Subaru Forester vs BYD Sealion 6

The Subaru Forester starts from $43,490 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 $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 $47,839 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 Forester, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Sealion 6 by roughly $10,130 in fuel alone.

Both the Subaru Forester and BYD Sealion 6 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Forester 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 4 in the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 9 in the Subaru Forester and 7 in the BYD Sealion 6.

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

The Subaru Forester features a 11.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-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.

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

The Subaru Forester uses a Petrol producing 136kW and 247Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11.2 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 136kW. 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 Subaru Forester measures 4,655mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 120mm 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 496L in the Subaru Forester and 400L in the BYD Sealion 6, giving the Subaru Forester a 96L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester 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 $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester and $226/year for the BYD Sealion 6. That is a $2,026 annual difference in favour of the BYD Sealion 6.

Estimated annual total: $2,252 (Subaru Forester) vs $226 (BYD Sealion 6). The BYD Sealion 6 saves you roughly $2,026 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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