GWM H6 GT vs BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

GWM H6 GT in South Africa

GWM H6 GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Current
ZAR 769,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
VS
BYD SEALION 5 DM-i in South Africa

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

Dynamic DM-i Plug-in Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 569,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 72 kW 🔧 122 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 GT
Fuel Economy SEALION 5 DM-i
🛡 Safety H6 GT
📦 Practicality H6 GT
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
SEALION 5 DM-i starts ZAR 190,000 cheaper H6 GT from ZAR 699,900 · SEALION 5 DM-i from ZAR 509,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec H6 GT SEALION 5 DM-i
Maximum Power 150 kW @ 5500 rpm 72 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 420 Nm 122 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm
Engine Size 1999 cc 1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.1 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 192 mm 150 mm
Boot / Load Bay 460 l 463 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1740 kg 1735 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 5 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

H6 GT and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 GT +31 pts
Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +14 pts
Safety H6 GT +1 pts
Practicality H6 GT +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

H6 GT

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

SEALION 5 DM-i

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

Which One's Right for You?

H6 GT

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

SEALION 5 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 GT SEALION 5 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2023 2026
Generation First generation, derived from the regular H6 platform but with bodywork, suspension calibration, powertrain and cabin treatment differentiated for performance positioning. First South African SEALION 5 DM-i generation
Facelift History First-generation H6 GT launched in South Africa in 2023. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the hybrid system calibration and adjusted the chassis damping mapping for SA road conditions. No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof option pairs with white, silver and red base colours. -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV Medium SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1740 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec H6 GT SEALION 5 DM-i
Length 4653 mm 4738 mm
Width 1886 mm 1860 mm
Height 1695 mm 1710 mm
Wheelbase 2738 mm 2712 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 192 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 52 l
Boot/Cargo Space 460 l 463 l
Kerb Weight 1740 kg 1735 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2200 kg 2145 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 11.8 m 6.0 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 970 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 910 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1100 mm
Rear Legroom 890 mm 935 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 150 mm
Payload Capacity - 410 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

H6 GT leads by 6 points

H6 GT and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 73 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 96% source coverage
73
#1 Index leader

H6 GT

96% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Practicality 65
Performance 70
Efficiency 67
Safety 93
Practicality 65
Ownership 65
Leads by 6 points
67
#2

SEALION 5 DM-i

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 81
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 GT +31 Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +14 Safety H6 GT +1 Practicality H6 GT +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

H6 GT

Performance 70/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 65/100

SEALION 5 DM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 GWM H6 GT leads the catalogue index with 73 pts vs 67 pts for SEALION 5 DM-i

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, H6 GT leads. However, SEALION 5 DM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This H6 GT and SEALION 5 DM-i comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: H6 GT 70 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 39.

Efficiency index: H6 GT 67 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 81.

Safety-equipment index: H6 GT 93 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 92.

Practicality index: H6 GT 65 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 61.

Ownership-cover index: H6 GT 65 vs SEALION 5 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.