BYD Seal 6What does it cost to run, and is an EV cheaper?
Plugged in at home each night and driving 250 km a week, the BYD Seal 6 Sedan Essential would do about 85% of its driving on electricity, costing about $18.50 a week in power and petrol in NSW. Never plug it in and it's a 4.8 L/100 km petrol SUV (our estimate), about $26.32 a week. Over 5 years it costs about $43,170 to own, and 3 of the 8 similar EVs we track (hatches and sedans from about $26,000 to $47,000) work out cheaper: the BYD Dolphin ($38,141 over 5 years), Geely EX2 ($39,523 over 5 years) and MG4 ($42,474 over 5 years).
Is an EV cheaper? See it head to head with the MG4, GAC Aion UT or BYD Dolphin.
Battery and range
Battery10.1 kWhElectric range55 km (WLTP)Power point4 hoursPetrol use, flat battery*4.8 L/100 kmPerformance
0–100 km/h–Power130 kWTorque300 NmDriveFWDPrice
From$30,990 + on-roads, after $4,000 cashback to 21 Dec (usually $34,990)Electric range is the maker's claim on the test cycle shown. *Petrol use with a flat battery is our estimate from reviews; the makers only publish a figure that assumes a full battery. Towing: rated to tow 750 kg braked. Confirm the exact car's rating before you tow. Towing with an EV: range, tow ball limits and every car's rating › Maker's claimed figures, combined petrol and electric output. A dash means the figure isn't published for the Australian version.
Photo: User3204, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. May show an overseas version or a related model.
Running costsAbout $18.50 a week plugged in at home (NSW)
What would it cost you to run?
Your detailsYour state · 250 km a weekChange
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Panels power your house as well as the car, so we only add the car's part of the cost.
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About the solar figure: it's an average. Cloudy days, winter and charging at night all mean more power from the grid, so your real cost will vary through the year.
Fine-tune the numbers
Costs in every state
BYD Seal 6 Sedan Essential, 250 km a week. Plugged in, about 85% of driving is on home electricity at each state's 2026–27 default rate; the rest uses petrol at this week's capital-city average.
| State | Full charge | Per week, plugged in | Per week, never plugged in |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $3.42 | $18.50 | $26.32 |
| Victoria | $2.87 | $16.23 | $26.90 |
| Queensland | $2.83 | $15.97 | $26.36 |
| South Australia | $4.23 | $21.84 | $25.73 |
| WA | $3.36 | $18.15 | $25.68 |
| Tasmania | $2.50 | $14.84 | $27.94 |
| ACT | $3.74 | $20.06 | $27.85 |
| NT | $3.04 | $17.24 | $28.81 |
Compare versionsSedan Essential vs Touring Premium (wagon) side by side · 100 km on electricity, then 4.8 L/100 km
Electric range is the maker's claim on the test cycle shown. *Petrol use with a flat battery is our estimate from reviews; the makers only publish a figure that assumes a full battery.
| Variant | Price | Battery | Electric range | Full charge, power point | Petrol use, flat battery* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan Essential | $30,990 + on-roads, after $4,000 cashback to 21 Dec (usually $34,990) | 10.1 kWh | 55 km (WLTP) | 4 hours | 4.8 L/100 km |
| Touring Premium (wagon) | $35,990 + on-roads, after $4,000 cashback to 21 Dec (usually $39,990) | 19 kWh | 100 km (WLTP) | 8 hours | 4.8 L/100 km |
Towing: rated to tow 750 kg braked. Confirm the exact car's rating before you tow. Towing with an EV: range, tow ball limits and every car's rating ›
| Variant | 0–100 km/h | Power | Torque | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan Essential | – | 130 kW | 300 Nm | FWD |
| Touring Premium (wagon) | – | 163 kW | 300 Nm | FWD |
Maker's claimed figures, combined petrol and electric output. A dash means the figure isn't published for the Australian version.
Owning one5-year cost from $43,170 · track record: Too new to tell · 6 yrs / 150,000 km warranty
250 km a week in NSW, plugged in at home most nights. No wall charger needed. Scheduled service every 12 months or 20,000 km, about $414 a visit (estimate, as pricing for this model is not yet published). Warranty: 6 yrs / 150,000 km (battery 8 yrs / 160,000 km).
| Variant | On the road* | Power + petrol / yr | Servicing / yr | Tyres / yr | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan Essential | $34,990 | $962 | $414 | $260 | $43,170 |
| Touring Premium (wagon) | $39,990 | $988 | $414 | $260 | $48,301 |
What do "on the road" and "cost to own" mean?
Before on-road costs (+ on-roads): the car's list price only. You pay extra government charges and dealer fees on top when you buy.
On-road costs: stamp duty, first year's registration, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, number plates and the dealer's delivery fee. They usually add $3,000–6,000 depending on the car and your state. Where a price is "before on-roads" we add about $4,000. See stamp duty and rego by state.
Drive-away: a price that already includes the on-road costs, so it's what you actually pay to drive the car home.
On the road price: the drive-away price, or the list price plus our on-road estimate.
Cost to own: everything you'd spend over the years you keep the car (5 unless you change it): the on the road price, plus a home wall charger for EVs (about $2,000, one-off), plus charging or fuel, scheduled servicing and tyres for every year. Divide it by the number of weeks to see what the car really costs you each week.
Match score (Pick my car): this is about fit, not quality. Each car that fits your answers is compared only with the other cars that fit, on eight things, and a car that does something less well than the others in that group scores lower on it, even if it's good at it. Change your budget or answers and the group changes, so the scores do too. The eight things: how much car the money buys (price, 20%), ANCAP safety rating (15%: a current rating counts in full, an expired one less, and a car ANCAP hasn't rated counts as middling), range (15%), performance (0–100 km/h, or power where no time is published, 10%), fast-charging speed (peak DC kW, 10%), warranty length (10%, with the battery warranty counted for cars that plug in), servicing and tyre costs (15%), and recalls and track record (5%: major recalls in Australia on our list count against a car (our recall list covers the bigger, well-reported ones, so a clean record here is not a guarantee), and models sold here for longer get a little credit). A figure we don't have counts as middling, not as bad. "Most car for my budget" ranks by this match score; "Lowest cost to own" ranks by cost and uses the score only to split near-ties.
Not included: yearly rego renewals and insurance after the first year (see what EVs and hybrids cost to insure), finance interest, and what the car is worth when you sell it. These vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly, and resale value is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.
Insurance isn't included above. See what EVs and hybrids cost to insure and get quotes before you buy.
In our rankings: No. 3 of 35 plug-in hybrids
Reliability and track record
How we rate: under 2 years on sale here is "Too new to tell". A widely reported fault or repeated recalls is "Known issues". Otherwise it's "Established". We list documented problems with a source, not opinions. Single recalls that were fixed are listed but don't change the rating, as most models have some.
The BYD Seal 6 has been on sale here for less than two years, so there isn't enough Australian ownership history to judge. That isn't a bad sign, just an unknown. A long warranty matters more for newer models.
About BYD
Sells everything from the $24,000 Atto 1 to the Shark 6 ute. Australia's best-selling EV brand. Sister brands: Denza. Who owns which car brand.
Road tripsFuel costs on big Australian trips
Fuel cost for the Sedan Essential at its claimed 4.8 L/100 km and this week's NSW petrol price, starting with a full battery. Under each trip: the same drive in its closest electric rival, with charging stops. Tap a trip for the full charging guide.
Tesla Model 3: $59 in charging, 1 charging stopSydney to Brisbane908 km · about $96 in petrol and power · no refuel
Tesla Model 3: $64 in charging, 2 charging stopsBrisbane to Cairns1693 km · about $178 in petrol and power · 1 refuel
Tesla Model 3: $137 in charging, 4 charging stopsMelbourne to Adelaide726 km · about $76 in petrol and power · no refuel
Tesla Model 3: $42 in charging, 1 charging stopSydney to Canberra286 km · about $30 in petrol and power · no refuel
Tesla Model 3: $14 in charging, no charging stopsMelbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road970 km · about $102 in petrol and power · no refuel
Tesla Model 3: $66 in charging, 2 charging stopsPerth to Adelaide across the Nullarbor2701 km · about $284 in petrol and power · 2 refuels
Tesla Model 3: $239 in charging, 7 charging stopsAdelaide to Darwin3023 km · about $318 in petrol and power · 2 refuels
Tesla Model 3: needs a detourBrisbane to Darwin3421 km · about $360 in petrol and power · 3 refuels
Tesla Model 3: needs a detourPerth to Darwin via Broome4248 km · about $447 in petrol and power · 3 refuels
Tesla Model 3: needs a detour
RivalsBYD Sealion 5, Geely Starray EM-i, BYD Atto 2 DM-i
BYDSealion 5$29,990 · $18.11/wk
GeelyStarray EM-i$37,490 · $22.10/wk
BYDAtto 2 DM-i$24,990 · $20.11/wkSee all four side by side in Compare ›
More on rivals: head-to-heads and what's coming
The BYD Seal 6 against EVs
The eight EVs with the lowest 5-year cost to own, against the BYD Seal 6 Sedan Essential at $43,170. Green means the EV works out cheaper. EV totals include a home charger.
| EV | Charging / week | 5-year total | vs this plug-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYDAtto 1 Essential | $14.54 | $29,146 | −$14,024 |
| BYDDolphin Essential | $14.91 | $38,141 | −$5,029 |
| LeapmotorB03X Style | $12.75 | $38,462 | −$4,707 |
| GeelyEX2 Complete | $14.91 | $39,523 | −$3,647 |
| MGMG4 Urban 43 | $15.47 | $42,474 | −$695 |
| GWMOra 5 Lux | $14.54 | $43,376 | +$207 |
| HyundaiInster Standard Range | $13.41 | $44,497 | +$1,328 |
| GACAion UT Premium | $15.38 | $45,160 | +$1,990 |
Head-to-head with its closest electric rivals
QuestionsHow much is a BYD Seal 6 in Australia? and 4 more
How much is a BYD Seal 6 in Australia?
The BYD Seal 6 starts from $30,990 + on-roads, after $4,000 cashback to 21 Dec (usually $34,990) (November 2026). Prices change often, so check with a dealer.
How far can a BYD Seal 6 go on electricity?
The claimed electric range is up to 100 km. Expect roughly 80% of that in real driving, which still covers most people's daily trips. After that it runs as a petrol hybrid.
Do I need a home charger for a BYD Seal 6?
No. Its 10.1 kWh battery refills from a normal power point in about 4 hours, so overnight is plenty. That saves the $2,000 or so a wall charger costs.
What if I don't plug the BYD Seal 6 in?
Then it's a petrol car using about 4.8 L/100 km (our estimate), or about $26.32 a week for 250 km in NSW. A plug-in hybrid only saves money if you charge it.
Is a BYD Seal 6 cheaper to own than an EV?
Counting price, running costs, servicing and tyres over 5 years, 3 of the 8 similar EVs we track (hatches and sedans from about $26,000 to $47,000) cost less to own: the BYD Dolphin ($38,141), Geely EX2 ($39,523) and MG4 ($42,474).
How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at November 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: capital-city daily averages from state government price feeds, via FuelRadar, 12 November 2026. Diesel for Hobart, Canberra and Darwin is estimated from the national fall.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick Australia · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.
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