First Service of our 4 month old SL6 today, and it was FREE, due to our 5 star review. Bought AWD version circa AUD$52k, under a novated lease, took advantage of FBT waiver, etc before it ceases for PHEV's next year. We charge daily with home solar panels, during peak times. And drive mostly EV mode around Sydney. Having petrol as a back up is needed for our family, we travel farther parts of NSW for sporting events during weekends. Don't like waiting at public charges. Have been recommended from BYD to charge daily to 80%, except one day per week to 100%. Use petrol mode at least once a week, not much though. Petrol tank is no more than 25% full, unless on longer weekend drives. BYD team in Alexandria are amazing, always available for any questions even post purchase. Sport Turbo mode, is on another level, drive is firm, can go 0-100km/hr in circa 5.8seconds. But we seldom use this , ECO EV is sufficient and fast waiting at traffic lights. There's so many features, Karaoke function brings so much joy to passengers especially teenagers. The car looks damn sexy too, designed by former German designer for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini. It's just a luxury car at a non luxury price! Simply value for money for us, and suited our lifestyle. Happy BYD 🛞.
Thanks for sharing and great to hear you’re enjoying the car! I’m impressed you got a free service after a 5⭐️Review … first I’ve heard of this perk! 😁
The first service was free for any review regardless of rating. Free OTA updates, sunshade for warmer ☀️ days, are great some EV's don't offer. It doesn't however come with Sentry mode, so we installed a separate parking detection camera. Enjoy your invaluable insights !
Thanks sounds like a great review. I will be getting one very soon, in the process anyway. Do you have a proper charging station at home? I am renting and won't have any source of charging at home except a standard plug if it reaches do you think that's feasible or will this be a big issue for me? Not sure if you know was just curious and throwing it out there. Cheers
@@simonsez2891 Yes we do have a charger at home, as we have solar panels. BYD Alexandria gave us a free home charging box worth $1k, as part of an intro special, being offered to the first 3000 customers purchasing the SL6. Sorry, I'm not sure how a standard plug for charging will go, but I hope you find the info seek.😊
@Clim326 Thanks for responding 😊 I think I can get away just using a wall plug from other things I've read but I guess I will find out. Kids are excited to test the karaoke mode you mentioned 😁
I am considering getting one, and this is the first place I thought to look for a review. Also got my at to 3 after watching your videos on byd. Very helpful!
Hello, Just found your site I am in the UK and this car is the Seal UDMI, I did test drive it as all the UK reviews complain about the suspension, I did not notice the suspension being wallowy, or the steering too light, maybe I did not drive it hard enough, the comfort model coming to the UK they say has 77miles range from the battery which would do most of my local drives, and being a higher car easier to get in and out, plus for the price the equipment that you get is fantastic, the only other car that floats my boat is the Kia EV3 so not a PHEV at all, but to get the same bits is like nearly £10k more! Great measured reviews
@@LudicrousFeed just wondering if you have tried the EV3, just becoming available here, looks a great car but 10k is a lot of difference, base model similar price to BYD, but no toys as such
@@LudicrousFeed how do you find the acceleration in the BYD? I currently drive a IX3 full EV and I find that rapid enough to get out of trouble, although most of my driving will be rural
I know that you had a test drive in China of the Shark 6, but will you be doing a similar review of it locally over five days? Great review as always by the way.
Very informative video, thank you. Two questions: 1) Is there a tachometer for the ICE? If so what is the typical RPM when it's charging the battery? 2) Is there a charge power meter? At what rate (kW) does the ICE charge the battery? Thank you in advance.
One more question: I assume cabin heat is provided via a heat pump while in EV mode. But when the ICE is running, is the heat provided by the ICE's coolant? TIA.
When full throttle, the engine will generate charge to the electric motor, so motor will be powered by battery and engine at the same time to reach max output.
thanks Tom for an excellent review of this car. I've owned a Chevy Volt plugin more than 10 years ago. I'm ready to buy one again. But still on the fence to buy this car. Hope that Geely will asap launch their L7 PHEV to give some real competition. L7 is a better car in terms of passive safety, ride quality and software. The 2025 model will have the safest-in-class Aegis LFP battery and a more fuel efficient hybrid powertrain, while Sealion 6 still uses Gen 4 DM-I. Gen 5 will use a dual-clutch instead of the smooth and low maintenance planetary gear that Geely and Toyota use.
For us the sealion 6 hybrid powertrain works as diring the week we do our less than 80km and run full electric and charge it every night. As we are just using the supplyed wall socket it takes all night to charge up again. On the weekend if we aren't taking the diesel ute or towing we take the sealion and use far less fuel than we would on a normal week end.
Great review Tom - actually makes more sense and will appeal to some cautious folk....but if you only do 80km per day then full electric is fine. Well done
Excellent vlog and by far the most comprehensive technical review of BYD DM system i have seen. I have been very curious to fully understand this technology. Just have one question: What happens to overall rated power of the car when on highway battery is down to 25% and the engine is supplying power to both battery and axle? Do you feel a drop in acceleration at this point or do you get same power to axle when battery was fully charged?
Thanks so much! I wanted to pack as much detail as I could into this video. I didn’t pay much attention to the raw numbers but anecdotally it felt pretty similar at 100kph whenever the engine powered the axles
@@LudicrousFeed thanks. Were u able to observe the fuel economy once the engine starts charging the battery and powering the axles? My current understanding is that the engine should be able to fully charge the 18kwh battery (from 25-100%) in less than half hr after which engine should shut off and car should switch back to run on EV mode.
@@mazbpl The engine charges the battery via the generator remarkably quickly. The car will drive on EV mode all the way down to 25% Watch from 55:18 for fuel consumption stats if you be were to drive it purely as a hybrid with minimal input from the battery … it’s close to 5L/100km
Watch from 54:13 The car will determine the most efficient way to drive … at a higher speed the engine may provide power to the axle but most of the time it will just generate to charge the battery letting the electric motor drive the wheels
OK I take back what I said re Phevs , Toms video is actually the first time someone has tested in different states of SOC and speed. I am still not a convert but there is an edge case for people wanting to go part EV. IMO it seems pretty complex I just wander about servicing down the track.
Ive had a prius before the model y. The prius was doing pretty much the same thing but can only drive on ev at 40kph max. In relation to what the ice motor does on the drive.
Hey Tom, this was a great review. I’m considering getting one myself (Melbourne). I am curious about the bit you mentioned regarding its suspension. Did you find it floaty or wallowy when you were driving on the highway over 100kmph? If not, what month in 2024 was it made? Apparently they have updated suspension only on the newer models coming to Australia. If you’ve got the latest suspension, maybe I’ll get one too if I ordered now. Thanks
Yes apparently the suspension has been upgraded but this car was an older car (7000km on the odo). It was reasonably comfortable on the short highway test I did but you’re better off asking real owners on other forums about the suspension on longer drives
How do they service these vehicles? If you can predominantly drive it on EV only, what happens at your 20000 km service if the petrol engine has only done maybe 1000km? Are you going to pay for something that you don't really need?
BYD say drive in HEV at least 10% of the time. I guess they will change the oil at 20,000 no matter what and this might be overkill. I have done 7000kms in my SL6, about 3000 of those in HEV. So next service my HEV use might be about 8,000kms. On the plus side the SL6 engine will only get light use and only runs on long trips - none of the short trips that are so bad for ICE car engines.
Would be great if you could cover the following in a future video: Re overnight charging. If you stay with your existing energy company and don't get an EV plan or don't have solar or a battery. Using an example of 35c/kwh, it costs around $5 to charge 75% of the battery. I have a tiguan 1.4tsi and to travel 80kms would probably cost $9 in fuel to travel the same distance (please check if I've calculated something wrong). Makes you question whether it's worth it.
There are some EV specific plans out there with cheaper overnight tariffs and even some with free charging during the day … these fuel savings add up over the years
@LudicrousFeed Some EV plans hit you with double peak tarrifs during peak times (Ovo). The electricity companies need to make their money back somehow! I don't think EV plans are for everyone even if you have an EV which is why I used a 35c/kwh example. I think most people will stay with their existing energy company
@LudicrousFeed Me too and a battery but not everyone does which I believe lowers the case for buying a car like this. I'd love to see some real calculations for those out there that live in an apartment/don't have a driveway to park and charge. I guess I'm just being devils advocate for those who think they're saving money by buying when actually they might not be saving at all.
hi from uk. I came across your channel and reviews as looking to buy one (Seal u dm-i in the UK?). One thing it'd be great to get your input on is towbars. I'm really struggling to find a BYD towbar, let alone plug-in electrics (rather than light wire taps). If you have any information, I'd be very grateful.😀
A complex beast and how many owners will ever plug it in is the other question of all the units they've sold. You mentioned your clubs and driver does that mean Riz is your driver? ;)
Hey Tom did you have to go home and wash your hands until they were raw …… or didn’t you feel unclean from the experience? Don’t feel bad it’s a good option for a number of people with special requirements ….
We’re still unsure whether Australia SL7 will be on the new EVO3.0 platform or on the existing 3.0 platform (same as Seal) … that could potentially make a big difference as to whether it outsells other similar cars in that segment eg XPeng G6
@@LudicrousFeed The Sea Lion 7, listed in Hong Kong, uses the same 3.0 platform and 400V as Seal. But it utilizes some of the 3.0EVO charging technology. New motor
@@Pengpeng001 Many people overlook the fact that the current gen BYD Seal (2023-24) is actually already 800V! ev-database.org/car/2001/BYD-SEAL-825-kWh-RWD-Design
If you run the petrol engine only 4 times a year beyond it's EV capabilities (family holidays), then I'm curious to know if storing fuel in the car all year and barely running the ICE can be bad for the engine?
@@misterjay4347 For me, PHEV is an overly complex engineering solution. PHEV still spews toxic fossil fuels out to a planet that remains under stress - and what for? Range anxiety is largely solved with BEV technology now (and improving rapidly). I actually have a 6 year old PHEV but have never seen it as an ongoing technology. The fossil fuel industry are pouring billions into creating this PHEV demand surge, and it's not great.
Using lots of the word "interesting" while driving on M2. I think it can well be replaced with "intelligent". Because it switches between HEV and EV, and switches between using the engine to the motor or the regenerator according to your speed and needs.
I have one of these cars. I hate how alot of the "buttons" touch capacitive sensing. like the lights, just end up becoming oil from my fingers. And don't get me started on the lack of tactility with the right-hand side air-conditioning short-cuts, when i'm driving i find i need to lock down, perhaps some brail bumps would be nice. And and the the lack of any physical air-con adjustment control is driving me insane. like i have to learn theres weird gestures for the touch screen that is so awkward while driving. I don't care if it's some bluetooth stick on control, I want dials and buttons that i can grab without looking while driving. I like the over-head sun-roof controls, makes me feel like a pilot. But why have they gone with a flat capacitive touch controls, so annoying to be poking around one-handedly while driving And is it me or the 7KW single phase ac charging speed just pathetic. give me the full 22Kw please but not as much as the pathetically small rear view window that i swear i can only see obstacles/cars 50% of the time. Also the supposed cool storage space underneath the centre console screen, is just so awkward to chuck stuff in, it slides around on the plastic when braking, and you have to be an olympic gymnast in order to pug anything into those USB ports, you just cant see where you're plugin into. the build quality is shoddy especially when it comes to the foot-well and well as rear underside. i feel like there should be some underside plate protecting the catalytic converter. It's openly exposed pretty high off the ground. I still don't trust the intelligent cruise control. phantom braking and it just still can't take corners. The radar follow function need tuning, It brakes a little too late for my liking and accelerate too slowly, when the car in front has left. I like the the lock/unlock buttons on the door handles, i found myself using them a lot. But when i unlock i find myself pulling on the handle too quickly, leaving the door stuck half-way. The suspension is not great especially the rear axel. you feel like you have the fattest ass whenever you go over a speed hump a little too fast. The rear seat are'n't genuinely reclinable, I wouldn't sleep in the car over night. And there's no adjustable headrest height on the driver seat. So annoying whenever you recline. And because the seats are bucket-style seats, i find myself quashing the right-hand thigh support wall whenever getting in or out of the car. I forsee this as becoming an issue. There is no safety sensor in the boot door OR the sunroof. I almost had fingers pinched. Obvious safety devices seem to be overlooked and missing. The subwoofer/base speaker need tuning in my car. it sound muddy and damaged. the base is not clear enough. the "hey BYD" voice command can't text people yet, or reply. The stock tyres are terrible. I can easily get will spin when the road is slightly damp. And the cabin noise when at highway-speeds, is so defening you wo'nt hear the petrol engine come on. but when you pull over, that 2.4L 4 cylinder is concerningly loud. And i wish there was a way to charge up more than 25% when you've drained the battery. BYD says battery range is about 100km fore the dynamic model. This is a half truth. the car considers the battery to by flat at 25% state of charge. So in reality the most pure EV range is 75km at most. the pace of software update seem to be slow. BYD has a lot of catching up to Tesla. Their App store is dryer my grandmother's V. there's not even apple music. Just let me install the google play store or something. Why does BYD have to gate-keep the apps, the pathetic 3 year warranty on the infotainment is already running open-source android. The built-in navigation app is shit compared to google maps, It doesn't even have all the EV charging locations loaded up, Only ones from BP and one other. It feels like an unfair advertising deal has been made here. Otherwise everything is great.
@@stephenbarber6381 In all fairness to OP, most of the factors listed cannot be discovered through a test drive and only become apparent after a period of ownership.
It’s a very nice looking car and a fantastic price for what it is, BUT no matter how many videos i watch, I still cant help thinking that hybrids are the worst of both worlds. 60 litres of Dino juice for a 90kw petrol engine in a 2.1 ton car doesn’t sound like a great benefit to the environment. The EV is about 150kw which is plenty for most uses, but the small battery means you lose the benefits of charging at home, like me or from solar panels, like my father in law does on his ev. The range of 1000 km is almost totally from the petrol engine, so why have the electric engine? Also, why charge a battery from Dino juice? Again, not efficient or friendly to the environment.Two drivetrains to service, all the inefficiencies and maintenance of a petrol engine. I keep going round and round in circles on hybrids. I wonder how many people buy hybrids because they are frightened of not having a petrol tank, so it’s a security blanket to have a hybrid.
@@addsfour3499 I think your last sentence sums things up … people still need that tank as a security blanket until our charging infrastructure catches up
@@LudicrousFeed yeah definitely will be, I went for it because of its very similar ICE design of the overall whole vehicle, it’s like middle ground and you really now can see what benefits it brings - but as I know your EV weighted you’ll probably disagree with me saying my reason for not going full ev eg. Seal last year was because I don’t think in my job where I may need to drive long distances at short notice that I can rely on ev charge infrastructure reliability when needed. Sealion for me has been great around 6800km total 2 month, 315L fuel used 600kWh charged. I pay avg 18c per kWh at home with me ups and down on Amber and it has been working really good for me. To be honest the fuel use is quite fair when you are resorted to using it as well.
PHEVS do not make any sense. If you have access to a powerpoint to recharge then a BEV is the best option. If you do not have access to a powerpoint then an ICE vehicle is the best option.
The VTL function of BYD DMI makes it perfect for camping and as an emergency power supply for a house after a natural disaster. Overall, petrol is still easier to find in both situations. I am planning to buy this one or the BYD Shark just for camping purposes.
Having been in this game for a few years now ... I've come to realise that you can throw all the evidence at people that EVs are feasible to own in our major cities however buyer confidence is everything and potential owners will always consider the 1% scenario where they need that extra 500km of range (even though it may never eventuate). This sentiment is probably the reason why PHEVs like the SL6 continue to exist until the time comes when our EV charging infrastructure rollout matches the needs of our population (real or perceived)
@@LudicrousFeed I'm from the Philippines. PHEV fits perfectly in our still nascent charging infrastructure. It's also a bonus that it is 20% cheaper than its BEV equivalent make.
@@LudicrousFeed understandable, however two separate systems to do one thing, when either one of them can do it very well, albeit using different energy sources
I appreciate the comment and believe me I resisted a long time before taking this out for a spin. After a few days I was pining for an EV! If it encourages others to look at electric vehicles then it would have been worth doing this review.
Would you prefer someone not to buy this and keep their old clapper diesel? Some people don't want to deep dive into a pure EV, be happy people are trying to curb their emissions outputs in some capacity
@@Nathan-rn8yg Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle. They are in order of importance. The best thing many people can do is delay purchasing a new vehicle and when they do, buy a proper EV. PHEV is a solution in search of a problem.
@@emmett3067 In a perfect world, sure, but we live in a world far from perfect. If all apartment blocks had proper EV charging infrastructure, not the slow chargers for the rental tenants, I could understand just go EV. I don't understand how a "Phev is a solution in search of a problem" It may add some complexity to the overall package (we have trained professionals for a reason), but a motor is a motor & and engine is still an engine. Maintenance of the petrol engine doesn't change, still requires Oil, coolant, spark plugs ECT. The electric motor still doesn't require any more maintenance as it does in a pure bev. We should be encouraging reducing emissions, EV or not.
@@emmett3067 I have a SL6. I can get 100kms using 75% of battery in the city, but next time I drive north out of Sydney, say on Boxing Day, I will have not have to worry about queuing for recharging with hundreds of other BEVs after 300kms. In fact my SL6 can just keep going and going - could get to Brisbane without stopping. Thats why this car is good for this country right now. I'll happily get a BEV in 2-3 years time when range averages and the recharging networks have improved. And btw Toyota have bought the BYD DMI technology.
TESLA a small mid size sedan starts at 54900$, sealion 6 a large mid size SUV starts at 48990$ plus 2500$ cash back. Right off the bat there is a 8.4k$ difference. If you take that 8.4k$ and say the fuel is 1.9$ per litre at 6L/100 Km, it ll take 73k Kms or around 6-8 years for us to break even if I just purely run it as an ICE vehicle. If I run it as an EV, it's just same as Tesla plus I have 8.5k $ more than you, plus I have a large SUV, plus I don't have to drive with range anxiety or with a thought whether half way through my trip with family or friends that I planned won't be ruined on scenarios whether I will get a charger or super charger or if there is a queue for it. Going to EV is inevitable in the future but for now with the infrastructure here, my money is on the SEALION 6 for at least next 5-7 years.
With thanks to our sponsors: carloop - Australian EV Data & Ownership Trends
carloop.com.au/
First Service of our 4 month old SL6 today, and it was FREE, due to our 5 star review.
Bought AWD version circa AUD$52k, under a novated lease, took advantage of FBT waiver, etc before it ceases for PHEV's next year. We charge daily with home solar panels, during peak times. And drive mostly EV mode around Sydney. Having petrol as a back up is needed for our family, we travel farther parts of NSW for sporting events during weekends. Don't like waiting at public charges. Have been recommended from BYD to charge daily to 80%, except one day per week to 100%. Use petrol mode at least once a week, not much though. Petrol tank is no more than 25% full, unless on longer weekend drives. BYD team in Alexandria are amazing, always available for any questions even post purchase.
Sport Turbo mode, is on another level, drive is firm, can go 0-100km/hr in circa 5.8seconds.
But we seldom use this , ECO EV is sufficient and fast waiting at traffic lights.
There's so many features, Karaoke function brings so much joy to passengers especially teenagers.
The car looks damn sexy too, designed by former German designer for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini.
It's just a luxury car at a non luxury price!
Simply value for money for us, and suited our lifestyle.
Happy BYD 🛞.
Thanks for sharing and great to hear you’re enjoying the car! I’m impressed you got a free service after a 5⭐️Review … first I’ve heard of this perk! 😁
The first service was free for any review regardless of rating. Free OTA updates, sunshade for warmer ☀️ days, are great some EV's don't offer. It doesn't however come with Sentry mode, so we installed a separate parking detection camera. Enjoy your invaluable insights !
Thanks sounds like a great review. I will be getting one very soon, in the process anyway. Do you have a proper charging station at home? I am renting and won't have any source of charging at home except a standard plug if it reaches do you think that's feasible or will this be a big issue for me? Not sure if you know was just curious and throwing it out there. Cheers
@@simonsez2891 Yes we do have a charger at home, as we have solar panels.
BYD Alexandria gave us a free home charging box worth $1k, as part of an intro special, being offered to the first 3000 customers purchasing the SL6.
Sorry, I'm not sure how a standard plug for charging will go, but I hope you find the info seek.😊
@Clim326 Thanks for responding 😊 I think I can get away just using a wall plug from other things I've read but I guess I will find out. Kids are excited to test the karaoke mode you mentioned 😁
I'm a BEV man but its interesting to know how the BYD PHEV works. Great real world educational video. Well done Ludicrous.
Cheers! I was curious to know how it functioned in practice also 👍
It can't be a more complete review than this one, couldn't expect less from you!
Glad you enjoyed it! I tried to pack as much detail as I could into it 😁
I really wish he had collapsed the rear seats to get a feel for the full boot space, any gaps, and the seat angle. Otherwise yeah great review
love the real-world testing and implications. Theory and specs from the manufacturer only tell part of the story. Nice Job Ludicrous!
Real world testing is our specialty! Glad you enjoyed it 🥂
I am considering getting one, and this is the first place I thought to look for a review. Also got my at to 3 after watching your videos on byd. Very helpful!
Glad you found my content helpful!
Hey mate as always very informative video. Keep up the good work
Pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏
The ability to set the reserve to say 70% would also be useful for say camping so you could arrive with a solid reserve for VTL use.
Yup that's a reasonable case for setting SoC high
Good job Tom, you get my votes as Australia’s best NEV reviewer
@@Ausijoeblow Thank you! That’s very kind of you
By far the best review to date. Thank you
Wow, thanks!
Hello, Just found your site I am in the UK and this car is the Seal UDMI, I did test drive it as all the UK reviews complain about the suspension, I did not notice the suspension being wallowy, or the steering too light, maybe I did not drive it hard enough, the comfort model coming to the UK they say has 77miles range from the battery which would do most of my local drives, and being a higher car easier to get in and out, plus for the price the equipment that you get is fantastic, the only other car that floats my boat is the Kia EV3 so not a PHEV at all, but to get the same bits is like nearly £10k more!
Great measured reviews
Pleasure 🙏 and I agree the suspension felt no worse than most other electric SUVs I’ve reviewed on our roads
@@LudicrousFeed just wondering if you have tried the EV3, just becoming available here, looks a great car but 10k is a lot of difference, base model similar price to BYD, but no toys as such
EV3 is not available yet here in Aus but will definitely review once it is
@@LudicrousFeed how do you find the acceleration in the BYD? I currently drive a IX3 full EV and I find that rapid enough to get out of trouble, although most of my driving will be rural
@@DianeMarshall-z3k It's fine - quick enough for most situations
Good review. It definitely fits the bill on price, performance and range. Much appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed it 🙏
I really like this BYD DMI hybrid. Suit me perfectly.
Great to hear 👍
I know that you had a test drive in China of the Shark 6, but will you be doing a similar review of it locally over five days? Great review as always by the way.
Thanks! Sure I’d be happy to perform the same demo … and maybe ask a tradie their opinion 😜
@LudicrousFeed Fantastic! Looking forward to it.
Very informative video, thank you. Two questions: 1) Is there a tachometer for the ICE? If so what is the typical RPM when it's charging the battery? 2) Is there a charge power meter? At what rate (kW) does the ICE charge the battery? Thank you in advance.
Great question which I don’t have the answers for unfortunately. I don’t recall seeing those metrics on screen during the loan …
One more question: I assume cabin heat is provided via a heat pump while in EV mode. But when the ICE is running, is the heat provided by the ICE's coolant? TIA.
When full throttle, the engine will generate charge to the electric motor, so motor will be powered by battery and engine at the same time to reach max output.
Good explanation
当你全油门的时候去，是发动机和电机一起驱动车轮，不是单纯的发电 那么简单。
Super detailed video, thanks.
Pleasure
thanks Tom for an excellent review of this car. I've owned a Chevy Volt plugin more than 10 years ago. I'm ready to buy one again. But still on the fence to buy this car. Hope that Geely will asap launch their L7 PHEV to give some real competition. L7 is a better car in terms of passive safety, ride quality and software. The 2025 model will have the safest-in-class Aegis LFP battery and a more fuel efficient hybrid powertrain, while Sealion 6 still uses Gen 4 DM-I. Gen 5 will use a dual-clutch instead of the smooth and low maintenance planetary gear that Geely and Toyota use.
Glad you enjoyed the video 👍
For us the sealion 6 hybrid powertrain works as diring the week we do our less than 80km and run full electric and charge it every night. As we are just using the supplyed wall socket it takes all night to charge up again. On the weekend if we aren't taking the diesel ute or towing we take the sealion and use far less fuel than we would on a normal week end.
@@mrplow86 Great example of intended usage 👏
Great review Tom - actually makes more sense and will appeal to some cautious folk....but if you only do 80km per day then full electric is fine. Well done
Thanks! Hence hopefully a gateway for an eventual BEV 🙏
Tom excellent video. Any idea of when production of the SL6 with improved suspension will commence?
@@YSA920 Thanks! No specific info at this stage yet
Nice detailed review. OMG what was the Toll bill for that test run?
I don’t usually receive a bill … 😬
Excellent vlog and by far the most comprehensive technical review of BYD DM system i have seen.
I have been very curious to fully understand this technology. Just have one question:
What happens to overall rated power of the car when on highway battery is down to 25% and the engine is supplying power to both battery and axle? Do you feel a drop in acceleration at this point or do you get same power to axle when battery was fully charged?
Thanks so much! I wanted to pack as much detail as I could into this video. I didn’t pay much attention to the raw numbers but anecdotally it felt pretty similar at 100kph whenever the engine powered the axles
@@LudicrousFeed thanks. Were u able to observe the fuel economy once the engine starts charging the battery and powering the axles?
My current understanding is that the engine should be able to fully charge the 18kwh battery (from 25-100%) in less than half hr after which engine should shut off and car should switch back to run on EV mode.
@@mazbpl The engine charges the battery via the generator remarkably quickly. The car will drive on EV mode all the way down to 25%
Watch from 55:18 for fuel consumption stats if you be were to drive it purely as a hybrid with minimal input from the battery … it’s close to 5L/100km
Nice vid!😊
@@StrollingSydney Thanks! 😃
After reaching 25% (lowest setting of battery) does the motor still provide power to axle or is axle powered entirely by engine?
It seems depends on speed. On high speed, the engine will join to power the axis but it will only charge the battery in low speed.
Watch from 54:13
The car will determine the most efficient way to drive … at a higher speed the engine may provide power to the axle but most of the time it will just generate to charge the battery letting the electric motor drive the wheels
Have you seen any Suprima S in Australia?
Not yet
OK I take back what I said re Phevs , Toms video is actually the first time someone has tested in different states of SOC and speed. I am still not a convert but there is an edge case for people wanting to go part EV. IMO it seems pretty complex I just wander about servicing down the track.
I really wanted to do a deep dive into how this car operates ... hopefully it came across that way in the video!
Ive had a prius before the model y. The prius was doing pretty much the same thing but can only drive on ev at 40kph max. In relation to what the ice motor does on the drive.
@@millersan-s7x That’s been my experience also with driving Toyota hybrid vehicles …
Hey Tom, this was a great review. I’m considering getting one myself (Melbourne). I am curious about the bit you mentioned regarding its suspension. Did you find it floaty or wallowy when you were driving on the highway over 100kmph? If not, what month in 2024 was it made? Apparently they have updated suspension only on the newer models coming to Australia. If you’ve got the latest suspension, maybe I’ll get one too if I ordered now.
Thanks
Yes apparently the suspension has been upgraded but this car was an older car (7000km on the odo). It was reasonably comfortable on the short highway test I did but you’re better off asking real owners on other forums about the suspension on longer drives
Would like to see how safe of this car : cruise control, lane keeping, front and back braking before impacts
Me too. Would love to see a comparison between similar vehicles in this price range and also when compared to EV and ICE powertrains also
Great video and lots of details... EV range is just nice for my daily drive, too ❤🎉
Me too!
@@LudicrousFeedI can use EV ECO mode everyday
What colour was the paint? Looks like Silver, but they don’t offer that colour.
@@Wicksy007 I want to say Harbour Grey
Tom, do you think you could potentially see a situation where the motor never turns over and the petrol gets stale in the tank?
Cheers!
Hmm ... I suppose if you drive it slowly around the city every day and charge it every night ... then the engine could potentially never be used 🤔
@LudicrousFeed Thanks for the reply Tom.
I guess it's possible 🤔
How do they service these vehicles? If you can predominantly drive it on EV only, what happens at your 20000 km service if the petrol engine has only done maybe 1000km? Are you going to pay for something that you don't really need?
Good question … might be a good video if anyone is willing to volunteer their experience when the time comes!
BYD say drive in HEV at least 10% of the time. I guess they will change the oil at 20,000 no matter what and this might be overkill. I have done 7000kms in my SL6, about 3000 of those in HEV. So next service my HEV use might be about 8,000kms. On the plus side the SL6 engine will only get light use and only runs on long trips - none of the short trips that are so bad for ICE car engines.
Oil has a finite life independent of kms
I was laughing hard when you said 25% living on the edge. I would have said the exact same thing. Lol
🤣Yup! You know what I’m talking about 😅
fuel won't go stale for many months. it's best to use RON98 which can last 6+ months in the tank without issues.
Cheers 🥂 Others are saying in the comments also that BYD have recommended at least 10% HEV usage for this reason
Does it has Cruise control function?
Sure does
Would be great if you could cover the following in a future video: Re overnight charging. If you stay with your existing energy company and don't get an EV plan or don't have solar or a battery. Using an example of 35c/kwh, it costs around $5 to charge 75% of the battery. I have a tiguan 1.4tsi and to travel 80kms would probably cost $9 in fuel to travel the same distance (please check if I've calculated something wrong). Makes you question whether it's worth it.
There are some EV specific plans out there with cheaper overnight tariffs and even some with free charging during the day … these fuel savings add up over the years
@LudicrousFeed Some EV plans hit you with double peak tarrifs during peak times (Ovo). The electricity companies need to make their money back somehow! I don't think EV plans are for everyone even if you have an EV which is why I used a 35c/kwh example. I think most people will stay with their existing energy company
That’s why I have a PW to cover my peak periods 😁
@LudicrousFeed Me too and a battery but not everyone does which I believe lowers the case for buying a car like this. I'd love to see some real calculations for those out there that live in an apartment/don't have a driveway to park and charge. I guess I'm just being devils advocate for those who think they're saving money by buying when actually they might not be saving at all.
Doesn’t your calculation mean that the EV is almost half the cost of the petrol?
hi from uk. I came across your channel and reviews as looking to buy one (Seal u dm-i in the UK?). One thing it'd be great to get your input on is towbars. I'm really struggling to find a BYD towbar, let alone plug-in electrics (rather than light wire taps). If you have any information, I'd be very grateful.😀
I normally refer viewers to evstealthsolutions.com.au/ for towing solutions
A complex beast and how many owners will ever plug it in is the other question of all the units they've sold. You mentioned your clubs and driver does that mean Riz is your driver? ;)
I strongly encourage all SL6 owners to plug in regularly! It’ll save you in the long run 🙏
Never thought I would ever see you reviewing a car with a petrol tank.
Lol, I had to take a cold shower 😂
How did you Like the Drive compared to the Seal
The drive quality is closer to the Atto 3 than the Seal imo
Simple question: Model Y or this?
Not so simple answer 😅
Hey Tom did you have to go home and wash your hands until they were raw …… or didn’t you feel unclean from the experience? Don’t feel bad it’s a good option for a number of people with special requirements ….
😭😭 For the greater good …
I can still smell the fumes 😷
I recommend Sea Lion 7. Sea Lion 6 is an old platform, and the driving experience of Sea Lion 7 is better than that of Seal
We’re still unsure whether Australia SL7 will be on the new EVO3.0 platform or on the existing 3.0 platform (same as Seal) … that could potentially make a big difference as to whether it outsells other similar cars in that segment eg XPeng G6
@@LudicrousFeed The Sea Lion 7, listed in Hong Kong, uses the same 3.0 platform and 400V as Seal.
But it utilizes some of the 3.0EVO charging technology.
New motor
@@Pengpeng001 Many people overlook the fact that the current gen BYD Seal (2023-24) is actually already 800V! ev-database.org/car/2001/BYD-SEAL-825-kWh-RWD-Design
If you run the petrol engine only 4 times a year beyond it's EV capabilities (family holidays), then I'm curious to know if storing fuel in the car all year and barely running the ICE can be bad for the engine?
That’s also a question I posed later in the video … 👍
@@LudicrousFeed my bad
I think thats one of the reasons BYD say use 95/98 fuel. They also say HEV use should be a minimum of 10%.
Hey Tom, you getting any free tickets to give out for the upcoming Sydney International EV AutoShow?
@@mashoook Will discuss on Wednesday’s live stream!
@@LudicrousFeed managed to get some ;)
This video just confirms for me the superiority of BEV's.
This experience did for me too! 😜
Hopefully it’ll encourage others to look at BEVs …
@@lm3718 how so? I would rather have a PHEV . It’s more versatile
It's old tech, unnecessary engineering. @@misterjay4347
Couldn’t agree more with lm3718, that and the insecurity of hybrid owners😂
@@misterjay4347 For me, PHEV is an overly complex engineering solution. PHEV still spews toxic fossil fuels out to a planet that remains under stress - and what for? Range anxiety is largely solved with BEV technology now (and improving rapidly).
I actually have a 6 year old PHEV but have never seen it as an ongoing technology. The fossil fuel industry are pouring billions into creating this PHEV demand surge, and it's not great.
23:33 161 kw it’s not VTOL it’s kw charged. BYD should relabel that
That makes more sense! I thought that was a bit strange …
Using lots of the word "interesting" while driving on M2. I think it can well be replaced with "intelligent". Because it switches between HEV and EV, and switches between using the engine to the motor or the regenerator according to your speed and needs.
Yup I think I used the I word a couple of times too 😁
Keep up the good work, mate. Thank you 👍
So…the fuel consumption is playing around…22km/li.
Is this video BYD sponsored?
Not sponsored. They merely supplied the press car for the week for me to review
I have one of these cars. I hate how alot of the "buttons" touch capacitive sensing. like the lights, just end up becoming oil from my fingers.
And don't get me started on the lack of tactility with the right-hand side air-conditioning short-cuts, when i'm driving i find i need to lock down, perhaps some brail bumps would be nice. And and the the lack of any physical air-con adjustment control is driving me insane. like i have to learn theres weird gestures for the touch screen that is so awkward while driving. I don't care if it's some bluetooth stick on control, I want dials and buttons that i can grab without looking while driving. I like the over-head sun-roof controls, makes me feel like a pilot. But why have they gone with a flat capacitive touch controls, so annoying to be poking around one-handedly while driving
And is it me or the 7KW single phase ac charging speed just pathetic. give me the full 22Kw please
but not as much as the pathetically small rear view window that i swear i can only see obstacles/cars 50% of the time. Also the supposed cool storage space underneath the centre console screen, is just so awkward to chuck stuff in, it slides around on the plastic when braking, and you have to be an olympic gymnast in order to pug anything into those USB ports, you just cant see where you're plugin into.
the build quality is shoddy especially when it comes to the foot-well and well as rear underside. i feel like there should be some underside plate protecting the catalytic converter. It's openly exposed pretty high off the ground.
I still don't trust the intelligent cruise control. phantom braking and it just still can't take corners. The radar follow function need tuning, It brakes a little too late for my liking and accelerate too slowly, when the car in front has left.
I like the the lock/unlock buttons on the door handles, i found myself using them a lot. But when i unlock i find myself pulling on the handle too quickly, leaving the door stuck half-way.
The suspension is not great especially the rear axel. you feel like you have the fattest ass whenever you go over a speed hump a little too fast.
The rear seat are'n't genuinely reclinable, I wouldn't sleep in the car over night. And there's no adjustable headrest height on the driver seat. So annoying whenever you recline. And because the seats are bucket-style seats, i find myself quashing the right-hand thigh support wall whenever getting in or out of the car. I forsee this as becoming an issue.
There is no safety sensor in the boot door OR the sunroof. I almost had fingers pinched. Obvious safety devices seem to be overlooked and missing.
The subwoofer/base speaker need tuning in my car. it sound muddy and damaged. the base is not clear enough.
the "hey BYD" voice command can't text people yet, or reply.
The stock tyres are terrible. I can easily get will spin when the road is slightly damp. And the cabin noise when at highway-speeds, is so defening you wo'nt hear the petrol engine come on. but when you pull over, that 2.4L 4 cylinder is concerningly loud. And i wish there was a way to charge up more than 25% when you've drained the battery. BYD says battery range is about 100km fore the dynamic model. This is a half truth. the car considers the battery to by flat at 25% state of charge. So in reality the most pure EV range is 75km at most.
the pace of software update seem to be slow. BYD has a lot of catching up to Tesla. Their App store is dryer my grandmother's V. there's not even apple music. Just let me install the google play store or something. Why does BYD have to gate-keep the apps, the pathetic 3 year warranty on the infotainment is already running open-source android.
The built-in navigation app is shit compared to google maps, It doesn't even have all the EV charging locations loaded up, Only ones from BP and one other. It feels like an unfair advertising deal has been made here.
Otherwise everything is great.
If your car has a 2.4L engine, then it's not a Sealion 6.
@@harrylo2316 i must have gotten the numbers wrong. Byd only sells 1 phev
If it’s so bad, why did you buy it?
@@stephenbarber6381 In all fairness to OP, most of the factors listed cannot be discovered through a test drive and only become apparent after a period of ownership.
1000km road trip? can we test marketing bs?
Hmmm imo, nothing really to be gained by showing it can travel 1000km on the engine 🤷♂️ … hopefully an EV can do that kind of range one day!
On my Seal the auto steer is fine.
It’s a very nice looking car and a fantastic price for what it is, BUT no matter how many videos i watch, I still cant help thinking that hybrids are the worst of both worlds. 60 litres of Dino juice for a 90kw petrol engine in a 2.1 ton car doesn’t sound like a great benefit to the environment. The EV is about 150kw which is plenty for most uses, but the small battery means you lose the benefits of charging at home, like me or from solar panels, like my father in law does on his ev. The range of 1000 km is almost totally from the petrol engine, so why have the electric engine? Also, why charge a battery from Dino juice? Again, not efficient or friendly to the environment.Two drivetrains to service, all the inefficiencies and maintenance of a petrol engine. I keep going round and round in circles on hybrids. I wonder how many people buy hybrids because they are frightened of not having a petrol tank, so it’s a security blanket to have a hybrid.
@@addsfour3499 I think your last sentence sums things up … people still need that tank as a security blanket until our charging infrastructure catches up
But is it really?
For many it will be
@@LudicrousFeed yeah definitely will be, I went for it because of its very similar ICE design of the overall whole vehicle, it’s like middle ground and you really now can see what benefits it brings - but as I know your EV weighted you’ll probably disagree with me saying my reason for not going full ev eg. Seal last year was because I don’t think in my job where I may need to drive long distances at short notice that I can rely on ev charge infrastructure reliability when needed. Sealion for me has been great around 6800km total 2 month, 315L fuel used 600kWh charged. I pay avg 18c per kWh at home with me ups and down on Amber and it has been working really good for me. To be honest the fuel use is quite fair when you are resorted to using it as well.
这是中国汽车市场销量最高的SUV车型，所以无需考虑其可靠性。
We’ll see how these vehicles fare over time
PHEVS do not make any sense.
If you have access to a powerpoint to recharge then a BEV is the best option. If you do not have access to a powerpoint then an ICE vehicle is the best option.
The VTL function of BYD DMI makes it perfect for camping and as an emergency power supply for a house after a natural disaster. Overall, petrol is still easier to find in both situations. I am planning to buy this one or the BYD Shark just for camping purposes.
Having been in this game for a few years now ... I've come to realise that you can throw all the evidence at people that EVs are feasible to own in our major cities however buyer confidence is everything and potential owners will always consider the 1% scenario where they need that extra 500km of range (even though it may never eventuate). This sentiment is probably the reason why PHEVs like the SL6 continue to exist until the time comes when our EV charging infrastructure rollout matches the needs of our population (real or perceived)
@@LudicrousFeed I'm from the Philippines. PHEV fits perfectly in our still nascent charging infrastructure. It's also a bonus that it is 20% cheaper than its BEV equivalent make.
I prefer pure ev
tbh so do I. But for some people, this may be the stopgap measure until they're more comfortable/confident with the EV range
@@LudicrousFeed understandable, however two separate systems to do one thing, when either one of them can do it very well, albeit using different energy sources
Tom, this isn't a BEV. It's a PHEV - A more expensive ICE vehicle that is the worst of both worlds.
No reason to review this here.
I appreciate the comment and believe me I resisted a long time before taking this out for a spin. After a few days I was pining for an EV! If it encourages others to look at electric vehicles then it would have been worth doing this review.
Would you prefer someone not to buy this and keep their old clapper diesel? Some people don't want to deep dive into a pure EV, be happy people are trying to curb their emissions outputs in some capacity
@@Nathan-rn8yg Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle.
They are in order of importance. The best thing many people can do is delay purchasing a new vehicle and when they do, buy a proper EV. PHEV is a solution in search of a problem.
@@emmett3067 In a perfect world, sure, but we live in a world far from perfect. If all apartment blocks had proper EV charging infrastructure, not the slow chargers for the rental tenants, I could understand just go EV. I don't understand how a "Phev is a solution in search of a problem" It may add some complexity to the overall package (we have trained professionals for a reason), but a motor is a motor & and engine is still an engine. Maintenance of the petrol engine doesn't change, still requires Oil, coolant, spark plugs ECT. The electric motor still doesn't require any more maintenance as it does in a pure bev. We should be encouraging reducing emissions, EV or not.
@@emmett3067 I have a SL6. I can get 100kms using 75% of battery in the city, but next time I drive north out of Sydney, say on Boxing Day, I will have not have to worry about queuing for recharging with hundreds of other BEVs after 300kms. In fact my SL6 can just keep going and going - could get to Brisbane without stopping. Thats why this car is good for this country right now. I'll happily get a BEV in 2-3 years time when range averages and the recharging networks have improved. And btw Toyota have bought the BYD DMI technology.
Just buy a Tesla and save your tears!
I’ve got the popcorn ready 😆🍿
TESLA a small mid size sedan starts at 54900$, sealion 6 a large mid size SUV starts at 48990$ plus 2500$ cash back. Right off the bat there is a 8.4k$ difference. If you take that 8.4k$ and say the fuel is 1.9$ per litre at 6L/100 Km, it ll take 73k Kms or around 6-8 years for us to break even if I just purely run it as an ICE vehicle. If I run it as an EV, it's just same as Tesla plus I have 8.5k $ more than you, plus I have a large SUV, plus I don't have to drive with range anxiety or with a thought whether half way through my trip with family or friends that I planned won't be ruined on scenarios whether I will get a charger or super charger or if there is a queue for it. Going to EV is inevitable in the future but for now with the infrastructure here, my money is on the SEALION 6 for at least next 5-7 years.
@@ChitraDurga-is7xm another Sealioner here. Give me FIVE you fcuking legend 🥳🥳
sorry, just cant buy a Tesla what with that Trump-supporting plonker running the company - and I think I speak for many
Don’t charge your Tesla in your garage. Live in LA, many accidents occurred here.
I do not want to watch Hybrid reviews on this channel.
Feel free to watch the literally hundreds of other BEV videos I’ve posted over the years