BYD drives a product offensive in SA with three new cars
The growing number of electric vehicles in South Africa is no longer surprising. If anything, we're beginning to accept the fact that nearly every new car on the road is either Chinese or contains some Chinese DNA. And that is pretty exciting. Not only do Chinese cars offer serious bang for buck, but they’ve seriously levelled up to challenge the status quo.
One of the key players leading the charge is BYD (Build Your Dreams), and despite being new to the local shores, it’s absolutely massive in China. As a matter of fact, BYD outsold Tesla in new energy vehicle sales globally, moving over 3 million NEVs in 2023 compared to the 1.8 million Tesla models that were sold in the same year. That’s wild if you think about how dominant Tesla used to be.
Since its arrival in South Africa in 2023, BYD hasn't exactly dominated the sales charts, which is understandable given that it initially introduced the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal EVs. Also, South Africans haven't exactly leapt onto the EV bandwagon.
But things are about to get a little more interesting. The brand, headquartered in Shenzhen, is bringing in three new models: the Shark 6, Sealion 6, and the Sealion 7. Interesting names and different from what we are used to, aren’t they? Turns out there is a bit of a theme going on. BYD’s "Ocean Series" cars are named after sea creatures to give off a young, fresh, eco-friendly vibe. We get it, and it kind of works.
BYD Shark 6
Set to compete with other plug-in hybrid bakkies in Mzansi, such as the Ford Ranger PHEV and JAC T9, the Shark 6 looks all suited to bring some serious competition to the fold. On the power front, it packs a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine plus a hybrid system, fed power by a chunky 29.6kWh battery pack. The result is staggering – a combined 321kW and 650Nm and a claimed 5.7-second sprint from 0-100km/h, taking the performance fight to the petrol-powered Ford Ranger Raptor with 292kW and 583Nm. The only thing we’re hoping for now is that the Shark’s soundtrack lives up to those impressive figures. And, of course, it’s not lightweight, tipping the scales at around 2.7 tonnes, making it one of the heftier bakkies out there.
Size-wise, the Shark 6 measures 5,457mm in length, 1,971mm in width, and 1,925 mm in height, making it a bit bigger than, let’s say, the Toyota Hilux double cab. On paper, it sounds pretty capable, thanks to a towing capacity of 835kg and a braked towing capacity of 2,500kg, not quite class-leading, but still decent for most needs. What stands out for us, though, is the proper body-on-frame setup, just like hardcore bakkies and SUVs we know. We won't be able to give any verdicts until such time that we put it to the test, but on paper, it looks to fit the bill with low-range gearing and intelligent electric AWD.
At R959,900, it feels like a strong value proposition, especially when you consider that most high-end bakkies in SA will now set you back well over a bar. As for the name, it's meant to be inspired by a shark's design, but honestly, from some angles, it looks a lot like a Ford F-150 Lightning, but that's all subjective.
BYD Sealion 6
The second model to be introduced by BYD is the Sealion 6, which is positioned in the plug-in hybrid 5-seater SUV segment where the likes of the soon-to-be-launched GWM Haval H6 GT plug-in hybrid as well as the existing Toyota RAV4 Hybrid play. It launches in SA in three variants: Comfort, Dynamic and Premium AWD, all powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that also powers the Shark 6. With a hybrid system in place, the system churns out 160kW and 300Nm to the front for the lesser two trims and 238kW and 550Nm to all fours for the latter.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel-drive versions dash from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, while the AWD variant gets the same task done in 5.9 seconds. Impressively, BYD quotes fuel consumption figures of 5.5l/100km and a driving range of 1,080km for the FWD models and 870km for the AWD model, which should really come in handy, especially on long hauls.
Like most Chinese cars, the three versions come equipped with a host of standard features such as 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and LED headlights, while the interior benefits from leather upholstery, an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen and a head-up display. A luggage space measuring 425 litres sums it up.
The Sealion 6 is available in four exterior colours: Time Grey, Arctic White, Delan Black and Smokey Grey. The interior’s colour schemes, on the other hand, include plain black and a black-and-brown combination.
The introduction of the Sealion 6 in SA further proves why hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are the way to go locally. They offer the best of both worlds in a much more convenient and affordable package, and these should help elevate the brand’s sales in the months to come.
- BYD Sealion 6 Comfort FWD: R639,900
- BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic FWD: R689,900
- BYD Sealion 6 Premium AWD: R789,900
BYD Sealion 7
The Sealion 7, positioned as the larger and more premium offering with design elements reminiscent of coupe SUVs, is fully electric and available locally in two variants: Premium and Performance AWD. Off the mark, both models are powered by an 82.56kWh battery pack that feeds power to rear-mounted electric motors in the case of the Premium which is good for 230kW and 380Nm. As its name suggests, the Performance variant uses an AWD system, courtesy of dual motors with 390kW and 690Nm, enough to silently blister from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 215km/h.
When it comes to the EV driving range, the Premium comes with a claimed 482km and 456km for the latter, with charging times from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes when using a rapid charger. As standard, the Sealion 7 comes with a 7kW wall box charger and a 2.2kW portable charger.
In terms of size, it's a fairly large 5-seater SUV that measures 4,830mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,930mm, making it slightly longer than the Toyota Fortuner but shorter than VW's Touareg. Not a fair comparison, but we are just giving you an idea. It also has a 500-litre boot capacity which is further complemented by a 58-litre front compartment, aka ‘frunk’.
Everything else remains similar to the new products in the range, except that the Sealion 7 adds 12 Dynaudio speakers.
Positioned to rival the Tesla Model Y overseas, the Sealion 7 promises to become a compelling electric SUV with a generous equipment list. Given the value on offer, we’d lean towards the rear-wheel-drive Premium version, which strikes the best balance between price and performance.
- BYD Sealion 7 Premium: R1,099,900
- BYD Sealion 7 Performance: R1,299,900
BYD has announced that its three new variants will be hitting the local dealer floors in the following weeks. The brand is also making a push to strengthen its presence across the country, expanding both its presence and aftersales network.
This move should help create a more seamless experience for customers, which is crucial as it looks to carve out a solid footprint in the local new energy vehicle (NEV) market. With the rise of Chinese car brands locally, it'll be fascinating to see how it fares against competitors from the East in the increasingly competitive NEV segment.
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