BYD Sealion 6 Plug-In Hybrid SUV Spied: 4 More PHEVs Launching Soon
The Chinese electric automotive giant BYD, which is currently the fifth-largest automaker in the world, is gearing up to launch its first plug-in hybrid model in India. It will be the BYD Sealion 6, and recently a completely undisguised test mule of this SUV was spotted driving on public roads. This suggests that BYD will soon be officially launching the Sealion 6 in India.
The video showing the fully undisguised BYD Sealion 6 testing has been shared on Instagram by Motoring with Manas on their page. In this short video, we can note that the Sealion 6 is driving on a national highway without any camouflage. Even the Sealion 6 badge was also present on the rear right of the tailgate.
The upcoming Sealion 6 will become BYD’s first plug-in hybrid SUV in India, and it is expected to make its debut by the end of 2026. It will be positioned as the family-focused alternative to the already on-sale Sealion 7. Unlike the Sealion 7, which gets a more sporty coupe SUV design, the Sealion 6 will boast a more upright and traditional SUV styling, as can be seen in the video above.
Now, coming to the main highlight of the BYD Sealion 6, it will be its plug-in hybrid powertrain. The SUV will come equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor and an 18.3 kWh battery pack. The Sealion 6 will offer an 80 to 90 km range with pure electric power. As for the combined range with its 60-litre fuel tank, it will be around 1,000 km.
Internationally, the Sealion 6 is offered in two variants. The base version makes 217.5 bhp and comes with front-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the higher-spec turbocharged variant makes over 323 bhp and gets an all-wheel-drive setup. It is believed that the Indian market will be getting the more powerful AWD variant.
As for the features, the BYD Sealion 6 will come loaded with a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, ventilated and heated seats, Infinity sound system, and Level 2 ADAS. Most likely, the Sealion 6 will be priced competitively in the range of Rs 30 to 40 lakh.
The BYD Sealion 6 is not the only plug-in hybrid SUV in India. In fact, the first plug-in hybrid SUV in India will be the JSW MG Motor India’s 520, which will basically be the rebadged version of the Wuling Starlight 560 SUV, which is sold internationally. This SUV has already been spotted testing on Indian roads with camouflage, and it is expected to launch around October 2026.
The MG 520 will be a proper three-row family SUV, and it will rival models like the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari. In terms of the design, the MG 520 will boast a modern and premium SUV appearance with a strong road presence. Like all plug-in hybrids, its main highlight will be the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle petrol engine, which will come paired with electric motors and a 20.5 kWh LFP battery pack.
In total, this powertrain will make 194 bhp and 230 Nm of torque. Now, despite being a large family SUV, the MG 520 will be able to do a sprint of 0 to 100 kmph in just 9.7 seconds, and its top speed will be 170 kmph. In the EV-only mode, it will offer an impressive range of 125 km, and the combined range will be over 1,100 km.
As for the features, the 520 PHEV will include a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, and automatic climate control. Most likely, MG will be pricing it very aggressively, and it is expected to start at Rs 25 lakh and go up to Rs 32 lakh.
JSW Group is also entering the passenger vehicle market with its new company, which will be called JSW Motors. The first model from this company will be the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid SUV. Currently, this model is sold internationally by Chery, which, just like MG’s parent company SAIC, is a Chinese automotive giant. The Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid SUV is expected to launch around the festive season this year.
The Jetour T2 will boast a very boxy and rugged design with square LED headlamps, flared wheel arches, and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. In terms of its dimensions, it will measure 4,612 mm in length and will offer 220 mm ground clearance. Once launched, it will rival the mighty Toyota Fortuner, Jeep Meridian, and the soon-to-be-launched MG Majestor.
As for the plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Jetour T2 will come offered with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 26.7 kWh LFP battery pack. In total, this powertrain will make 221 bhp and 390 Nm of torque. It will also get a dedicated 3-speed hybrid transmission and offer an EV-only range of 139 km.
Coming to the features that will be offered with the Jetour T2, the list will include a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital cluster, ventilated seats, wireless charging, and a 360-degree camera. As for the pricing, it is expected to be around Rs 38 to 40 lakh.
One of the craziest upcoming plug-in hybrid SUVs in India will be the BYD Leopard 8. BYD recently filed a patent for the Leopard 8 in India. Once launched, this SUV will become the flagship model in BYD’s India lineup. In terms of design, the Leopard 8 will boast an extremely aggressive and futuristic appearance based on BYD’s Starship design language.
It will feature U-shaped LED headlamps, a full-width LED light bar, muscular wheel arches, and massive 21-inch alloy wheels. However, the most impressive part about this rugged SUV will be its powertrain. The Leopard 8 will come powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine paired with dual electric motors and a huge 36.8 kWh battery pack.
In total, it will make a combined power of 738 bhp and 760 Nm of torque. And with all this power, it will be able to finish a sprint of 0 to 100 kmph in just 4.8 seconds. Additionally, it will also provide an EV-only range of 125 km and also support fast charging. The Leopard 8 will also get BYD’s advanced YunNian-P intelligent suspension system, which can automatically adjust ride height and damping depending on terrain conditions.
Currently, Nissan only has two vehicles on offer in India, and soon it will be launching its mid-size SUV Tekton and its 7-seater version. However, in a few years' time, Nissan will be bringing back the Terrano nameplate by offering it as a super powerful plug-in hybrid off-road SUV. The new-generation Terrano has been developed completely from the ground up, and it was recently showcased at the Beijing Auto Show.
The new Terrano will boast rectangular LED headlamps, illuminated Nissan logo, roof rack, side ladder, chunky body cladding, and all-terrain tyres. There are reports which have highlighted that the production version could be based on a body-on-frame chassis, which will make it a proper off-road SUV.
As for the powertrain details, they have not been officially revealed yet. However, it is expected to get a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a large battery pack. Combined, this setup is expected to make around 400 bhp and 800 Nm of torque. It is also expected to offer around 135 km EV-only range and come equipped with a locking rear differential. Once launched in India, it will rival the Toyota Fortuner and MG Majestor. Pricing will most likely be in the range of Rs 40 to 50 lakh.