As BYD’s first entrant to SA’s midsize SUV segment, the Sealion 6 may be swimming against the tide, but it’s certainly not sinking
What are we driving?
The Sealion 6 is BYD’s first entrant to the incredibly popular and hotly contested midsize SUV segment. This newcomer utilises a FWD hybrid powertrain and comes in, generously specced, at a competitive price. It will have to work hard to impress in a market segment where established players (Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia etc.) are already locked in a hard-fought battle for market share with relative – albeit still better-established – such as Haval, GWM, Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour.
Why is the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic significant?
Of the numerous Chinese automotive manufacturers to recently set up shop in South Africa, none has created quite the groundswell of attention BYD has. This firm has surpassed Tesla to become the largest EV producer globally and produced 4.3 million vehicles in 2024 alone…all from a company that’s just 20 years old. And while the company’s sales figures and dealership expansion here (currently sitting at 13 sites with a projected 35 by the end of 2026) are modest when compared to other Chinese automakers here in SA, its focus on NEVs (New Energy Vehicles) rather than the affordable four-cylinder petrol models and the occasional hybrid offered by its rivals is part of a more measured approach that anticipates a more EV-reliant motoring future. While BYD has the resources to sustain itself over the inevitable period of market familiarisation required for any Chinese firm to succeed here, it’s nonetheless a brave gamble in the face of other Chinese marques that have gone full-bore into the SA motoring sphere with high volumes of affordable ICE products being sold via swiftly growing dealer networks. To take such an approach, products like the Sealion 6 must be more than just keenly priced and pretty to look at – they need to be genuinely good.
Inside and out of the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic
Make what you will of the somewhat odd sea-dwelling flavour of BYD’s Ocean Series naming convention (the local contingent comprising the Dolphin EV hatchback, Shark hybrid pick-up and Seal EV sedan) but the Sealion is a neat, if not exactly groundbreaking, addition to the local midsize SUV landscape. Size-wise, it’s marginally longer and wider than the likes of the Sportage, Tiguan and RAV4, and its 2 756 mm wheelbase is around 100 mm up on those of its rivals. Although, this translates into spacious rear quarters, with a sprawl-worthy 645 mm of kneeroom, the location of the EV charging inlet at the rear eats into the boot, which measures a miserly 232 litres. This thankfully expands to a much more useful 960 litres with the rear seatbacks stowed. Up front, the rotating action of the infotainment system’s 15.6-inch touchscreen is a touch gimmicky and having to toggle between smartphone and vehicle interfaces to adjust the climate control is rather fiddly, but the interface is clean and navigable, and the processor quick. The cabin’s perceived quality is impressive – the wealth of stitched, padded, and thick-gauge plastic trims feeling substantial and creak-free – and touches such as the saddle-tan seats and subtle brushed chrome accents do a good job of lifting the ambiance.
What does the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic cost?
The BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic is the mid-tier offering in the range, bookended by the R639 900 Comfort model and the range-topping AWD Premium, which costs R789 900. In terms of standard specification, this model wants for little. Among the highlights are full ADAS (adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, collision braking, cross-traffic assist and blind-spot monitoring), 360-degree parking cameras, electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, adaptive lights and auto wipers, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate and wireless phone charging pads. The purchase price also includes a warranty and maintenance plan, both spanning 5 years/100 000 km.
What are the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic’s rivals?
In terms of direct rivals, the Jaecoo J7 SHS springs to mind. Costing the same as the Sealion 6, it has a lot more power and a marginally longer all-electric range, but its performance figures are on par with the BYD’s It has a shorter service plan (5 years/75 000 km) and the boot is rather small. The Toyota RAV4 2.5 GX-R E-Four isn’t a PHEV, but it brings all-wheel drive to the party, along with Toyota’s strong nameplate in a solid and practical package. It will be replaced by an all-new model in the first half of 2026. In terms of ICE opponents, mid- to upper-range versions of the Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and Hyundai Tucson are similarly priced.
What is the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic like to drive?
Whereas most PHEVs utilise a combustion engine as the primary means of propulsion (the electric motor chipping in at low-speeds or under heavy throttle loads) in the Sealion, it’s the electric motor that does a good deal of the heavy lifting, while the 1.5-litre petrol engine acts as a generator to feed the 18.3 kWh lithium-ion battery and lend a bit of propulsive assistance. The plentiful low-end torque from that electric assistance, along with its associated single-speed transmission, neatly circumvents the throttle and transmission calibration issues we’ve sometimes encountered in Chinese cars, meaning progress is smooth and linear. The lithium-ion battery pack can accept a DC charge of up to 18 kW, meaning a 0-100% quick-charging time of about an hour, and around eight hours from a 7 kW domestic AC outlet. We managed to post an average fuel consumption figure of 5.8 L/100 km against BYD’s 4.8 L/100 km claim. This equates to an operating range of 1 034 km overall, with an electric-only range of 80 km. At 1 973 kg, the Sealion is no lightweight but with its battery pack sited in the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. Combine this with an absorbent suspension setup, and the Sealion not only rides comfortably but also feels reasonably nimble. The only black mark against this car’s dynamics is a rather artificial-feeling power steering system that, although weighty on turn-in, feels a bit numb around dead-centre.
Verdict
The Sealion 6 is a genuinely impressive first SA-market SUV outing for BYD. The powertrain is smooth, serves up respectable performance and impressive fuel economy. The overall package feels solidly constructed, its road manners are well-balanced and there’s no arguing the value-for-money aspect when looking at the generous specification on offer. Being an NEV, it will be a tougher sell, but those willing to get behind the wheel will no doubt walk away impressed.
BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic specifications
- Price: R689 900
- Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol + electric motor
- Transmission: single-speed automatic
- Power: 160 kW
- Torque: 300 N.m
- Driven wheels: front
- 0-100 km/h: 8.33 seconds*
- Top speed: 170 km/h
- Fuel consumption: 5.80 L/100 km*
* tested
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