BYD Seal 6: Australia's Cheapest PHEV Sedan and Wagon From $34,990

Image credit: BYD Australia

BYD keeps pushing the price bar lower. The Seal 6 is now available to order as either a sedan or a wagon, and at $34,990 before on-roads for the sedan, it's the cheapest plug-in hybrid you can buy in Australia. The Touring wagon at $39,990 is the cheapest wagon of any type on sale here. Both undercut the Toyota Camry Hybrid by $5,000, and they can actually drive on electricity alone, something the Camry can't do.

Pricing

Two Powertrains, Same Platform

Both variants run BYD's DM 5.0 Super Hybrid system with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle petrol engine (46% thermal efficiency) paired with an electric motor and an LFP Blade Battery. The system can run on electricity alone, petrol alone, or both together depending on the situation.

The sedan's 55km of electric range covers most daily commutes. The Touring's 100km means you could realistically go a full week of city driving on a single charge. Both have a 65-litre fuel tank for when you need to go further. For a deeper look at hybrid vs EV savings, check our EV vs Hybrid cost comparison.

Interior and Equipment

Image credit: BYD Australia

The sedan comes well-equipped for the price. Standard kit includes a 12.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, 6-way power driver's seat, 4-way power passenger seat, proximity entry, NFC card key, and V2L. It rides on 17-inch alloys.

The Touring adds 18-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, driver's memory seat, 8-speaker audio (vs 6), wireless phone charging, multi-colour ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding mirrors. The screen also grows to a 12.8-inch unit, same as the sedan.

Practicality

The sedan has a 491-litre boot, expanding to 1,650 litres with rear seats folded. The Touring wagon is the more practical choice with 670 litres behind the rear seats, growing to 1,535 litres flat. Both have 60:40 split-folding rear seats. The Touring also adds roof rails and a powered tailgate.

At 4,840mm long on a 2,790mm wheelbase, both are mid-size cars with decent rear legroom. The Touring is 10mm taller than the sedan (1,505mm vs 1,495mm).

Safety

The Seal 6 has not yet been assessed by ANCAP. Standard safety equipment across both variants includes AEB, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, emergency lane-keep assist, child presence detection, driver attention monitoring, intelligent speed assist, rear cross-traffic assist, safe exit warning, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, TPMS, and front/front-side/curtain/far-side airbags.

The Touring adds a surround-view camera and front parking sensors.

How It Compares

The Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $39,990, which is $5,000 more than the Seal 6 sedan. The Camry is a conventional hybrid that can't drive on electricity alone for any meaningful distance. The Seal 6 can do 55 to 100km on battery before the engine starts. Toyota wins on brand confidence and resale. BYD wins on price and plug-in capability.

Warranty and Servicing

BYD backs the Seal 6 with a 6-year/150,000km warranty and an 8-year/160,000km battery warranty. Service schedule details haven't been released yet. For how that stacks up, see our warranty comparison.

Our Take

The Seal 6 is a genuine value play. A plug-in hybrid sedan for $34,990 that can cover most daily commutes on electricity alone, with a 65-litre tank for longer trips. The Touring at $39,990 is even more compelling with 100km of electric range, a panoramic roof, heated/ventilated seats, and 670 litres of boot space.

The lack of an ANCAP rating is the one gap. But BYD's other models have all scored 5 stars, so we'd expect the same here. If you're cross-shopping mid-size sedans or wagons, the Seal 6 just made the decision a lot more interesting.

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