New $34,990 plug-in hybrid BYD Seal 6 looks to shake up the midsized passenger car market
Uber drivers, this could be the car you’ve been waiting for.
Called the BYD Seal 6, this plug-in hybrid sister car to the Seal dedicated EV will start from just $34,990 before on-road costs. Available in both sedan and wagon body styles, the Seal 6 will be ready to order this Thursday, 9th April.
This price point undercuts the hybrid Toyota Camry (from $39,990) and electric Tesla Model 3 ($54,900), while also dipping below PHEV SUV rivals such as the Geely Starray ($37,490) and Chery Tiggo 7 SHS ($37,990).
The Seal 6 will initially offer just two trim grades, each bringing a different body shape. The $34,990 base model Essential Sedan will be offered as a four-door only, while the $39,990 range-topping Premium grade will debut as a wagon.
Both versions are claimed to deliver more than 1000km (WLTC) of combined range on a single tank of fuel, through use of a ‘DM-i Super Hybrid’ system borrowed from the Sealion 5 and Sealion 6. The system comprises a high-voltage battery, an electric motor, and a non-turbo 1.5-litre petrol four.
Peak combined output is yet to be confirmed, though a figure close to 156kW/300Nm is expected, in line with the UK market specification.
The Seal 6 Essential Sedan will use a 10kWh BYD ‘Blade’ LFP battery, and claims 55km of EV-only driving range (WLTP). The Premium Touring will use a larger 19kWh unit, with claims of up to 100km of EV driving range.
Both variants are front-wheel drive, and should charge from 30-80 percent battery charge in around 23 minutes – around 30min in the more common 10-80 percent measure – peaking at 26kW DC. AC charging from 15-100 percent should take about three hours. V2L is also expected on both models, with an AC peak of 3.3kW.
External dimensions are yet to be confirmed locally. In the UK, the Seal 6 sedan measures 4840mm long, 1875mm wide, and 1495mm tall, while the wagon is slightly taller at 1505mm, or about the same size as the Skoda Superb. Both Seal 6’s share a wheelbase of 2790mm.
Inside both Seal 6 models will be an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, seven airbags, and a suite of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and more.
BYD claims its Seal 6 sedan will be driver focused, with a sleek body and low drag coefficient of Cd 0.255 (less than a McLaren Speedtail), while the Touring’s higher roofline and wagon body will focus on growing families, offering 670 litres of bootspace, which can expand to 1535 litres with the rear seats folded.
BYD Seal 6: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
Essential Sedan: $34,990
Premium Touring: $39,990
