Honda HR-V vs BYD SEALION 6 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.

Honda HR-V in South Africa

Honda HR-V

1.5 Elegance CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 119 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 16.1 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance SEALION 6 DM-i
⛽ Fuel Economy SEALION 6 DM-i
🛡 Safety SEALION 6 DM-i
📦 Practicality HR-V
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
HR-V starts ZAR 150,000 cheaper HR-V from ZAR 489,900 · SEALION 6 DM-i from ZAR 639,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec HR-V SEALION 6 DM-i
Maximum Power 119 kW 96 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque 145 Nm 220 Nm @ 1500-3500 rpm
Engine Size 1498 cc 1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.1 km/l 17.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 196 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 437 l 425 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1360 kg 2100 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 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

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance SEALION 6 DM-i +17 pts
Efficiency SEALION 6 DM-i +13 pts
Safety SEALION 6 DM-i +8 pts
Practicality HR-V +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

HR-V

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Catalogue-index leader

SEALION 6 DM-i

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

Which One's Right for You?

HR-V

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEALION 6 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec HR-V SEALION 6 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2022 2024
Generation Built on Honda’s global compact SUV platform with improved safety and comfort First South African SEALION 6 DM-i generation
Facelift History New generation introduced with updated design and improved features 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 SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
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 1360 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec HR-V SEALION 6 DM-i
Length 4340 mm 4775 mm
Width 1790 mm 1890 mm
Height 1590 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 2610 mm 2765 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 196 mm 180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 437 l 425 l
Kerb Weight 1360 kg 2100 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1780 kg 2510 kg
Towing Capacity 1200 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 150 mm
Payload Capacity - 410 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius - 5.5 m
Front Headroom - 980 mm
Rear Headroom - 910 mm
Front Legroom - 1120 mm
Rear Legroom - 820 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

SEALION 6 DM-i leads by 11 points

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

Index leader 72 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 83% source coverage
72
#1 Index 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 11 points
61
#2

HR-V

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 41
Performance 41
Efficiency 62
Safety 91
Practicality 63
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SEALION 6 DM-i +17 Efficiency SEALION 6 DM-i +13 Safety SEALION 6 DM-i +8 Practicality HR-V +4

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

SEALION 6 DM-i

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

HR-V

Performance 41/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 BYD SEALION 6 DM-i leads the catalogue index with 72 pts vs 61 pts for HR-V

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

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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 HR-V and SEALION 6 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: HR-V 41 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 58.

Efficiency index: HR-V 62 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 75.

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

Practicality index: HR-V 63 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 59.

Ownership-cover index: HR-V 43 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.