The BYD Seal electric sedan appears set to be joined in Australia by a plug-in hybrid alternative – related in name only – later this year.
BYD is preparing to target the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia as soon as later this year, with a new plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon offering up to 105km of claimed electric driving range.
If UK prices are a guide, it may start between $40,000 to $45,000 before on-road costs, and top out under $50,000, with leather-look seats, a 15.6-inch touchscreen, and a panoramic sunroof.
The Seal 6 has been granted approval for sale by Australian government regulators, with a choice of Sedan and Touring wagon body styles, as well as battery capacities.
BYD Australia has not formally confirmed plans to sell the Seal 6 in Australia, but Drive understands it could be in local showrooms in the second half of 2026.
The Seal 6 sedan – unrelated to the electric Seal sedan, which does not have a numerical designation – has previously been spotted testing on local roads.
Introducing the Seal 6 Touring will make BYD the first Chinese brand to sell a station wagon in Australia, a market typically associated with European luxury marques.
Only six other manufacturers currently sell a new wagon priced under $100,000 in Australia: Audi, BMW, Cupra, Genesis, Skoda, and Subaru.
The Seal 6 is a mid-size car aimed at the top-selling Camry, plus the Skoda Octavia, Hyundai Sonata, and the few remaining traditional family sedans and wagons.
Measuring 4840mm long, 1875mm wide, 1495mm long, and 2790mm in wheelbase in its sedan body style, the BYD is about 80mm shorter nose to tail, and 30mm shorter between the front and rear wheels than the Toyota, but 35mm wider and 50mm taller.
It combines a 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine with an electric motor and a choice of battery packs, listed in Australian government documentation by their amp-hour ratings, 37.5Ah and 54Ah – expected to translate to 10.1kWh and 19kWh, respectively.
The smaller-battery model produces 130kW combined from a 70kW engine and 120kW electric motor, while the larger pack retains the 70kW engine, but ups electric-motor power to 160kW for 163kW combined, according to the documents.
In European-market Seal 6 sedans, the 10.1kWh battery is good for 55km of claimed WLTP electric driving range, rising to 105km with the 19kWh battery.
Opting for the wagon trims electric range to 50km and 100km, respectively, due to its higher weight and distinct shape.
Claimed WLTP driving range in hybrid mode is rated at up to 1505km in Europe, likely to set a record if matched in Australia.
DC fast charging is only offered with the 19kWh battery, claimed to recharge the pack from 30 to 80 per cent in 23 minutes at a peak of 26kW. AC charging is limited to 3.3kW and 6.6kW with the small and large batteries, respectively.
Available features in Europe include 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, leather-look upholstery, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a 15.6-inch touchscreen, an eight-speaker stereo, wireless phone charging, and a power tailgate.
In the UK, the Seal 6 is priced from £33,990 to £37,990, depending on variant and body style, which equate to between $AU68,400 and $AU76,500 through a direct currency conversion.
However, higher taxes on cars in the UK – not to mention that, compared to the positioning of their rivals, BYDs tend to be more expensive in the UK than Australia – so a percentage difference gives a more accurate picture of where the Seal 6 will sit locally.
A model equivalent to Australia's $52,990 BYD Sealion 6 Premium Standard Range is listed at £40,015 in the UK; applying that difference would see the Australian Seal 6 range priced from about $44,000 to $49,000 before on-road costs.
The new BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid, however, tops out at £32,995 in the UK and $37,990 in Australia, so it points to a price range for the sedan and wagon of about $39,000 to $44,000.
Either way, the Seal 6 looks set to be competitive on price with Australia's top-selling sedan, the Toyota Camry, which is priced from $39,990 to $52,990 plus on-road costs.
More details of the 2026 BYD Seal 6 for Australia are due once it is formally confirmed for local showrooms.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
