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BYD Sealion 6 vs Tesla Model Y

What's the difference?

VS
BYD Sealion 6
BYD Sealion 6

2024 price

Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y

$55,900 - $82,900

2025 price

Summary

2024 BYD Sealion 6
2025 Tesla Model Y
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 1.5L

0.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Electric
Fuel Efficiency
1.1L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • PHEVs require consistent charging
  • Questions over long-term ownership experience
  • No spare wheel/tyre

  • Interior looks too basic
  • Higher prices amid more competition
  • Autosteer only in 'beta' form
2024 BYD Sealion 6 Summary

BYD has made a big impact in a short space of time in Australia and the arrival of this all-new mid-size SUV opens the door for an even bigger future.

BYD has taken the fight to Tesla in the electric vehicle contest, and while still some margin behind the American brand the Atto 3 and Seal remain amongst the most popular rivals to the Model 3 and Y, respectively.

At the same time it has out-sold established brands including Honda, Skoda and Renault, as well as fellow Chinese newcomers LDV and Chery

Now BYD has its sights set on upsetting the established order in one of the biggest segments in the Australian market - mid-size SUVs.

The Sealion 6 is not a name that rolls off the tongue but it does leave an impression, as does the car, as we discovered when we drove it.

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2025 Tesla Model Y Summary

As recently as this time last year, Tesla was riding high. It was the darling of the electric vehicle world, the leader of the pack thanks to its colourful leader, Elon Musk.

Fast forward to now and so much has happened to Tesla in the last year it’s hard to know where to start. Sales have declined around the globe and Musk has become one of the most polarising human beings on the planet.

But that’s only part of the story, and part of the reason Tesla’s sales have dropped. The cold, hard reality of the automotive industry has also hit the American brand for the first time in its existence. A large part of the brand’s success has come from bucking the automotive industry norms, but now it appears to be dawning on Tesla that there is a reason why the rest of the industry does things the way it does.

Until now the brand has been seen as new and different, but as its cars, most notably this popular Model Y SUV start to age, they have become stale after five years on sale. So, Tesla has reverted to the tried and tested method of a mid-life facelift and other upgrades to make the Model Y look new and more appealing to buyers.

Will this be enough to turn around the sales slide? It’s hard to quantify exactly what impact Musk’s political stance is having, so we’ll stick to telling you about the car. Because, to be frank, regardless of how you feel about the owner of the company, if the product doesn’t appeal to customers, then it simply won’t sell.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 BYD Sealion 6 2025 Tesla Model Y

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