Subaru Crosstrek vs BYD Sealion 6

The Subaru Crosstrek starts from $36,490 before on-road costs, while the BYD Sealion 6 opens at $42,990. That makes the Subaru Crosstrek the more affordable entry point by $6,500.

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 $40,139 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 Subaru Crosstrek, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $10,710 in fuel alone.

Both the Subaru Crosstrek and BYD Sealion 6 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Crosstrek and 89% for the BYD Sealion 6.

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 5 in the Subaru Crosstrek.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Subaru Crosstrek and 7 in the BYD Sealion 6.

The Subaru Crosstrek features a 11.6-inch touchscreen, while the BYD Sealion 6 gets a 12.8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru Crosstrek stands out with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate that you will not find on the BYD Sealion 6. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Subaru Crosstrek uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 196Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 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 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Sealion 6 is 2.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Subaru Crosstrek measures 4,495mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 280mm 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 559L in the Subaru Crosstrek and 400L in the BYD Sealion 6, giving the Subaru Crosstrek a 159L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Crosstrek leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,195/year for the Subaru Crosstrek and $53/year for the BYD Sealion 6. That is a $2,142 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $2,195 (Subaru Crosstrek) vs $53 (BYD Sealion 6). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $2,142 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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