BYD M9 vs Volkswagen Crafter
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular People Movers compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
BYD M9
From $72,990
People Mover
Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Motor
218kW
—
ANCAP: no data
470L
Volkswagen Crafter
From $70,990
People Mover
Diesel
Diesel I4 Bi-Turbo TDI
130kW
8.5 L/100km
ANCAP: no data
2530L
BYD M9: we're still completing height, turning circle and fuel consumption.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the BYD M9 & Volkswagen Crafter
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Price Breakdown
The BYD M9 starts from $72,990 before on-road costs, while the Volkswagen Crafter opens at $70,990. That makes the Volkswagen Crafter the more affordable entry point by $2,000.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $80,289 and $78,089 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD M9 by roughly $10,365 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
36.6kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 73kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7kW AC, 73kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BYD M9 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Crafter gets a 10.4-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD M9 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate, V2L and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Crafter. The Volkswagen Crafter counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BYD M9 gets genuine leather upholstery while the Volkswagen Crafter offers cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the BYD M9 and 1-zone in the Volkswagen Crafter.
Drivetrain
The BYD M9 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 218kW and 315Nm of torque, sent through a 1 spd auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Volkswagen Crafter responds with a Diesel I4 Bi-Turbo TDI making 130kW and 410Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic w/ torque converter driving the front wheels.
The BYD M9 has the clear power advantage at 218kW vs 130kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BYD M9 measures 5,145mm long on a 3,045mm wheelbase, 841mm shorter than the Volkswagen Crafter at 5,986mm (3,640mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Crafter generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 470L in the BYD M9 and 2530L in the Volkswagen Crafter, giving the Volkswagen Crafter a 2060L advantage. The Volkswagen Crafter seats 12 vs 7.
For towing, the Volkswagen Crafter leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
14.0m diameter
Large
Based on 14.0m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Large
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 12.1 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
2.0 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $350/year for the BYD M9 and $2,423/year for the Volkswagen Crafter. That is a $2,073 annual difference in favour of the BYD M9.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD M9) vs 5 years (Volkswagen Crafter). The BYD M9 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the BYD M9 if: You prioritise performance, want lower running costs, value a longer warranty, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Volkswagen Crafter if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, need stronger towing, or prefer Volkswagen's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
This is genuinely close. The BYD M9 and Volkswagen Crafter trade blows across the spec sheet, and neither runs away with an outright win. The BYD M9 will save you roughly $2,073 a year in fuel. If boot space matters, the Volkswagen Crafter has a clear edge. The BYD M9 adds peace of mind with a longer 6-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD M9 and Volkswagen Crafter?
The Volkswagen Crafter is the cheapest at $70,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD M9 by $2,000.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Volkswagen Crafter uses the least fuel at 8.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
None of BYD M9 and Volkswagen Crafter carry a published ANCAP rating yet, so there is no crash result to compare. Check back as they are tested.
Which has the most boot space?
The Volkswagen Crafter has the largest boot at 2530L.
Which can tow the most?
The Volkswagen Crafter has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,500kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD M9 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150k km.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD M9 makes the most power at 218kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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