The Sealion 6 made a massive impression when it dropped in the middle of 2024, being the first of the so-called “super hybrids” to land here, offering big EV range mixed with a petrol combustion engine that could extend that range up to 1000km in total. In fact, it made enough of an impression on us here at DRIVEN for us to give it the nod as our Car of the Year that same year.
Click here to read our full review of the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic.
Now, in the face of cheaper full EVs and an onslaught of other super hybrids from Chinese manufacturers that sell for under $50,000, BYD has lowered the price of entry into a Sealion 6 by adding an Essential 2WD entry level model.
The Essential drops things like the Infinity audio system, a 360 degree camera, heads up display, an electric tailgate, auto dimming interior mirror, heated and ventilated seats and RGB interior mood lighting from the list of standard equipment, while also downsizing the central rotating touchscreen (it drops to 12.8-inches compared to the 15.6-inch one found in other Sealion 6s) in order to shave $4K off the price of the Dynamic model and open the Sealion 6 range at just $52,990.
While the Essential does miss out on quite a bit of kit from the Dynamic's feature list it still has more than enough to be considered ‘’generous’, particularly for the money asked, and is certainly not a stripped out entry model.
The interior is made from high quality materials, all of which feels pleasant and even luxurious to the touch, while the level of tech is up there with the Dynamic, with all the same driver assists and safety features.
Like the Dynamic, the Essential uses BYD's 72kW/122Nm 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine paired with a 145kW electric motor and an 18.3kWh Blade battery to produce a combined system output of 160kW and 300Nm.
The Sealion 6 presents an utterly seamless driving experience, with that EV-like smoothness that super hybrids are so good at thanks to the fact that the petrol engine primarily acts as a generator to charge the battery, as opposed to driving the wheels directly.
This is largely its biggest point of difference from other super hybrid SUVs from China, as most of the direct competition still have a distinct delineation between pure electric drive and ICE-assistance in terms of refinement. While most are very smooth and subtle (but not all), the BYD is almost imperceptible adding to the overall EV-like feel.
While the Sealion 6 shares its name and a bit of styling with the all-electric Sealion 7, they share little else under the skin or, even inside the cabin, with the 6 having a distinctly ‘previous generation's feel to not only its styling and layout, but also the infotainment system.
Normally this isn’t generally a good thing, but in this case it actually highlights how good BYD’s earlier system was compared to its current one in our long-term Sealion 7. Not that it is actually bad, its just that the 6’s older system is simpler and easier to navigate, avoiding the 7’s multitude of menus in favour larger icons and less granular options. The 7's is slicker, more responsive and more flexible in terms of its layout though.
The Sealion 6 is also better in terms of ride quality, with a lush and very much comfort-oriented suspension set up that avoids the compromises the Sealion 7’s set up has to make due to the extra weight of its battery.
It does perhaps veer a little too far into comfort when it comes to handling, however, with the very soft suspension making for considerably body roll and understeer when pushed.
All of this blends nicely into what is an affordable, comfortable, well equipped and supremely frugal medium/large SUV that is handsome, extremely well built and remarkably easy to live with. The flexibility of AC and DC fast charging combined with the frugal petrol engine, excellent build quality and seamless performance makes the Sealion 6 a compelling entrant in the segment, even if its new lower price of admission isn't quite down at the sub-$50k levels of its emerging competition.
