2019 BYD E6 Reviews

BYD might have provided key insight into future car prices for its Aussie vehicles.Standard BYD flagship models will be priced no more than about 300,000 yuan in China (roughly $62,000), according to Chinese media.The news comes after BYD released pricing for its upcoming Da Han (or Big Han) flagship large electric sedan aimed at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in China. It confirmed the Da Han will wear a maximum starting price tag of 299,900 yuan (roughly $62,000), just shy of the 300,000 yuan cap. This leaves BYD’s premium sub-brands like Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang room to occupy more expensive brackets. BYD’s latest pricing insight provides a glimpse into how its Australian line-up could be priced moving forwards.An imported new car from China usually incurs a 20 to 30 per cent price rise when it goes on sale here, so the cap is more likely to be around the $80,000 mark compared to $62,000. BYD’s most expensive model on sale right now is the range-topping variant of the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid three-row large SUV, starting from $70,990 (before on-road costs). This is not an exact science partly because BYD sells some of its models under different sub-brands and names in Australia compared to China. The Denza B5 is known as the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in China, while the incoming BYD M9 people mover goes by BYD Xia in its local market. This news does demonstrate BYD’s commitment to offering its cars at affordable price points in Australia in the future. Chery Group has a growing list of sub-brands in Australia, adopting a different strategy to BYD.It seeks to capture different buyer demographics through its sub-brands as opposed to bracketing features at higher price points. The majority of Chery Group cars in Australia rides on the brand’s T1X platform, including the Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8. Chery relies on its T1X architecture for its sub-brands, with the Jaecoo J5 and incoming Lepas L6 riding on an updated version of the platform. Chery uses styling tweaks to cater for different buyers.The Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5 and Lepas L6 all share similar set-ups with minor price differences, but each is designed to appeal to a specific lifestyle compared to a price point.

BYD has officially revealed a new ute in Brazil that’s more lifestyle-oriented than the body-on-frame Shark 6.Dubbed the BYD Mako, this new ute is based on the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, which has a more passenger-oriented monocoque platform.This therefore makes it a rival to the likes of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’ll also form as a rival to Toyota’s forthcoming Corolla Cross-based ute.Given this car was unveiled in Brazil, it seems the target market for this new ute is Latin America. It’s unclear if it will be offered in any other markets.“The Shark 6 is well accepted in this market and the lineup is pretty strong right now following the recent introduction of the Shark 6 Dynamic Cab Chassis and 2.0-litre Performance pickup. We’re pretty happy with that for now,” said a BYD Australia spokesperson.“But sure, we are always looking at what might be available, then assess whether it may fill a gap in our line-up and if there would be sufficient customer demand to make a business case work.”The BYD Mako is the Chinese carmaker’s second ute it currently offers, slotting underneath the top-selling Shark 6.According to previous reports, it features a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain marrying together a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Total system outputs are 166kW and 400Nm.It’s understood that initial versions of the Mako will only be front-wheel drive, however it’s expected BYD will launch an all-wheel drive version at a later date.Interestingly the Mako retains a multi-link rear suspension set-up, like the Sealion 6, but it’s claimed to have reinforced springs and shock absorbers. This type of suspension set-up typically doesn’t offer as much payload as leaf-sprung utes.At this stage now payload or towing capacity figures have been detailed.The BYD Mako that was shown off in Brazil appears to still be in prototype guise.On the outside it looks rather similar to the Sealion 6, especially on the front half, but there’s a slightly different grille set-up, more aggressive roof rails and different 18-inch alloy wheels.The rear is where things make a sharp departure from the Sealion 6. There’s a large tub with a full-width LED lightbar for the tail-lights, BYD embossing on the tailgate, as well as a soft tonneau cover.Inside the prototype nature of this ute is even more prominent due to the series of kill switches, monitoring equipment and black tape to conceal design details.However, it looks virtually identical to the Sealion 6. This means there is a digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system, as well as a small amount of physical buttons and switches on the centre console.At this stage BYD Australia hasn’t officially confirmed whether the Mako ute is coming to Australia.Despite this, BYD’s most senior executive recently promised a new model designed for Australia would launch during 2026. It’s unclear whether this is referring to the Mako or another vehicle."We have another special model, just for Australian customers," Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division Liu told CarsGuide.Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia Stephen Collins was pressed for more information, but would only say that the brand will “have more to say about that later in the year”.The larger, body-on-frame BYD Shark 6 has been a runaway sales success in Australia. So far in 2026 a total of 10,709 examples have been sold.

BYD is exporting its budget electric car formula globally. The brand has its sights on affordable EV markets in Europe and other markets, with technology from its Racco kei car forming the basis, according to a report in Nikkei Asia. The Racco launched in July 2026 as BYD’s first attempt to break into Japan's very popular kei car segment, and its already got strong early demand. Kei cars are common in Japan, representing an affordable and practical electric car option for compact roads with limited parking room. BYD is looking to adapt the Racco's efficient ‘X-Pack’ battery unit to tackle Europe’s new M1E mini-car segment in the next few years. The Chinese carmaker will avoid pricey development costs by adopting the Racco's technology for the new European segment.The X-Pack is made up of key electrical parts integrated into a single battery unit fitted under the car’s floor to make the unit more compact. The up to 36kWh Blade battery boasts a quoted driving range of 320km, making the Racco the first kei car with a driving range exceeding 300km. It also features 100kW fast charging, with an estimated 10 to 80 per cent charge time of roughly 20 minutes. This efficient and practical set-up makes it perfect for buyers seeking a cheap electric car for urban driving.The European Union’s ‘M1E’ electric car classification requires cars to be less than 4.2m long (compared to 3.4m with Japanese kei cars). Carmakers who build models under M1E could be eligible for subsidies, with the EU eager to combat imported competition with locally built cheap EVs.Chinese carmakers have been plagued in Europe by tariffs on imported vehicles, as the EU seeks to address alleged foreign government subsidies pricing out local brands. BYD is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Hungary before the end of the year, so building its new mini-car there could make sense.The BYD Racco was effectively ruled out for Australia by the brand’s executives, because it was solely built for the Japanese market. Kei cars usually don’t comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).The Racco would require extensive reengineering to achieve adequate side-impact crash protection and rectify other safety concerns.The Honda Super-One is sold in Australia, spawning out of the N-One kei car to become substantially longer, wider and taller than its sibling.It also incurs a noticeable price hike on its smaller Japanese-only inspiration, demonstrating the prohibitive nature of conversion for budget-focused manufacturers.  It is expected cars built under the M1E classification will be valid under ADRs here because Europe and Australia derive design rules from similar principles. This could open the door for a European-built BYD mini-car to hit Aussie showrooms in the future. It would need to be built in right-hand drive and satisfy the business case to be a sufficiently cheap competitor Down Under.

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia.The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers.The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions.The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year.The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui.It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover. It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards. The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet. In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW. It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards. BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car. Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability. BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year. The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack. It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540. 

BYD is taking aim at the luxury electric sedan market with its latest model.The brand has opened presales for its Da Han, or ‘Great Han’ full-size sedan that has the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW i7 and Porsche Taycan in its sights. It measures in at 5256mm long, 1999mm wide, 1510mm high, with a 3130mm wheelbase, so it shapes up similarly to the petrol- and diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class.With more than 1000km of driving range, it could be a game-changer for buyers in the market for a long-distance cruiser.The car is available in two variants. A rear-wheel drive single motor making 370kW, or an all-wheel drive dual motor set-up boosting power to 570kW. The Da Han’s main attraction is a huge 1008km driving range from a large 102kWh battery, potentially blowing its key competition out of the water.This figure has been calculated using the more lenient CLTC regime, so it's likely to be 20 to 30 per cent lower in the real world, in closer proximity to other electric sedans.The AWD Da Han has a reduced driving range of 880km (CLTC), due its more power hungry dual electric motors and extra traction.DC fast charging from 10 to 97 per cent takes just nine minutes courtesy of the brand's new 1000-volt electrical architecture. BYD’s new sedan will also be available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, making up to 400kW. Its 55kWh battery offers as much as 470km of EV-only driving range.There is no official word on the Da Han’s potential Australian future, but it is unlikely to be any time soon as BYD’s global ambitions for the model remain unclear. BYD routinely engineers models for right-hand drive, and if this happens for the Da Han, its chances of an Australian launch increase significantly.BYD's local branch is taking sedans seriously, and has already introduced the Seal and Seal 6, with a larger Seal 7 also approved for sale in Australia.  The Da Han will start in China from 250,000 yuan, which is roughly $52,000, but it would be more expensive in Australia, likely above the $60,000 mark. 

This could be a huge problem for EV owners in Australia. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the next big step to unlocking the full potential of electric cars. V2G allows an EV battery to send its power back to the grid, allowing owners to make money at peak times.Electric cars sales are already booming in Australia, but this added functionality gives them an even sharper edge over petrol- and diesel-powered alternatives. However, using V2G in Australia currently risks voiding the manufacturer's warranty of the car.Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Commercial Alina Dini told CarsGuide current warranties generally weren’t designed to account for undertaking V2G. “Unless it has been stipulated in those terms and conditions that vehicle to grid is allowed, it’s generally not,” Dini said. V2G can have a significant impact on battery condition, depleting its health more rapidly than standard use. Most EVs in Australia are not designed to have two-way power transfer, but that are a range of third-party chargers that can facilitate V2G capabilities.Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager Future Mobility and Government Relations Scott Nargar said third-party V2G set-ups don't allow the car to be in control of the energy transfer.This can lead to overheating and other safety issues, with any damage not eligible for repair under warranty.Hyundai Australia states that none of its vehicles support V2G in Australia."The use of unapproved bidirectional charging equipment introduces safety risks, potential vehicle damage and warranty implications for your vehicle," Hyundai's website said.These set-ups use workarounds to enable V2G that is otherwise prohibited by the car's software.Most brands including BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and Zeekr warn against the use of unapproved V2G set-ups, with it risking the validity of the warranty.Mitsubishi remains one of few brands to actively support V2G in its Outlander PHEV SUV warranty, but it suggests repeated fast charging will reduce battery capacity.V2G is not as much of a safety issue as it is one of technology moving quicker than the rules, according to Ms Dini. Many brands are laying the groundwork for a full-scale uptake of V2G.“What we’re finding now is that all of the automotive OEMs that we work with are having a really hard look at their warranties," Ms Dini said."They’re having conversations with their stakeholders overseas and looking to reshape the commercial arrangements for selling cars."Brands are also collaborating with energy providers and government agencies in trials that will see the technology become mainstream within the next couple of years. BYD has partnered with Amber Electric and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are working with AGL. Developments are expected to be announced within the next few months.

BYD’s Ti7 hybrid 4WD has been given a serious update in China. BYD has released a new long-range variant of the Ti7 in China that provides some further enhancements to the new SUV. The Ti7 is a plug-in hybrid large SUV from BYD’s adventure-focused sub-brand FangChengBao and it could be on the cards for Australia. BYD sells the more rugged B5 and B8 FangChengBao models under its Denza sub-brand in Australia. The Ti7 doesn't use a ladder frame chassis like the B5 or B8, but uses a car-based monocoque frame instead.The Ti7 recently launched in the United Kingdom — a fellow right-hand drive — badged the BYD Ti7. The long-range Ti7 is equipped with a 50kWh battery offering up to 315km of pure electric driving range, according to generous CLTC standards. This is a step up from the 36kWh unit that only offered up to 200km. The UK version of the Ti7 has a quoted range of 119km as per more reliable WLTP evaluation, so expect the long-range to have a real-world EV range of under 300km. It is available in two variants, both powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up.The single electric motor produces 200kW, while the all-wheel drive dual-motor layout boosts power to 360kW.This differs from the standard Ti7 that has three electric motors, with a total output of 300kW. The car can also now DC fast charge at up to 158kW, meaning a 30 to 80 per cent fill-up takes less than 14 minutes. It measures in at 4999mm long, 1995mm wide, 1865mm high, with a wheelbase 2920mm, but overseas examples are likely to be bigger in line with the standard Ti7. The long-range Ti7 has much of the same interior specification as the standard car, including a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 26.0-inch head-up display. BYD Australia told CarsGuide earlier this year the Ti7 is not on its radar, but there is strong speculation it will arrive soon. The car is already available in right-hand drive in the UK, which is often a strong indicator it will launch Down Under, similar to many other BYD models. BYD Australia has also trademarked the Ti7 name locally, which is no guarantee it will come here as brands often protect their names so others can't use them.The Ti7 is available with fully-electric or PHEV power in China, but there is potential for both options to launch in Australia.It is unclear whether the Ti7 will fall under BYD or luxury sub-brand Denza when it gets here.The FangChengBao Bao 5 is on sale as the Denza B5 in Australia.China pricing starts from 195,800 (or about $41,500), rising up to 225,800 yuan (or $48,000), but expect it to be above the $50,000 mark when it arrives locally. 

Australia's top 10 sales list looks very different when automotive groups are counted together, with Hyundai and Kia rocketing up the charts and Chinese companies taking out four places in total.While vehicles might wear different names, often they are owned by the same company, such as the Volkswagen Group with VW, Skoda, Cupra, Audi and more, Toyota with Toyota and Lexuz, or Geely with Geely, Zeekr, Polestar and Lotus.Counted as groups with a single corporate owner rather than as individual brands –which, it must be pointed out, is not how Australia's official body counts sales, making this more an experiment than anything else – and the sales results look very different.At the close of July, for example, Toyota led the YTD sales charts with a total 115,550 sales. BYD nabbed second spot, with 60,192 sales, followed by Ford, Kia and Mazda, with 48,696, 48,399 and 46,960 sales. Hyundai, GWM, Chery, Tesla and Mitsubishi round out the top 10.But counting group totals rather than individual brands paints a very different picture. Toyota and Lexus still comfortably hold top spot, with 122,902 sales, but it's the Hyundai Group (Hyundai and Kia) which take second spot, with a combined 94,113. Next comes the BYD Group (BYD and Denza) with 62,885. Ford and Mazda hold onto spots four and five, even as individual players.It's spot six through 10 where things get interesting, with the Chery Group (Chery, Omoda Jaecoo) storming into spot number six with 40,522 sales. GWM remains in spot seven, while the Geely Group arrives in the top 10 with 28,089 total sales. Mitsubishi and MG (the fifth Chinese brand/group inside this new top 10) fill spots eight and nine.For Chery, the July result was enough to elevate the group to spot number four for the month – a result which did not go unnoticed at HQ."Becoming the fourth largest automotive group in Australia is a significant achievement and demonstrates how strongly Australian consumers have embraced both Chery and Omoda Jaecoo," said Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Motor Australia.   

BYD’s Fangchengbao brand has launched a new, entry-level version of its Tai 3 electric SUV in the domestic market.The Fangchengbao Tai 3 is the smallest model currently in its Titanium series of vehicles, which also includes the Tai 7 and most recently the flagship Tai 9 SUVs.Despite being an entry-level trim level, this new Tai 3 variant still has a second-generation BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that offers ultra-rapid flash charging.The 65.3kWh LFP battery pack is capable of charging from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes. This allows for a claimed range of up to 510km, according to lenient CLTC testing.Power comes from a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 240kW and 305Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds.Other versions of the Fangchengbao Tai 3 in China feature a larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack that’s also capable of ultra-rapid flash charging. It can similarly be charged from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.A rear-wheel drive version comes with the same 240kW electric motor, but with the larger battery pack it’s claimed to offer up to 620km of CLTC-claimed range.There’s also an all-wheel drive version, which adds a front-mounted electric motor for a total system output of 375kW. It is claimed to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.This flagship all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery offers up to 565km of CLTC-claimed range.In China this new, entry-level version of the Tai 3 is priced from 143,800 yuan, which equates roughly to A$30,200.It’s 10,000 yuan (~A$2100) more affordable than the rear-wheel drive version with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack. It’s priced from 153,800 yuan (~A$32,300).Lastly, the top-spec, all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 is priced from 169,800 yuan (~A$35,650).BYD’s Fangchengbao brand isn’t currently offered in Australia, however a number of its models fall under the premium Denza brand locally. These include the Fangchengbao Bao 5 and Bao 8, which are called the Denza B5 and B8, respectively, in Australia.While the Fangchengbai Tai 3 hasn’t been confirmed for an Australian launch, it is launching in markets like Costa Rica and Thailand badged as the Denza B3.The latter country is notable as it’s a right-hand drive country, like Australia. This makes a local launch of this car with Denza branding a step easier.BYD has trademarked the name B3 in Australia for use as an automobile, however this does not guarantee that the Chinese carmaker plans to launch the vehicle locally. Many carmakers trademark names to ensure other carmakers don’t use them.

2026 has been a watershed year for new vehicle sales in Australia, with the tsunami of new challenger brands from China continuing to pound our shores with full-force.It’s upset the established order on the industry leaderboard, with BYD (up 115 per cent) charging into second spot through the end of July, and sending a shudder through the hallowed halls of traditional number one, Toyota Australia, and unceremoniously relegating Ford to the third step of the podium.The rapid rise of Chery (up 71.3 per cent) and GWM (up 16.6 per cent YTD) has meant former high-ranking top 10 regulars Mazda and Hyundai have been shuffled down the order, with Mitsubishi hanging on by the skin of its teeth in tenth. A resurgent Tesla (up 88.3 per cent) sits in ninth spot, but Nissan (-33.7 per cent) and Subaru (-26.2 per cent) are out of the top 10 picture altogether.Question is, what does this furious churn of customers mean for overall sales? Is the market likely to expand, or given its historical stability, come in close to previous years?If it’s the latter, the financial writing could be on the wall for those legacy brands losing market share to newcomers offering fancy, typically electrified models full of bells and whistles at aggressive price points.So, let's start at the top. After a faltering start to the year marked by supply shortfalls of the in-demand RAV4 and HiLux, Toyota looks to be in the midst of staging a monumental comeback.RAV4 is still down over 25 per cent compared to the same point in 2025 and HiLux is close to 12 per cent behind, but in early June, Toyota Australia announced it had secured an additional 10,000 vehicles for 2026.And since then, the company said it has “worked closely with its global partners to secure further stock to help satisfy strong demand”. In fact, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas has said, "Increased supply of key models including HiLux, RAV4, Corolla Cross and bZ4X would play a key role in Toyota passing the 230,000 sales target for 2026.”It’s worth noting Toyota was the leader in 2025 with 239,863 sales, representing approximately 19.8 per cent of the total market.Which means normal programming is set to resume in terms of Toyota’s numbers and the Japanese giant’s first place positioning.But what about that cheeky upstart, BYD, riding high on the back of continued demand for its Shark 6 petrol-electric hybrid ute and the surging popularity of its Sealion 7 medium EV SUV.In fact everything from the new Atto 1 light electric hatch and Atto 2 compact EV SUV to the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8 SUVs are firing.In terms of a 2026 prediction, all BYD has said is it “would like to be in the top three by the end of the year.” We’d suggest that’ll mean a number in excess of 80,000 units and with 2025 second and third place finishers Ford and Mazda down 10.8 and 16.7 per cent, respectively so far this year, BYD’s aspiration looks well within reach. A total of 103,656 new vehicles were registered in Australia in July this year, which represents a modest 0.5 per cent increase over the same month last year (103,097 units) with the overall year-to-date number down just 0.2 per cent (710,449 vs 711,908 units).So, all this moving and shaking in the sales order clearly isn’t shifting the needle in terms of overall sales. One brand’s loss is another brand’s gain.The sales trend and numbers as they stand for 2026 so far point towards a year-end figure in the vicinity of 1.22 million units, which would be only fractionally up on the 1.21 million cars sold here last year.Economics 101 says in a mature, stable market that’s invaded by a host of new competitors, something’s got to give.Not every brand will get out of the Aussie new car sales race alive and the winners and losers over the next five months will be a telling pointer to which brands, new and not-so-new, are potentially heading towards the departure lounge longer-term.       Source: VFacts / Electric Vehicle Council