The 2024 BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) medium SUV has earned a prestigious five-star safety rating from ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) under its stringent 2023-2025 testing standards.
This marks another safety milestone for BYD, following in the footsteps of its high-scoring stablemates, the Atto 3 SUV, Dolphin hatchback and Seal sedan.
ANCAP's rigorous testing process
The five-star rating for the BYD Sealion 6 is derived from test data provided by Euro NCAP for the all-electric Seal U, which is sold in European markets.
ANCAP additionally commissioned frontal-offset and oblique pole crash tests on the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid to validate the SUV's safety profile, ensuring it meets the specific requirements of the Australasian market.
In these assessments, the BYD Sealion 6 displayed exemplary performance, particularly in the frontal offset test, where it secured full marks for protecting critical areas of the body. The only exception was the driver’s lower legs, which were rated as 'adequate'.
Moreover, the driver's chest in full-width frontal and oblique pole tests also received an 'adequate' score, with other areas offering 'good' protection to occupants.
The Sealion 6 also impressed in its suite of autonomous safety technologies.
The SUV's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was rated 'good' for detecting vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. This advanced safety feature bolsters the vehicle's credentials for both urban and rural driving conditions.
However, not every system hit the mark. The reverse AEB system was rated 'marginal', and the side exit assist feature, designed to prevent accidents by alerting occupants about vulnerable road users, failed to react promptly enough to meet ANCAP’s standards.
Despite this, BYD remains committed to offering cutting-edge safety across its lineup.
The BYD Sealion 6’s overall scores reflect its robust safety framework, achieving:
- 88% for adult occupant protection,
- 86% for child occupant protection,
- 83% for vulnerable road user protection, and
- 75% for safety assistance features.
These results comfortably exceed the minimum thresholds required for a five-star rating under ANCAP's latest criteria. To qualify, vehicles must score at least 80% in both adult and child occupant protection, 70% for vulnerable road users and 70% in safety assist.
"The BYD stable continues to offer high levels of safety to its customers, with the Sealion 6 now joining the Dolphin, Seal and Atto 3 as five-star vehicles," commented ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.
With prices starting from $57,990 (before on-road costs) for the Dynamic variant, the BYD Sealion 6 is not only an appealing option for safety-conscious buyers but also offers competitive value in the plug-in hybrid SUV market.
