BYD launches fully electric version of best-selling Sealion 6 SUV plug-in hybrid

Last July, BYD began Australian deliveries of its Sealion 6 SUV with the PHEV tech it labelled as “super-hybrid”. It has since received over nine thousand orders and it is the brand’s best-selling passenger car in the country.

Now, a possible new fully electric version of the popular SUV has been sighted by the Autohome website in China, with a launch date rumoured next month for the company’s home market. 

This report was shared by cnevpost, hinting at potential PHEV and EV models in the upcoming Sealion 6 lineup.

This new model is expected to feature BYD’s latest PHEV technology, as well as the EV variant, which will come with the e-Platform 3.0 Evo architecture.

PHEV variants of the Sealion 6 will come with a 160 kW motor that can be charged by a 1.5-litre engine that will deliver up to 74 kW. That’s according to the specifications shared by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) back in April.

These appear to be the same powertrain figures as those found on the Sealion 6 PHEV SUV offered in Australia.

For the EV model, the 4.8-metre SUV is available in single and dual-motor variants, with the single motor offering a power output of 170 kW or 180 kW, while the dual-motor variant’s combined output is bumped up to 290 kW.

This, for comparison, is lower than the dual-motor powertrain offered on BYD’s locally best-selling electric SUV, the Sealion 7, which in the Performance trim delivers 390 kW.

On the styling front, the upcoming Sealion 6 features sleeker front headlights as well as flush door handles that are more flush with the doors themselves compared to the current model, which are more traditional. This should help improve the car’s aerodynamics and efficiency.

Another key change in the exterior styling is the inclusion of side repeater cameras, which are likely to be for BYD’s “God’s Eye” smart driving tech, which it has started offering in the Chinese market since launching it earlier this year.

That would make it quite appealing, particularly for family car buyers who do regular highway driving.

There are also new wheel options for the upcoming Sealion 6, which some buyers may find attractive.

Pricing of the new Sealion 6 is expected to start at under $A23,000 for the entry-level PHEV variant and range up to $A51,400 for the dual-motor EV version. For comparison, the top PHEV version of the Sealion 6 in Australia is currently priced at $52,990 before on-road costs.

At this stage, this model is only expected to be available in China. Having said that, given the popularity of mid-sized SUVs in Australia and BYD’s track record with the Sealion 6 locally, it’s worth keeping an eye on.