BYD Sealion 6 Plug-in Hybrid Review

It has been driven to Malacca and back, and it's now firmly in our hands to test on Singapore's roads.

And after having spent another three days with it, we are convinced that if you've been lusting after the Sealion 7 (and we know many of you have) but aren't quite ready to make the transition to electric power, this new Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid could just be the next best thing for you.

The 18.3kWh battery of the BYD Sealion 6 can be charged at a maximum power of 18kW via a direct current plug, and gives the car an official electric-only range of 80km

Space aplenty

Let's get some numbers out of the way first. At 4,775mm long and 1,890mm wide, this Sealion 6 takes up a footprint that is just a smidgen smaller than that of the Sealion 7. Does this size difference translate to any real-world compromises on the useability front? Not really.

The Sealion 6 offers a total of 425 litres of space at the back, which is short of the 500-litre one in the Sealion 7, but look further ahead and I reckon you'll be hard pressed to find any difference in available space for your passengers between the two.

The usual highlights of an electric car are present here - namely, a flat cabin floor and an absolutely frigid air-conditioning system. Those seated in the second row of the 6 will also have plenty of leg and head room to play with (you'll note that this Sealion 6 is taller than the Sealion 7), alongside the usual accompaniment of air-conditioning vents and USB ports. 

And up front, there's still a compartment within the centre console for the lady's handbag (complete with access to a host of power sources), but you get two inductive smartphone charging pads in this Sealion 6. All passengers here will also be treated to some generously padded seats.

The BYD Sealion 6 comes with some well-cushioned seats, while a panoramic sunroof, rear air-conditioning vents and generous leg room should ensure all within stay comfortable

Power at the ready

And with a total of 215bhp on tap, this Sealion 6 also acquits itself well to the start stop traffic of our sunny island.

There isn't the sheer, instantaneous strength of a high-power electric-only car here, for sure. But what you do get instead, let's say, is a more astute approach to acceleration. Push the Sealion 6 and it responds with a progressive turn of speed that ensures smooth and comfortable progress, even with the sloppiest of footwork.

And there's yet another treat in store. Should you opt to squirrel away the remaining charge of its 18.3kWh battery, the sheer accelerative force delivered by this Sealion 6 isn't as severely blunted as in other plug-in hybrids - at least when it comes to the task of day-to-day commuting.

The cabin of the Sealion 6 is mighty easy to get used to: You can adjust the air-conditioning settings via the steering wheel (on top of utilising three fingers to swipe on the infotainment screen), and the drive mode levers are conveniently located on the centre console

Push the car harder and there's a noticeable surge of power delivered whenever that 1.5-litre unit dials up some revs, but total noise and vibrations from it are respectably isolated. Having said this, I found that driving over rough surfaces in the Sealion 6 will elicit a bassy rumble from its tyres.

The steering here is also effortlessly light, and the ride has been calibrated to prioritise passenger comfort - as it ought to be in an SUV whose main selling point is its economical drivetrain.

The car's 1.5-litre engine stays for the most part quiet and unnoticed when you're simply commuting along

New economy

We saw the Sealion 6 delivering an energy economy of 6.2km/kWh when left in its hybrid mode (so there's still assistance from the 1.5-litre engine) while being allowed to drain from its high-voltage battery. That's an impressive figure if you're comparing against other all-electric options, although I must point out that this BYD Sealion 6 weighs a touch less than your typical all-electric SUV. And to reiterate, this figure only comes with additional support from the combustion engine.

Thankfully there's also good fuel economy to be had should you lock this battery charge away: Our own drive saw the Sealion 6 delivering an economy of close to 16.9km/L when driven as such.

Looking for a car that has the space and ride to ferry the family comfortably? This Sealion 6 is quite the safe bet

A clever car all-round

So, should you make one your own daily commuter? If you're looking for a spacious and comfortable commuter, and don't want to be yoked with the hassle of charging, this Sealion 6 is quite the astute option. 

To be sure, it's less powerful while being more expensive than the 'Premium' 308bhp variant of the Sealion 7, but at $211,388, still neatly undercuts more traditional hybrid SUV options such as the $267,888 Toyota Harrier Hybrid or the $248,800 Nissan X-Trail E-POWER (all prices inclusive of COE and as of 30 July 2025).

And you'll still be able to drive all the way to Malacca and back without jostling for a spot at a charging station.

Shopping for a plug-in hybrid SUV? There's also these options to consider:

There's the Mazda CX-80 to look at, if you want plug-in hybrid power and the ability to ferry seven!

And if you also need to travel off the beaten path, why not also catch our review of the Land Rover Defender plug-in hybrid?