BYD Sealion 6 Review (2026): The Value Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Before the cheaper Sealion 5 arrived, the BYD Sealion 6 was the car that proved a plug-in hybrid family SUV did not have to cost a fortune. It remains the value benchmark of the class: a roomy five-seat SUV that can run the daily commute on electricity, then switch to petrol for the long trips, from $42,990.

How much is it?

The powertrain

The Sealion 6 pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and an LFP battery. The Essential and Dynamic are front-drive; the Dynamic Extended adds the bigger 26.6kWh battery for a class-leading ~140km of NEDC electric range. The Premium steps up to all-wheel drive and 253kW for genuinely brisk performance. Charge it at home and you can do most daily driving on electricity, the whole point of a plug-in hybrid.

Inside and practical

The cabin is roomy and well equipped for the money, with the familiar BYD rotating touchscreen, synthetic leather and a 400-litre boot. It is comfortable family transport, if not the last word in cargo space, the boot trails some petrol rivals because of the battery packaging.

How it drives

Smooth and quiet in electric mode, with relaxed performance in the front-drive grades and real urgency in the AWD Premium. Like most BYDs, the focus is comfort over involvement, and the driver-assist calibration can be a little eager, though it is improving with updates.

Safety and ownership

Five-star ANCAP, a full driver-assist suite, a six-year vehicle warranty and an eight-year battery warranty, plus BYD's large dealer network. As with all plug-in hybrids, the running-cost savings depend on charging at home; leave the battery flat and the petrol engine does the work.

The verdict

The BYD Sealion 6 is the value pick among plug-in hybrid family SUVs: cheap to buy, cheap to run if you plug it in, well equipped and five-star safe, with class-leading EV range in Extended form. The modest boot and eager safety tech are the main niggles. If you want electric commuting without EV money or range anxiety, it belongs at the top of your list, see how the Chinese PHEVs stack up in our cheapest PHEVs guide, or the Sealion 6 vs Outlander PHEV comparison.