BYD Seal 6 vs Kia Seltos
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
BYD Seal 6 scores higher, 81 vs 68
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Oct 2026, price 4 Oct 2026
BYD Seal 6
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 15 no dataFrom
$34,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol Turbo PHEV
- Power
- 130kW
- Economy
- 3.6 L/100km as a hybrid
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 491L
Top CarSorted Score, 81 vs 68, but the Kia Seltos is $3,740 cheaper
BYD Australia offer: cashback, $4,000 toward your deposit, ends 21 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Kia Seltos
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 not offered · 8 no dataFrom
$31,250
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 110kW
- Economy
- 6.9 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 468L
Run-out stock: confirm with a dealer
Car loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 21 Dec 2026
Offer from BYD Australia, checked 5 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
$34,990RRP
- no option data for this car
$31,250RRP
- cannot be matched: Adaptive Cruise Control not offered
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
A plug-in hybrid is compared on its fuel use as a hybrid (battery depleted), the figure that is like for like with the other car; its certified combined figure, which assumes every trip starts with a full battery, is printed under it. Electric range is how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Price and cost per week
BYD Seal 6 Essential Sedan
$34,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $139 a week in repayments ($34,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Kia Seltos S
$31,250
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 8 Sept 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $121 a week in repayments ($31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia Seltos starts $3,740 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Run-out stock (Kia Seltos). Remaining new stock of an outgoing model. Confirm availability with the dealer.
Finance
From ≈$121/wk(≈$526/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Seltos at $31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; 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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD Seal 6Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Kia Seltos a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 6 of 10 key systems on the BYD Seal 6 and 5 on the Kia Seltos.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BYD Seal 6
None open on our record
Kia Seltos
- REC-006395 · published 30 Jul 2025The piston rings fitted to the engines of certain vehicles may not meet manufacturing specifications, and could cause engine failure and vehicle stalling.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-005962 · published 20 May 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the side curtain airbag may inflate without warning.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005699 · published 15 Jun 2023Due to a software issue, the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning as required by the Australian Design Rules (ADR) 04/06.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- 2 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
10.1kWh usableEstimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Seal 6 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 8.8-inch digital dash, while the Kia Seltos gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD Seal 6 stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Kia Seltos. The Kia Seltos counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Seal 6 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia Seltos offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BYD Seal 6 uses a Petrol Turbo PHEV producing 130kW and 210Nm of torque, sent through a 1-speed auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds.
The Kia Seltos responds with a Petrol making 110kW and 180Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.2 seconds.
The BYD Seal 6 has the clear power advantage at 130kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BYD Seal 6 is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BYD Seal 6 measures 4,840mm long on a 2,790mm wheelbase, 455mm longer than the Kia Seltos at 4,385mm (2,630mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Seal 6 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 491L in the BYD Seal 6 and 468L in the Kia Seltos, giving the BYD Seal 6 a 23L advantage.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Kia Seltos's turning circle is 0.4 m tighter, 10.6 m against 11.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BYD Seal 6 costs about $1,026 a year (3.6 L/100km as a hybrid) and fuel for the Kia Seltos about $1,967 a year (6.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $941 a year less for the BYD Seal 6. A plug-in hybrid is costed running as a hybrid (battery depleted); charged daily, it uses less fuel and some electricity.
Warranty: 6 years / 150k km (BYD Seal 6) and 7 years / Unlimited (Kia Seltos).
Where each one leads
The BYD Seal 6: more power (130kW against 110kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (491L against 468L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,026 a year against $1,967).
The Kia Seltos: the lower starting price ($31,250 against $34,990) and the longer warranty (7 years against 6).
The Verdict
BYD Seal 6 scores higher, 81 vs 68
The BYD Seal 6 scores 81 to the Kia Seltos's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 4 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: technology (BYD Seal 6 ahead by 35 points), fuel economy (BYD Seal 6 ahead by 26 points), safety (BYD Seal 6 ahead by 25 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BYD Seal 6 costs about $941 less (3.6 L/100km as a hybrid against 6.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Warranty: 6 years on the BYD Seal 6, 7 on the Kia Seltos.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Run-out stock (Kia Seltos). Remaining new stock of an outgoing model. Confirm availability with the dealer.
Finance
From ≈$121/wk(≈$526/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Seltos at $31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; 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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD Seal 6Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Seal 6 and Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is the cheapest at $31,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD Seal 6 by $3,740.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The BYD Seal 6 uses the least fuel at 3.6L/100km running as a hybrid (battery depleted).
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BYD Seal 6 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Kia Seltos, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BYD Seal 6 has the largest boot at 491L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Kia Seltos has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,100kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Seltos has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD Seal 6 makes the most power at 130kW. The BYD Seal 6 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.9s.
Track the BYD Seal 6 & Kia Seltos
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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