BYD’s secret new car for Australia: 2026 BYD Seal 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) wagon spied in Melbourne as it firms as an SUV alternative to BYD Sealion 6, Mitsubishi Outlander and coming Toyota RAV4 PHEVs

The Chinese behemoth has announced a range-wide overhaul that runs from the $23,990 Atto 1 electric hatchback and seven-seat Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid SUV to the beefy Denza B5 and B8 off-roaders. Now there is an as yet unannounced, and very European-like, model coming, too.

BYD’s Seal 6 plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon were approved for sale in Australia by the government regulator in January, 2026. This approval usually happens several months before a vehicle goes on sale.

Now CarsGuide spies have snapped a camouflage test car driving through Melbourne’s CBD, which points to the vehicle closing in on an on-sale date.

A quick rego check throws up an exception error, which shows there is something to hide, but despite the camouflage it is easy to see this is the Seal 6 wagon.

The pair will join the current Seal fully-electric sedan in the brand’s Tesla Model 3 battling line-up.

The addition of a wagon to its local range, which is a body shape usually reserved for Europe, gives the brand some diversity in a sea of SUVs.

Two battery options have been approved — 15kWh or 21.6kWh — both paired with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine.

The engine produces just 70kW/120Nm, while there are two electric motor options, either 120kW/210Nm or 160kW/260Nm for total combined outputs of 130kW or 163kW. 

There are no official electric-only driving range figures of Australia, yet. In China those battery options provide a driving range of up to 128km for the 15kWh version, or 210km for the 25kWh version, measured to the more lenient CLTC standard.

Chinese versions have a max DC charging rate of 48kW and a vehicle-to-load function that allows owners to power tools and appliances via a standard power point located in the vehicle.

Buyers can expect plenty of tech inside, with large screens and over the air connectivity.