BYD Sealion 06 DM-i vs Song Plus DM-i: Same Engine, Double the Electric Range (2026)

The BYD Sealion 06 DM-i and the Song Plus DM-i use the same 1.5-litre engine (74 kW) and, on most trims, the same 160 kW front motor. What separates them is the battery and the body: the Sealion 06 DM-i reaches up to 310 km of CLTC electric range against 160 km for the Song Plus DM-i, rides on a 55 mm longer wheelbase (2,820 mm against 2,765 mm) and carries 695 L of boot against 574 L. The Song Plus is the older, better-known export model; the Sealion 06 DM-i is the newer car with more of everything that matters for daily electric driving.

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Quick answers:

• Which has more electric range? The Sealion 06 DM-i: 205 or 310 km CLTC on 2026 trims, against 75–160 km for the Song Plus DM-i.
• Do they have the same engine? Yes. Both use a 1.5-litre engine rated 74 kW (101 PS).
• Which is bigger inside? The Sealion 06 DM-i: 2,820 mm wheelbase and 695 L of boot, against 2,765 mm and 574 L.
• Which is faster? Neither, meaningfully. Both reach 100 km/h in 7.5–7.9 s and top out at 180 km/h.
• Is the Sealion 6 the same as the Sealion 06? No. The export Sealion 6 is the Song Plus. The Sealion 06 is a different China-market SUV.

Is the BYD Sealion 6 the same car as the Sealion 06?

No. The BYD Sealion 6 sold in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia is the export name of the Song Plus, mainly in plug-in hybrid form. The Sealion 06 is a separate China-market SUV with no widely used export name. One character apart, two different cars.

This is the most common naming mistake buyers make with BYD SUVs, and it matters when ordering. A customer who asks for a “Sealion 6” usually means the Song Plus DM-i family. A supplier who quotes a “Sealion 06” is offering the newer, larger car compared in this article. Confirm which one the buyer means before quoting.

The full BYD name map, including Atto 2, Atto 3 and Dolphin Mini, is in our BYD China names vs export names guide. The same problem exists across other Chinese brands; see Chinese model names vs export names.

How much electric range do the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i have?

The Sealion 06 DM-i 2026 is rated 205 km or 310 km CLTC (140 km or 205 km WLTC). The Song Plus DM-i is rated 75 km, 112 km or 160 km CLTC (60, 91 or 128 km WLTC). The longest-range Sealion 06 DM-i goes almost twice as far on electricity as the longest-range Song Plus DM-i.

Two points for importers. First, the entry Song Plus DM-i with 75 km of range has no DC fast charging at all; it charges on AC only. For a buyer without home charging, that version is effectively a petrol hybrid. Second, the 310 km Sealion 06 DM-i also charges fastest, at 82 kW. Range and charging speed rise together.

CLTC is the Chinese test cycle and reads higher than WLTC. Quote the WLTC figure to a buyer who will compare against European or Gulf data, and do not mix the two.

What engine and motor do the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i use?

Both use a 1.5-litre engine rated 74 kW (101 PS) as a generator and road-speed assist, driving the front wheels through an electric motor. Most trims of both cars use a 160 kW, 260 N·m motor; the 310 km Sealion 06 DM-i steps up to 175 kW and 270 N·m.

On paper, the driving experience is close to identical. The differences a buyer will notice are range, space and charging, not acceleration. Neither is an all-wheel-drive car in these versions, which matters for buyers expecting an SUV to handle loose surfaces like a 4×4.

The Song Plus DM-i’s certified WLTC fuel consumption is 1.88, 1.15 or 0.85 L/100 km depending on battery. Those are certification figures that count electric driving from a full battery. With an empty battery, a plug-in hybrid uses noticeably more fuel. Quote them as test results, not as a promise.

Which is bigger: the Sealion 06 DM-i or the Song Plus DM-i?

The Sealion 06 DM-i, with a 2,820 mm wheelbase against 2,765 mm and a 695 L boot against 574 L. The extra 55 mm of wheelbase goes into rear legroom; the extra 121 L goes into the boot.

For taxi, ride-hailing and family buyers, the boot gap is often the deciding line. For container planning, the two are close enough in size that they load the same way; our guide to how many cars fit in a 40HC container covers the limits.

What warranty do the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i have?

Both carry BYD’s six-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty in China. That is a domestic-market term. Coverage in an export market depends on whether BYD has an official dealer network there and whether it honours China-market cars. Assume no factory warranty abroad unless the local distributor confirms otherwise in writing.

Which should you import: the Sealion 06 DM-i or the Song Plus DM-i?

Import the Sealion 06 DM-i when electric range, space and charging speed matter; import the Song Plus DM-i when the buyer wants the established model and a name their market already knows.

Choose the Sealion 06 DM-i when:

• The buyer will charge daily and wants to drive mostly on electricity. The 310 km version covers most city use without the engine.
• Rear space and boot volume matter: families, taxi and ride-hailing work.
• DC fast charging is available and the buyer will use it.
• The newest model year matters to the buyer or to the destination’s age rules.

Choose the Song Plus DM-i when:

• The buyer’s market already knows the car as the Seal U or Sealion 6, which can make it easier to sell on.
• The buyer has no regular charging and will run the car mostly as a hybrid; the extra range of the Sealion 06 adds less value.

For buyers in Ethiopia, note that hybrids are exempt from the 2024 ban on petrol and diesel private-vehicle imports; our Ethiopia import rules guide covers what applies, and CIF Djibouti explained covers what a quote includes. For Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, check the 2026 changes in Chinese cars for Russia and Central Asia. For Iran, see importing Chinese cars into Iran via Khorgos.

If the buyer wants a fully electric SUV instead, compare the electric versions in Sealion 06 EV vs Song Plus EV and Sealion 05 EV vs Atto 3. For a plug-in hybrid sedan, see Qin Plus DM-i vs Seal 05 DM-i.

What should importers check before ordering either car?

Check the exact name, the battery version, the build date and the shipping documents.

1. Name. Confirm whether the buyer means the Sealion 06 or the export Sealion 6 (Song Plus).
2. Battery version. The 75 km Song Plus has no DC charging; the 310 km Sealion 06 charges at 82 kW. Write the CLTC range into the order.
3. Build date. Model year and month of manufacture can differ, and age limits are counted on the build date. Our seven traps in importing used cars from China shows how to check it.
4. Battery shipping. Plug-in hybrids ship under lithium battery rules. See shipping cars from China to Africa for routes and timing.

We source BYD plug-in hybrids in China, inspect each car before shipping and disclose its condition. Read what we disclose on every car, or tell us your destination port.

👉 Get a landed-cost quote — Ask us on WhatsApp. Tell us the model, battery version and destination port.

FAQ

Is the BYD Sealion 6 the same as the Song Plus?

Yes. Sealion 6 is the export name used in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia for the Song Plus, mainly the DM-i plug-in hybrid. In Europe the same car is sold as the Seal U.

Is the BYD Sealion 6 the same as the Sealion 06?

No. The export Sealion 6 is the Song Plus. The Sealion 06 is a different, newer China-market SUV with a 2,820 mm wheelbase.

How much electric range does the BYD Sealion 06 DM-i have?

The 2026 Sealion 06 DM-i is rated 205 km or 310 km on the Chinese CLTC cycle, which is 140 km or 205 km on WLTC. The 2025 versions were rated 132 km and 190 km CLTC.

How much electric range does the BYD Song Plus DM-i have?

The 2025 Song Plus DM-i is rated 75 km, 112 km or 160 km CLTC, which is 60, 91 or 128 km on WLTC.

Do the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i have the same engine?

Yes. Both use a 1.5-litre engine rated 74 kW (101 PS). Most trims of both also use a 160 kW front motor; the 310 km Sealion 06 DM-i uses a 175 kW motor.

Are the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i all-wheel drive?

No. Both are front-wheel drive in the versions compared here.

Can Hanvia Motors export the Sealion 06 DM-i and Song Plus DM-i?

Yes. We source both in China, inspect them before shipping and handle export documentation. Send the version and your destination port on WhatsApp for a quote.

Sources: BYD configuration tables as published by PCauto (太平洋汽车), retrieved October 2026. Launch dates, electric range, engine and motor output cross-checked against Autohome, Tencent News, Yiche and IT Home launch reports (Sealion 06 DM-i 2026: 26 May 2026; Song Plus DM-i: 10 February 2025). Boot volume is from the PCauto table only. Range figures are CLTC unless marked WLTC. Specifications are for China-market cars; export versions can differ. Photo: Jengtingchen / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.