rivals on sale now, plus the buying guides that cover them.
- BYD Shark 6 vs GWM Cannon Alpha
- BYD Sealion 6 vs Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid
- BYD Sealion 6 vs Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid
- BYD Sealion 6 vs Leapmotor C10
- Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid vs Leapmotor C10
- Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid vs BYD Sealion 5
- Leapmotor C10 vs Geely EX5
- Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid vs MG HS
Buying guides
- Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Australia 2027: One Winner Per Question
- Best Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Utes in Australia 2026: Cannon Alpha vs Shark 6 vs Ranger
- Best Chinese Electric Cars Australia 2027: Buy Now or Wait?
- Best Chinese PHEVs in Australia 2026
Or pick any two cars on our compare page, or browse the full car directory.
MORE:BYD Ti7 Seven-Seat Plug-In Hybrid Type-Approved for Australia, No Launch Date or Price Yet
MORE:Every New Car Coming to Australia in 2027 and Beyond, Brand by Brand
Shopping for a Chinese car now?
The facts, side by side. Your decision.
Disclaimer: Figures are from the manufacturers' Australian documents as held in the CarSorted directory on 13 November 2026, with prices on the basis stated beside them. Fuel estimates are our arithmetic on official figures with the battery flat, not your real-world use. Campaign prices change and have end dates. Tax rules are the ATO's as at November 2026. Timing for coming models is as the manufacturer or Australian media stated it, and can slip. ANCAP results are shown as our rows hold them, with their year. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. Confirm price and specification with the dealer before you buy.
