Mazda CX-5 vs BYD Sealion 6: Petrol AWD SUV or Plug-in Hybrid SUV
The BYD Sealion 6 costs more up front and uses far less fuel on paper, while the Mazda CX-5 is cheaper to buy, has AWD and tows more.
By Uzzi · 14 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$39,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$39,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
$42,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$42,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
Who the Mazda CX-5 suits
The CX-5 suits buyers who want a simpler petrol SUV with AWD and no need to plug in. It's the cheaper of the two at $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), it tows more at 1,800kg braked, and it sits higher with 205mm of ground clearance.
Who the BYD Sealion 6 suits
The Sealion 6 suits buyers who can charge at home and want to cut fuel use. It's a plug-in hybrid with an 18.3kWh battery and a combined fuel figure of 1.1L/100km. It also has more power at 160kW and the longer warranty in years.
What decides it
1. Fuel use
The CX-5 is rated at 7.4L/100km combined on petrol. The Sealion 6 is rated at 1.1L/100km, about 6.3L/100km less on paper. That Sealion 6 figure is a combined test number for a plug-in hybrid, so what you actually use will depend a lot on how often you charge it.
2. Price
The CX-5 is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Sealion 6 is $42,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). That makes the Mazda about $3,000 cheaper before on-road costs. We have no drive-away figures for either car.
3. Towing and ground clearance
The CX-5 is rated to tow 1,800kg braked, against 1,500kg for the Sealion 6, a gap of 300kg. Both are rated at 750kg unbraked. The CX-5 also has 205mm of ground clearance and AWD, where the Sealion 6 has 140mm and FWD.
Running costs
On paper the Sealion 6 uses much less fuel, at 1.1L/100km against 7.4L/100km for the CX-5, and its battery takes max DC charging of 18kW. We have no electric range figure for the Sealion 6. Both have a service interval of 12 months, but we have no capped servicing prices for either. The CX-5 comes with a 5-year, unlimited km warranty and the Sealion 6 a 6-year, 150,000km warranty, and the running-cost chart below lets you compare the two over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,868
per year to run
$69,331
total 5yr cost
$0.89
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,868/year to run, or $29,340 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,243
per year to run
$64,206
total 5yr cost
$0.82
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,243/year to run, or $21,215 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
Both have 5 seats. The CX-5 has the bigger boot at 466L with the seats up, about 41L more than the Sealion 6's 425L, and 1,594L folded against 1,440L. The Sealion 6 is the longer car at 4,775mm versus 4,690mm, and has a turning circle of 11.0m against 11.2m.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (36% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Mazda doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 466 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ PHEV: the rated tow capacity is legal, but once the battery is depleted it tows on the petrol engine alone — expect noticeably lower speed on highway climbs and much higher fuel use (real-world tests hit ~30 L/100km near capacity on a flat battery). Keep some charge in reserve for hills.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (39% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
BYD doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 425 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
The CX-5 has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Sealion 6 has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2023.
The figures side by side
| Mazda CX-5 | BYD Sealion 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $42,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Powertrain | ICE | PHEV |
| Fuel | Petrol | Plug-in Hybrid |
| Drive | AWD | FWD |
| Transmission | Automatic | Auto |
| Power | 132kW | 160kW |
| Combined system power | No data | 160kW |
| Torque | 242Nm | 300Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 8.7 seconds | 8.5 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 7.4L/100km | 1.1L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 58L | 60L |
| Battery | No data | 18.3kWh |
| Max DC charging | No data | 18kW |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 466L | 425L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,594L | 1,440L |
| Length | 4,690mm | 4,775mm |
| Width | 1,860mm | 1,890mm |
| Height | 1,695mm | 1,670mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815mm | 2,765mm |
| Ground clearance | 205mm | 140mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2m | 11.0m |
| Kerb weight | 1,720kg | 1,940kg |
| Towing (braked) | 1,800kg | 1,500kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 750kg |
| Payload | 517kg | No data |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2025) | 5-star (2023) |
| Warranty | 5-year | 6-year |
| Warranty distance | unlimited km | 150,000km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
If you can charge at home and want to cut fuel use, the Sealion 6 makes the case, but the CX-5 is cheaper, tows more and has AWD.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 if
You want the lower price, AWD, more towing capacity and the bigger boot, and you'd rather not plug in.
Pick the BYD Sealion 6 if
You can charge regularly, want the much lower combined fuel figure and more power, and don't need to tow more than 1,500kg.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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Ask about these two cars
- Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD
- BYD Sealion 6 Essential
Tap a question or ask your own.Tap a question or ask your own. The answer starts from the cars in this comparison, with links to the rows behind them.
Questions buyers ask
Is the BYD Sealion 6 more expensive than the Mazda CX-5?
Yes. The Sealion 6 Essential is $42,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the CX-5 G25 Pure AWD is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), a gap of about $3,000. We have no drive-away prices for either.
Does the Sealion 6 use less fuel than the CX-5?
On the combined figures, the Sealion 6 is rated at 1.1L/100km and the CX-5 at 7.4L/100km. Real fuel use in the Sealion 6 will depend on how often you charge it.
Which has the bigger boot, the CX-5 or the Sealion 6?
The CX-5 has 466L with the seats up and 1,594L folded. The Sealion 6 has 425L and 1,440L.
Can the BYD Sealion 6 tow as much as the Mazda CX-5?
No. The Sealion 6 is rated at 1,500kg braked and the CX-5 at 1,800kg. Both are rated at 750kg unbraked.
What ANCAP ratings do the CX-5 and Sealion 6 have?
The CX-5 has a 5-star rating from 2025. The Sealion 6 has a 5-star rating from 2023.
More on these cars
- 2026 Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD: full specs and priceEvery Mazda CX-5 gradeAll Mazda models
- 2026 BYD Sealion 6 Essential: full specs and priceEvery BYD Sealion 6 gradeAll BYD models
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