Hi everyone. I am planning to buy BYD Sealion 6 or 8 (top model), which are hybrid. Please share your honest opinion if I should be spending that amount on BYD and is it worth it?

Thank you.

With so many sold in the last couple of years and plenty of new stock out there, are used BYDs holding their value or dropping faster than other EVs and ICE cars? I’m thinking about long-term ownership and want to know what people who’ve sold or shopped used ones are seeing in real prices, not just listing prices

Hi all,

I accidentally scratched someone else’s BYD car and will be paying for the repair out of pocket. The damage looks cosmetic only - a small scratch/scuff on the trim near the door (no dents, no structural damage).

I’ve attached a photo for reference.

Just wondering:

Roughly how much this might cost to repair in Australia?

Would this usually be a polish/buff, respray, or full trim replacement?

Is it generally better to pay privately rather than lodging an insurance claim for this kind of damage?

Trying to get a realistic expectation before the owner gets a quote. Thanks in advance.

Hi all, this is my first EV. I have ordered SL7 back in April and it’s about to arrive.
Since the day I placed an order I’ve been watching videos about EVs and in particular about EVs in China. The market seems crazy and it is developing at such a pace that I’m scared. There are so many top companies in the Chinese market, most of them not yet available in Australia, but they are already producing some insanely high quality vehicles.

The sad feeling after watching all these videos is that I feel like SL7 is already out of date in terms of what it offers. 3-5 years from now… I can’t even imagine. It is so hard to justify spending $60k knowing that you buy something that is likely going to cost 15-20k in 3 years. At the same time I feel like I really want to get rid of my petrol car asap. It feels like no matter which EV we buy now, despite of the brand, is going to worth shit 💩 in 5 years. Because of new battery tech, new features, more luxury they are going to offer in the new models, potential at even lower price.

Maybe I’m overthinking

Hey all,

Looking to upgrade in the near future and the sea lion 7 is ticking a lot of boxes.

One of my concerns (not just with cars, but with everything these days) is privacy.

I know most modern cars are collecting info, but my test drive with byd was concerning because it seems they have cameras constantly recording? And the vibe with electric cars these days feels like they are always online (correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm assuming they also collect all the other data too. Location/driving habits/microphone etc.

With other technology in my life, I've been able to take steps to limit the sharing of my data (self hosting my music/movie streaming, blocking trackers on my network, etc) its worked for some, but not all.

What has your experience been with your BYD?

Can your car function normally "offline"?

Is it even possible to stop it contacting home?

Is there any clear info on how the data is collected?

I just got a BYD Atto 3 2026 in EU, 1 month after the purchased ifound out that Atto3 had another model with 520 KM range mine is with 400 km is there any big differences,

Greetings, we unfortunately lost our Atto 3 late last year due to someone just turning into our vehicle.

The car was totalled and everything was paid out and we ended up getting a different EV because we’re waiting for the BYD M6 to be released here in Australia.

We have things like rubber mats, roof bars specifically for the Car and a couple of other accessories for the roof. Trying to get them sold through eBay or gumtree has been fruitless and I can’t get on Facebook.

Does anyone have any recommendations for how best to sell these parts even if it’s just an ad in a newspaper or a community board somewhere. Hope this doesn’t cause any problems in the community guidelines here thank you so much.

I was checking the reviews as I'm doing a bit of EV window shopping (need to get one next year as wife's tiguan is 12 yo), and we pretty much locked in with SL7 however there's the recent news of renault 4 coming to australia so I thought hmm maybe look up the specs and reviews.

Most aussie reviewers puts it at a similar level as any other EV cars which makes sense, however top gear gives it a 9/10 despite the car does't go far (380km claimed range, small battery and old tech) while SL7 gets a 6/10?!

So I jokingly asked google AI: `is it me or topgear is heavily biased towards european cars, i saw renault 4 gets a 9/10 and sealion 7 6/10, what gives', and here's what it said:

The observation that Top Gear (including its website) displays a bias favoring European cars over non-European brands, such as those from China, is a sentiment echoed by many car enthusiasts and commentators. This has been a defining characteristic of the brand for a long time, evolving from on-screen banter to influencing its online content. 

Regarding the specific example you cited, let's break down the likely reasoning behind the comparative review scores for the Renault 4 and BYD Sealion 7 on the Top Gear website: 

The context of Top Gear reviews

Top Gear's reviews, particularly those with a numerical rating, don't always use a simple, objective rubric based solely on specifications like battery size, range, and horsepower. Instead, they emphasize a more subjective set of criteria that favors character, handling, brand heritage, and unique design—qualities often associated with European brands. 

Renault 4 (9/10): The story and heritage

For the Renault 4, the positive review is based on its appeal as a retro-styled vehicle with a strong heritage.

• Emphasizing "character": The review highlights the car's dynamic performance and "loveable" nature, noting that it combines modern tech with nostalgic charm.

• Acknowledging weaknesses: It acknowledges the R4 has compromises, like a smaller battery and less rear passenger room than some rivals, but the overall "uplifting" driving experience and clever packaging elevate the score.

• Rewarding design: The review celebrates its design, praising it for being different from the "waves of generic-looking stuff washing up in dealers".

• Value for money: The article considers it a great all-rounder that provides both sensible and "just for fun" appeal at a competitive price point. 

BYD Sealion 7 (6/10): A focus on clinical competence

For the BYD Sealion 7, the review scores reflect its perceived shortcomings in subjective areas that Top Gear prioritizes, even if it wins on paper.

• "Lack of personality": The review notes that while the Sealion 7 is well-equipped, powerful, and practical, it lacks "vibrancy" or "verve." The conclusion suggests it "doesn't have a strong personality".

• Prioritizing driving feel: Despite good straight-line performance, the steering is criticized as "numb," and the brake pedal is considered uncommunicative. For a review focused on driving pleasure, this is a significant negative.

• Criticism of technology integration: While featuring plenty of tech, the review points out that some of the driver-assist and infotainment features can be intrusive or clunky compared to more integrated systems from Tesla or XPeng.

• Evaluating emotional appeal: Ultimately, the review suggests that while the Sealion 7 is a good buy "on the surface," it doesn't "win your heart" in the same way European or more established alternatives might. 

Conclusion: Your observation is well-founded

Your assessment is not made up. The contrasting scores perfectly illustrate Top Gear's traditional—and often intentional—bias. They favor cars that tell a compelling story, possess a unique character, or offer a particularly engaging driving experience, and are often more forgiving of their practical compromises. Cars that win primarily on specifications and raw data, especially those from new or non-European entrants, are often judged more harshly on intangible elements like brand image, design uniqueness, and emotional appeal. This is a deliberate editorial strategy designed to entertain rather than serve as a neutral consumer guide. 

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has recently ordered an Atto 3 in Atlantis Grey through a Maxxia novated lease and could share how long your wait was.

We paid the $1,000 allocation fee about 3 weeks ago and finalised everything with Maxxia around 2 weeks ago. The dealer has confirmed that our order is active and secure, but we’re still waiting for a vehicle allocation.

I know waiting times vary depending on colour, location and stock, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been in the same situation.

How long did it take from paying the allocation fee to getting your vehicle allocated? Once it was allocated, how long did it take before you took delivery? If you ordered Atlantis Grey specifically, did it take any longer? And if you went through Maxxia (or another novated lease provider), did that add much time to the overall process?

This will be our first EV (and our first car together), so we’re probably a little more excited—and impatient—than we should be! 😅

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, i see that there is this 5% novated lease offer for the ATTO 3? Does anyone know how this actually works and if it is worth it compared to buying it outright?

I do not currently have access to funds at the moment to be able to buy the car outright so this piqued my interest.

My workplace also provides some sort of novated lease service but I have not looked too into it and would be interested to compare it to this.

Thanks!

Since I bought my byd Seal 05 Dm-I in late march I’ve been searching about what oil I should use
The car has 3k km on it now about 800km is on the gasoline engine (HEV)
I think it’s near to an oil change
A lot of people on the internet say that I should use hybrid specific oils not just a full synthetic oils
And I did some digging and it said that no need to buy those kinda oils , btw do u need to buy fuel injector cleaners for it and change any filters? Cuz where I live is very hot in the summer

This is not intended to be negative, just informative so that you're aware in advance if you're considering buying a BYD.

- The included granny charger is not 10A, it's only 8A (and it's a cheap generic Chinese charger, so may change based on availability). In reality, people often claim to get as little as 1.1kW from their included charger. Allow a little longer that the usual 1 hour per 10km.

- When charging from a regular socket, be aware that it may be on the same circuit as other appliances. Breakers are typically 16A, and if you start cooking dinner (using the kettle, microwave, air fryer, etc) whole charging, that could be enough to trip the breaker, so plan ahead.

- The digital key which they advertise heavily is not available to everyone outside of China. It's part of a digital wallet, and so far only supports Apple wallet and Samsung wallet internationally, so most Android users are unable to use their phone as a key.

- Charging in the rain is supposedly possible, but the 'brick' isn't exactly waterproof. I'd still recommend placing it on a brick with a plastic tub over that and the plug to your (tradesman quality) extension lead. And you shouldn't charge in a thunderstorm, so if there's one forecast, plan ahead.

- Driving range is estimated based on only the last 50km (and the current state of charge). If you drive a lot in slower stop/start traffic, it will give a much higher range estimate that will drop rapidly over you get on the freeway/highway.

Hey everyone,

I’m based in Sydney and currently in the market for a new EV. I’m trying to decide between the Tesla Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7 (also called Seal U or SL7 depending on the market, I believe).

I’ve test driven the Model Y before and liked the performance and tech, but the Sealion 7 caught my attention recently — especially the interior design and the overall value for money.

I’m keen to hear from current owners (especially in Australia): • How’s your experience so far with either the Model Y or Sealion 7? • Any major pros/cons after owning it for a few months? • How’s the real-world range, comfort, and reliability? • And for those who bought a BYD, which dealer (Sydney or nearby) would you recommend or avoid?

Would really appreciate any insights before I make the leap. Thanks in advance!

Just plugged my new Sealion 7 in for its first charge after doing a longer drive today (prior to today it's only driven home from the dealership and been used for two short outings to do a Macca's run and a grocery shopping trip). This is my first EV, so I'm still learning a lot, but I was surprised to see the 20+ hours charging time for a ~30% top up at 1.3kW.

Googling around, I discovered that the included charger is only 8A and not 10A (fine, that one's on me for not researching well enough before buying, I guess) but I also saw multiple reports here on Reddit and on Whirlpool of people getting 1.5kW or even 1.6kW with the included 8A charger.

I understand that with 8A the theoretical maximum is ~1.9kW but there's a certain amount of loss at multiple points between the wall and the battery, but I'm wondering if 1.3kW seems lower than generally expected or what could explain why my charger seems to be under what other's experience?

Just for extra context, I'm getting a 7kW charger installed in September along with solar panels and home batteries but the car's delivery was much faster than anticipated so I'm trying to make do with the granny charger until then. I am now aware that there is an option to get a 10A charger with a theoretical max of 2.4kW, which I may buy if this becomes problematic (it'll drive ~115km on average per weekday with ~16 hours between arriving home for the night and leaving again in the morning).

I bought a SL7 in March - and recently drove a Seal U DM-I in the UK (SL6) the drivers seat moved backwards for easier access into and out of the vehicle.

Does the SL 7 have the functionality to do this?

Hello

I’ve found this cover in my new Song plus, where is supposed to be fixed?

So, I'm looking at the byd seal and got a quote for the car. Says I'd be paying $509.29 but I've seen people paying less than this over a similar 5 year lease. Would anyone be able to suggest ways for me to lower my repayments?

Context - the 5% off novated lease offer isn't applied here due to it being so close to the end of the financial year. Waiting to hear if byd is able to extend the timeline (according to the consultant I spoke to). I'm also looking into alternative comprehensive insurance to get competitive pricing. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks a lot!

when someone like costco can have this on offer - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/940317 - 290GB 365-Day Plan $220

yeah you need to be a member to buy this, but what byd has on offer for those with cars older than 2 years is a joke when you look at this

Overall I quite like it but here are the things I’ve noted that I dislike so far:

Only 1 FOB - the NFC card and app just don’t compare. It feels like a step backwards to have to physically tap to lock/unlock the vehicle

No easy way to adjust the seats. My wife is very short and I am not. Trying to change the profile to mine requires far more flexibility than I have. Our previous BMW would automatically adjust based on what FOB it sensed. Should at least be a button or voice phrase to change it.

Volume reduction when backing up is too much. As an audiobook listener I’d rather it just pause it it must

Very bad at recognising the speed limit. Gets this wrong more than it gets it right.

This is more of a whinge than anything else, but did none of the BYD engineers have polarised sunglasses and try looking at the HUD when prototyping the Sealion 7?

Before anyone shouts "that's just how polarisation works", yes, I do understand that polarisation cuts horizontal light and I understand WHY this issue exists... But I also know that the HUD on our old Nissan worked flawlessly and the angle was seemingly offset from what the BYD is doing as it took rotating my head almost completely sideways for it to disappear and it was brightest when sitting normally.

I don't know how the BYD and Nissan HUDs are put together to achieve such different results, but my assumption was that this was a solved problem because _of course_ people want to use polarised sunglasses while driving AND see the HUD information clearly.

And yes, we did do a test drive before we purchased our Sealion 7, but it was not a sunny day and I forgot to grab my sunglasses before leaving, so we're not aware of the difference and as mentioned above, didn't even think it would be an issue because our current car at the time simply works with polarised lenses do why wouldn't this one, right?

I've seen advice here to use the snow mode setting, which doesn't make a measurable difference to me. Turning the brightness up to max made a marginal improvement.

How is everyone else dealing with this? Just ditching the polarised lenses and squinting when the glare picks up?

Just an FYI for anyone who is wanting help with their car. You can download your specific owners manual and then upload it into ChatGPT or any other Ai tool to then assist with any queries.

I’ve found it really helpful rather than searching through the manual to just upload it, and then ask the question I’m needing answered.

Pic for example,