BYD Seal 6: PHEV Toyota Camry, Skoda Octavia rival one step closer to Australia

BYD’s relentless model range expansion could include a mid-size sedan and wagon with plug-in hybrid power.

The BYD Seal 6 has appeared in Australian Government approval documents, paving the way for its local launch.

Four variants appear in the Australian Design Rule certification documents: two sedans and two Touring wagons.

The entry-level version of each body style features a 70kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 120kW electric motor, for a total system output of 130kW.

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Top-spec Seal 6s use a more powerful 160kW electric motor and a larger battery, with total output boosted to 163kW. All Seal 6s are front-wheel drive.

Braked towing capacity is 750kg across the range, while there’s a choice of 17- or 18-inch wheels.

While battery capacity isn’t listed in the documents, in the UK BYD advertises a choice of 10.08kWh and 19kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the latter supporting 26kW DC fast-charging.

The Seal 6 sedan measures 4840mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm tall on a 2790mm wheelbase. The Seal 6 Touring has the same length, width and wheelbase, but is 1505mm tall.

For context, that makes the Seal 6 sedan 80mm shorter, 35mm wider and 50mm taller than the Toyota Camry on a 35mm shorter wheelbase; the Seal 6 Touring is 131mm longer than the Skoda Octavia wagon, as well as 46mm wider and 40mm taller on a 109mm longer wheelbase.

Inside, the Seal 6 – launched in China in 2024 – is offered with a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (15.6-inch in higher trims) and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Available features include heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and a wireless phone charger.

As a mid-size PHEV sedan and wagon, the Seal 6 will have essentially no direct competition in Australia – you’ll either need to step down to a smaller (but sportier) Cupra Leon Sportstourer or up to the upcoming, larger Skoda Superb.

BYD already has a mid-size passenger car in Australia, the all-electric Seal. However, this is available only as a sedan, not a wagon.

The Chinese automotive giant has an even wider range of medium-to-large passenger cars in its home market, including the Seal 7, Qin and Han.

Besides the Seal 6, which BYD has yet to officially announce for Australia, the brand is in the midst of rolling out a slew of new vehicles ranging from the city-friendly Atto 1 small EV through to the plug-in hybrid Sealion 8 large SUV.

The goal? To be “close to the top three” this year among automotive brands in Australia. Last year, it finished eighth.

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