Suzuki Across vs BYD SEALION 6 DM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Suzuki Across in South Africa

Suzuki Across

1.5 GLX 6AT Petrol Mild Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 464,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 18.9 km/l
VS
BYD SEALION 6 DM-i in South Africa

BYD SEALION 6 DM-i

Premium DM-i AWD Plug-in Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 96 kW 🔧 220 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Across vs BYD SEALION 6 DM-i: the short answer

SEALION 6 DM-i has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Across remains close.

Across starts ZAR 290,000 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · SEALION 6 DM-i from ZAR 639,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Across SEALION 6 DM-i
Maximum Power Across75.8 kW @ 6000 rpm SEALION 6 DM-i96 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque Across136.8 Nm @ 4400 rpm SEALION 6 DM-i220 Nm @ 1500-3500 rpm
Engine Size Across1462 cc SEALION 6 DM-i1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Across18.9 km/l SEALION 6 DM-i17.2 km/l
Ground Clearance Across210 mm SEALION 6 DM-i180 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Across

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

SEALION 6 DM-i

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEALION 6 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across SEALION 6 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2026 2024
Generation First South African generation of the current Across First South African SEALION 6 DM-i generation
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door compact SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment C-segment family SUV Medium SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg -
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger vehicle
Spec Across SEALION 6 DM-i
Length 4360 mm 4775 mm
Width 1795 mm 1890 mm
Height 1655 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2765 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 333 l 425 l
Kerb Weight Not Officially Disclosed 2100 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 2510 kg
Payload Capacity 460 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.5 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 980 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 910 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1120 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 820 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Across and SEALION 6 DM-i comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Across 34 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 58.

Efficiency index: Across 76 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 75.

Safety-equipment index: Across 91 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 99.

Practicality index: Across 62 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 59.

Ownership-cover index: Across not separately scored vs SEALION 6 DM-i not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

SEALION 6 DM-i leads by 8 points

SEALION 6 DM-i has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Across remains close.

Evidence leader 72 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 83% source coverage
72
#1 Evidence leader

SEALION 6 DM-i

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Performance 58
Performance 58
Efficiency 75
Safety 99
Practicality 59
Leads by 8 points
64
#2

Across

73% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 76
Safety 91
Practicality 62
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SEALION 6 DM-i +24 Efficiency Across +1 Safety SEALION 6 DM-i +8 Practicality Across +3

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

SEALION 6 DM-i

Performance 58/100
Efficiency 75/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 59/100

Across

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 62/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD SEALION 6 DM-i leads the specification evidence index with 72 pts vs 64 pts for Across

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SEALION 6 DM-i leads. However, Across may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Across vs SEALION 6 DM-i questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.