BYD Sealion 06 – Bigger, Faster, Stronger, Better

The BYD Sealion 6 first appeared in 2020 as a gasoline powered midsize SUV in China, before BYD made the decision in 2021 to offer only battery electric and plug-in hybrid models going forward. That seemed to be a huge gamble at the time, but since then, BYD has seen its sales soar, making it one of the world’s largest car companies by volume.

In 2021, the Sealion 6 became the Sealion 06. A year ago, David Waterworth, our correspondent in Australia, shared the impressions of his friend Garry after driving the plug-in hybrid version of the first generation Sealion 06 for three months. One of the things that impressed Garry the most was that the car cost about $27,000 AUS less than an equivalent model from Mitsubishi.

In April, BYD unveiled the next generation Sealion 06, which sells in China for 139,800 to 163,800 yuan ($19,500 to 22,700) according to Car News China. From the photos, what we see is a thoroughly modern looking midsize SUV that — squint a little — looks similar to the Tesla Model Y, which sells for nearly twice as much in China.

The split headlight motif may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it is a styling feature found on many cars today, particularly Genesis models from Hyundai Motor Corporation. Love it or hate it, the look is more appealing than the nuclear powered cheese grater grille that Lexus likes to slap on the front of its cars.

The new mid-size SUV is based on BYD’s “e-platform 3.0 evo” which is capable of charging at 800 volts. Like the first generation Sealion 06, it is offered in its home market both as a pure electric vehicle and as a plug-in hybrid. The PHEV version uses a modified platform, but both cars share the same exterior appearance. In Europe, BYD offers a very similar model under the name Seal U. Currently, that car is battery electric only but Electrive says a plug-in hybrid version will be offered in European soon.

Compared directly, the new generation looks noticeably smoother and more refined, Electrive says. “At the front, the split headlights and the air curtains integrated into the bumper are particularly striking. The rear features a trendy full-width light bar.” BYD says the second generation car is three centimeters longer than the original, coming in at 4.81 meters (16 feet). That makes it a bit larger than the Tesla Model Y, which is 4,750 mm (15.6 ft) long. The new model is 1.92 meters (6.3 ft) wide and 1.67 meters (5.5 ft) high. It weighs between  1.9 and 2.2 metric tons, depending on how it is configured..

Three Configurations For BYD Sealion 06 BEV

In battery electric form, the Sealion 06 comes in three configurations. Two rear wheel drive versions offer a choice between a 170 kW (228 hp) or a 180 kW (241 hp) motor. The dual motor all wheel drive performance version uses the 180 kW motor at the rear and adds a second motor driving the front wheels for a combined output of 310 kW (416 hp). BYD offers drivers a choice of two battery packs — 65.3 or 78.7 kWh — both of which use the company’s proprietary Blade LFP battery technology.

Currently, BYD markets its plug-in hybrid models for Europe with a 26.6 kWh battery — a little larger than the battery in the original Nissan LEAF — which gives them truly impressive battery-only range of 170 km (105 miles). At CleanTechnica, we know many of our readers are conflicted about PHEVs. Why add the complexity of two power trains when you only need one? And in fact, the data suggests that PHEVs have more maintenance and repair issues than either combustion engine or battery powered cars, so why burden yourself with them?

The answer is range anxiety. Battery powered cars are still relatively new technology and the charging infrastructure is not as robust as it could be. If you run low on battery charge in South Succotash or East Overshoe on a rainy night with no EV chargers around, that can be an issue. Better safe than sorry seems to be the most common explanation for why some people prefer PHEVs over BEVs.

With 100 miles of range, a PHEV can be driven like a battery powered car. Drive it, plug it in an night, and never visit a gas station again. Just don’t forget to put a dollop of STABIL in the tank to keep your gasoline from turning to jelly as it sits, unused and unloved, month after month. The car will create almost no carbon emissions, the driver will get to save money because electricity costs less than gasoline, and the owner will get used to plugging in, which will make something once dreaded into a nothing burger. Can a PHEV be a gateway drug to pure battery electric motoring? Absolutely.

Midsize On The Outside, Big On The Inside

On the inside, the BYD Sealion 06 has plenty to recommend it, starting with a panoramic glass roof and including heated and ventilated seats. There’s also lots of room for the stuff people like to bring with then when they go places. With the rear seats up, there are 757 liters (27 cu ft) of room for things of all shapes, sizes, and descriptions. With the rear seats folded down, the storage space more than doubles to 1,630 (58 cu ft). There is also a frunk up front in battery electric versions with an additional 142 liters (5 cu ft) of storage.

The Sealion 06 offers a lot of what people like to call “value for money.” Put another way, customers feel like they are getting more than they paid for, which is pretty much the key to the sales game. The price in Europe will be significantly higher than in China, largely because of the tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese cars, but BYD has the answer. It is planning two European factories and a third in Turkey, which will allow it to avoid those pesky tariffs and put price pressure on traditional EU manufacturers like Volkswagen, Fiat, and Renault.

The BYD Sealion 06 represents a distillation of the latest thinking in the world of automobiles. It is the right size for many drivers, has sufficient cargo capacity, all the bells and whistles in the interior anyone could possibly want, and comes with a very competitive starting price. It also illustrates how Tesla has possibly painted itself onto a corner. BYD has the luxury of offering its customers a choice between a PHEV or a battery electric. Tesla has no such PHEV option — a reflection of the philosophy of its leader, Elon Musk.

Ten years ago, that single minded focus on battery electric cars seemed like a winning strategy. ‘Today? Not so much. The lesson here seems to be that philosophy does not necessarily translate into a good marketing strategy. That is why BYD is eating Tesla’s lunch today and looks poised to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.