Renault Symbioz vs BYD Sealion 6

The Renault Symbioz starts from $44,990 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 $2,000.

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 $49,489 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 Symbioz, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $6,290 in fuel alone.

Both the Renault Symbioz and BYD Sealion 6 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BYD Sealion 6 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 3 in the Renault Symbioz.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control.

The Renault Symbioz features a 10.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the BYD Sealion 6 gets a 12.8-inch display.

The Renault Symbioz uses a Inline 4 producing 70kW and 149Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.6 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 7.9 seconds.

The BYD Sealion 6 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 70kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 6 is 2.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Renault Symbioz measures 4,413mm long on a 2,638mm wheelbase, 362mm 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 434L in the Renault Symbioz and 400L in the BYD Sealion 6, giving the Renault Symbioz a 34L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Sealion 6 leads with a 1,000kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,311/year for the Renault Symbioz and $53/year for the BYD Sealion 6. That is a $1,258 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $1,311 (Renault Symbioz) vs $53 (BYD Sealion 6). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $1,258 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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