2025 BYD Sealion 6 Essential announced as Australia's cheapest new plug-in hybrid

Today at 01:16 AM

The entry price into a new plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in Australia has been cut to $42,990 plus on-road costs, with a new entry-level version of the 2025 BYD Sealion 6 on sale today ahead of March deliveries.

The Sealion 6 Essential follows similar cut-price versions of BYD’s smaller Atto 3 and Dolphin electric cars, and is the lowest price tag ever attached to a PHEV in Australia, aside from limited-time offers.

It comes a week after $3000 was slashed off the price of the previous cheapest variant, the Dynamic – from $48,990 to $45,990 – becoming Australia’s cheapest PHEV, a bar that has now been lowered further.

The Dynamic grade remains on sale while stocks last as a Model Year 2024 vehicle, but it is set to be succeeded by the Essential for MY25 production.

MORE: BYD Australia slashes prices by up to $5900 alongside 2025 updates

Compared to the Dynamic, the Essential swaps the 15.6-inch touchscreen for a smaller 12.8-inch unit, the 10-speaker Infinity stereo for a six-speaker system, and the eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat for a six-way item.

It loses a driver’s seat position memory and power lumbar adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless phone charger, 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Also deleted is a heated steering wheel, front door acoustic glass, metal door sill plates, multi-colour ambient lighting, and a cabin air purifier system, while the genuine leather steering wheel and seat trim is swapped for synthetic leather-look material.

MORE: Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid – What's the difference?

A head-up display remains exclusive to the flagship, all-wheel-drive Premium grade, as well as a blue and grey interior option, and additional drive modes.

Features carried over from the Dynamic include 19-inch alloy wheels, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch instrument display, power tailgate, LED headlights, keyless entry and start, and dual-zone climate control.

Shared between the front-wheel-drive Dynamic and Essential is a combination of a 72kW/122Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, 145kW/300Nm electric motor and 18.3kWh battery pack.

BYD claims combined outputs of 160kW and 300Nm, plus 92km of electric driving range based on NEDC lab testing – or fuel use of 1.1 litres per 100 kilometres in hybrid mode – between 25 and 100 per cent charge in the battery.

MORE: Australia's best-selling plug-in hybrid cars in 2024, with a surprise upset at the top of the charts

When the battery charge drops below 25 per cent, the Sealion 6 locks into hybrid mode, with claimed fuel use of 4.7L/100km.

As reported previously, the MY25 Sealion 6 has lost its Arctic Blue colour due to low customer demand.

The 2025 BYD Sealion 6 Essential is available to order starting today, Monday 20 January, ahead of deliveries due to begin in March.

2025 BYD Sealion 6 price in Australia

• Sealion 6 Essential MY25 – $42,990
• Sealion 6 Dynamic MY24 – $45,990
• Sealion 6 Premium MY25 – $52,990

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

2025 BYD Sealion 6 Essential equipment deletions vs Dynamic

• 15.6-inch touchscreen (12.8-inch screen fitted instead)
• 10-speaker Infinity stereo (six-speaker audio fitted instead)
• Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (six-way adjustment instead)
• Genuine leather steering wheel (synthetic leather-look trim instead)
• Genuine leather seat upholstery (synthetic leather-look trim instead)
• Driver’s seat position memory and power lumbar adjustment
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Wireless phone charger
• 360-degree camera
• Front parking sensors
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
• Heated steering wheel
• Front door acoustic glass
• Metal door sill plates
• Multi-colour ambient lighting
• PM2.5 cabin filter and negative ion purifier

The post 2025 BYD Sealion 6 Essential announced as Australia’s cheapest new plug-in hybrid appeared first on Drive.