Nissan Qashqai vs BYD Sealion 6

The Nissan Qashqai starts from $45,640 before on-road costs, while the BYD Sealion 6 opens at $42,990. That makes the BYD Sealion 6 the more affordable entry point by $2,650.

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 $50,204 and $47,289 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $4,710 in fuel alone.

The BYD Sealion 6 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Nissan Qashqai. Adult occupant protection scored 78% for the Nissan Qashqai and 88% for the BYD Sealion 6.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Nissan Qashqai, against 6 on the BYD Sealion 6.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control. The Nissan Qashqai adds a 360-degree camera that the BYD Sealion 6 misses.

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

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

The BYD Sealion 6 counters with panoramic roof and V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Nissan Qashqai gets cloth upholstery while the BYD Sealion 6 offers synthetic leather.

The Nissan Qashqai lines up producing 140kW and 311Nm of torque, sent through a reduction drive (automatic) to a FWD layout.

The BYD Sealion 6 responds with a Plug-in Hybrid making 160kW and 300Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 6 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 140kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Nissan Qashqai measures 4,425mm long on a 2,665mm wheelbase, 350mm shorter than the BYD Sealion 6 at 4,775mm (2,765mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Sealion 6 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 404L in the Nissan Qashqai and 425L in the BYD Sealion 6, giving the BYD Sealion 6 a 21L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Sealion 6 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 750kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,169/year for the Nissan Qashqai and $227/year for the BYD Sealion 6. That is a $942 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Nissan Qashqai) vs 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Sealion 6). The BYD Sealion 6 has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Nissan Qashqai)—.