What's the difference?
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.
If, like just about everybody, you’re a bit concerned that an electric car might not be able to travel as far as you need to go, then the new MG ZS EV Long Range could be the small, fully-electric SUV for you.
We’ve tested the ZS EV Long Range here and can tell you how far you’ll get on a full charge and how much extra you’ll have to pay in price over the standard range version, along with what it’s like to drive, its features, practicality, ownership costs and of course its safety systems.
Be sure to watch the video above, where I’ll take you for a ride and show you my Big Foot tattoo. Yes, seriously.
So, should Toyota, Tesla, Hyundai and others be worried about the arrival of the Sealion 6 and BYD’s new DMi powertrains? Yes, but not because it represents any major breakthrough in technology or dynamic prowess.Â
Instead, the strength of the Sealion 6 is how average it is. It may not be the obvious class-leader in any particular area, but it does a good job in almost every measurable aspect and doesn’t possess any major flaws.
Yes, there are still questions about the long-term dependability of BYDs but that’s a risk any new owner will need to accept. But the very sharp pricing should tempt plenty of buyers to take that chance and continue BYD’s steady upwards trajectory in the Australian market.
The MG ZS EV Long Range is a practical small SUV that's easy to drive and the 440km it can travel on a full charge makes it the better choice over the standard range ZS EV. The extra 120km offered by the Long Range version reduces anxiety and is truly useful in covering more ground between charging.
The asking price may seem expensive but electric vehicle batteries are extremely costly to produce and will remain so for years to come.
Remember, too, that the MG4 electric car has an even great range for the same money - the only catch is, it's a hatch and not an SUV.