We got to spend a few days with the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic, a new Chinese-sourced hybrid SUV that was recently introduce into the local market.
It seems that hardly a week goes by without a new Chinese brand entering the South African market. One of the lesser obvious into our local listings has been that of BYD. BYD ( which is an acronym for Build You Dreams) is one of the largest carmakers in China, and one of the best-selling EV brands. As a result it manages to outstrip Tesla in its home market.
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Quiet Arrival
The automaker made its entry into Msanzi well over a year ago, but it tends to keep a low profile. It is bizarre that a new brand chose to arrive without fanfare and much hype, for doing so would drum up awareness and ultimately sales. To date it has introduced six models to its local portfolio, although you don’t see these with the same frequency as, say, ‘countrymen’ GWM/Haval or Chery. We didn’t see a single other BYD during our week-long loan of the test unit.
Simple Design
The BYD Sealion 6 is a handsome prospect, that’s for sure. It is turned heads wherever we went. We we approached by a few inquisitive folks who wanted to know what they were looking at. One onlooker wondered if its the latest Porsche Cayenne… which will probably make the company’s designers smile. The skinny, split headlamps and body-wide taillamp strip do have quite a resemblance to the SUV from Stuttgart. The car’s overall appearance is generally clean and simple, not fussy in any way. It is also a fair deal larger in person than one guesses from photos. More on this in a bit.
Modern Treatment
It seems that most SUVs, regardless of where the are built/designed, tend to have a very similar design format. The BYD Sealion 6 is not different. As a result it has twin digital screens on the facia. The centre unit is about the same size as a laptop display. Additionally, the unit can rotate through 90 degrees, so you have have portrait or landscape orientation. Nifty, but a little gimmicky at the same time (video below). The centre screen is a high-quality unit that controls just about every function and there are no physical buttons. Conveniently, the voice control assistant is very easy to use and quick to respond. One can even control the HVAC system from the steering – handy. Oh, the screen also serves as a display for the standard rear-facing camera, much needed as the view out of the rear windscreen is rather limited.
The interior really does look and feel premium. From the soft leather on the heated and cooled seats to the stitching on the dash, the BYD Sealion 6 looks and feels like a high quality product. The colour scheme of the trim may not be to all tastes, but it doesn’t grate. A full length panoramic roof lets plenty of light into the interior. We can’t go into the extensive standard features list here, just know that this model lacks nothing. There is space aplenty in the cabin, especially in the rear. This is due, in part, to a wheelbase that is almost 2,8 metres long. The one area that suffers is the boot volume, which pays the prices thank to hosting the battery for the hybrid system.
Hybrid Power
The six models of the current BYD range mostly carry aquatic inspired names. These include Shark, Dolphin, Seal and, the feature of this review, the Sealion. In particular, we drove the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic. Two thirds of BYD’s range are pure EVs ie they are powered solely by battery power. The Shark pickup and BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic are both hybrids. That is to say they have two forms of propulsion, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric power.
The Dynamic version of the range is powered by a 1,5-litre ICE and a 145 kW electric motor. Both send power to the front axle. Combined system power is rated as 160 kW/300 N.m. There is a more powerful all-wheel-drive version that delivers 238 kW/550 N.m. In both case the BYD Sealion 6 prioritises electric power over petrol. The ICE is usually called on to recharge the 18,3 kWh battery. Both forms of power are only into duty simultaneously when you really floor the accelerator. Incidentally, the battery can also be charged from a wall socket or charging station, which makes it a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
On the Road
The initial impression of the BYD Sealion 6 created by the quality of materials used in the cabin are cemented when you set off. Special mention to the exceptionally low NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels in the cabin, which tends to remain near silent in all conditions. The ride quality is set on the soft side as the suspension feels undersprung. Think Toyota Camry and you’ll have an idea of what we mean.
This set-up means that the Sealion 6 does not enjoy being driven quickly, and most owners are unlikely to do so. Keep the car within its ‘comfort zone’ and it is a perfectly comfortable drive. Adopt that mode of driving and the hybrid system responds with good fuel consumption figures. BYD claims an EV-only range of about 90 km. We recorded an average fuel consumption figure of 5,4 L/100 km over 400 km of travel, not too far off the manufacturer’s claim 4,8. By the way, with a full battery and tank of fuel you can expect close to 1 100 km of range… impressive. That’s a decent level, which could mean a work-week worth of petrol-free travel and no range anxiety on the weekend when you want to hit the open road.
Summary
We cannot understand why BYD has not made more of a splash on the local front. Discussions with counterparts at other media outlets tend to confirm that the brand’s local office is quite difficult to reach. It’s a shame, considering that the company seems to have an interesting and diverse portfolio that could do well.
In terms of the BYD Sealion 6, colour us impressed. Stepping into the vehicle without any preconceived notion of what to expect was quite refreshing. The family-oriented SUV delivers on several fronts: comfort, standard specification, fuel efficiency and perceived quality. You could even argue that it is well priced, considering cheapest hybrid RAV4, the Sealion 6’s closest rival, costs almost R75k more. And this Dynamic variant is the middle of the range. There’s an even cheaper ‘Comfort’ derivative. If you are in the market for a PHEV, the BYD Sealion 6 should be high on your list.
Model: BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic
Price: R689 900
Engine: 1,5-litre four-cylinder petrol+ electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, FWD
Max power: 160 kW
Max torque: 300 N.m
0-100 km/h: 8,5 sec
Top speed: 170 km/h
Fuel consumption: 4,8 L/100 km (5,4 during review period)