BYD Sealion 6 vs Skoda Elroq

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.

It’s a new, premium, pure-electric, mid-size SUV, but unlike every second market arrival CarsGuide has been looking at lately, it doesn’t come from China.

This is Skoda’s Elroq, the Czech manufacturer’s second electric SUV, following the larger Enyaq which launched here just on 12 months ago.

Effectively an electric counterpart to the Karoq, it’s a single-motor, rear-wheel drive, five-seater with healthy performance and range claims as well as sharp pricing and generous spec to challenge its ever-expanding competitive set.

After a brief preview drive earlier this year, we’re back behind the wheel for a fuller examination. So, read on to see if this sleek newcomer could be part of your family EV future.