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

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 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.

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.

Sealion 6 Dynamic pictured.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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

Electric Cars Guide

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

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