Renault Arkana vs BYD Sealion 6

The Renault Arkana starts from $39,990 before on-road costs, while the BYD Sealion 6 opens at $42,990. That makes the Renault Arkana 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 $43,989 and $47,289 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 Renault Arkana, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $7,275 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 Renault Arkana features a 9.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-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 Renault Arkana stands out with wireless charging, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BYD Sealion 6. The BYD Sealion 6 counters with panoramic roof and V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Renault Arkana uses a Petrol producing 116kW and 270Nm of torque, sent through a dual-clutch automatic transmission to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 seconds.

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 116kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 6 is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Renault Arkana measures 4,568mm long on a 2,720mm wheelbase, 207mm 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 485L in the Renault Arkana and 425L in the BYD Sealion 6, giving the Renault Arkana a 60L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Sealion 6 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 900kg. That 600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,682/year for the Renault Arkana and $227/year for the BYD Sealion 6. That is a $1,455 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $1,682 (Renault Arkana) vs $227 (BYD Sealion 6). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $1,455 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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