BYD Sealion 6 vs Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Both are plug-in hybrid family SUVs, but they sell on opposite strengths: the BYD Sealion 6 on value and electric range, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on all-wheel drive, seven-seat availability and a long track record.

Both carry a five-star ANCAP rating with comprehensive active safety. The Outlander is the longer-established, well-proven design; the Sealion 6 matches the five-star headline but its driver-assist calibration can be a touch eager. Both are safe family choices.

The Sealion 6 throws in more standard equipment for the money, BYD's rotating touchscreen, synthetic leather and a generous kit list even on lower grades. The Outlander feels the more conventionally finished and better integrated, and steps up to genuinely plush in the higher Exceed grades. Value tips to the BYD; polish and breadth of range to the Mitsubishi.

The decisive number is electric range. The Sealion 6 Dynamic Extended claims around 140km on its 26.6kWh battery, well clear of the Outlander's 84km from 20kWh, so it covers more of your driving on electricity. The Outlander hits back with standard all-wheel drive (the Sealion 6 is front-drive until you reach the dearer Premium) and double the towing at 2,000kg. Both are smooth and quiet in EV mode; both get thirstier on the highway with the battery flat.

The Outlander is the more practical body: a slightly bigger 478-litre boot and, crucially, the option of a third row for occasional seven-seat duty, something the five-seat-only Sealion 6 cannot match. If you need to carry more people or gear, the Mitsubishi is the pick; if five seats are plenty, the BYD's value and range win.

The Outlander's trump card is ownership confidence: a class-leading 10-year warranty (conditional on servicing within the Mitsubishi network), a proven reliability record and the stronger resale of an established nameplate. The Sealion 6 counters with a six-year vehicle and eight-year battery warranty and a much lower purchase price. Over a long ownership period the Outlander's warranty and resale narrow the gap; over a shorter one the BYD's lower price and running costs lead.