BYD Sealion 6 vs Mazda CX-5

The BYD Sealion 6 starts from $42,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-5 opens at $39,990. That makes the Mazda CX-5 the more affordable entry point by $3,000.

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 $47,289 and $43,989 respectively.

The BYD Sealion 6 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Mazda CX-5, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $9,415 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The BYD Sealion 6 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-5 gets a 15.6-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Sealion 6 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto that you will not find on the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda CX-5 counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Sealion 6 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-5 offers cloth.

The BYD Sealion 6 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 160kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Mazda CX-5 responds with a Petrol making 132kW and 242Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 6 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 132kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 6 is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Sealion 6 measures 4,775mm long on a 2,765mm wheelbase, 85mm longer than the Mazda CX-5 at 4,690mm (2,815mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda CX-5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 425L in the BYD Sealion 6 and 438L in the Mazda CX-5, giving the Mazda CX-5 a 13L advantage.

For towing, the Mazda CX-5 leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $226/year for the BYD Sealion 6 and $2,109/year for the Mazda CX-5. That is a $1,883 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $226 (BYD Sealion 6) vs $2,109 (Mazda CX-5). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $1,883 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 6) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-5). The BYD Sealion 6 has longer coverage.