Rolls-Royce Phantom 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.

Rolls-Royce Phantom in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.29 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

Rolls-Royce Phantom vs BYD SEALION 6 DM-i: the short answer

Phantom and SEALION 6 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Phantom SEALION 6 DM-i
Maximum Power Phantom420 kW @ 5000 rpm SEALION 6 DM-i96 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque Phantom900 Nm @ 1700 rpm SEALION 6 DM-i220 Nm @ 1500-3500 rpm
Engine Size Phantom6749 cc SEALION 6 DM-i1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Phantom6.29 km/l SEALION 6 DM-i17.2 km/l
Ground Clearance Phantom136 mm SEALION 6 DM-i180 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BYD SEALION 6 DM-i

Premium DM-i AWD

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Phantom

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

SEALION 6 DM-i

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

Which One's Right for You?

Phantom

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEALION 6 DM-i

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Phantom SEALION 6 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2018 2024
Generation Eighth-generation Phantom in standard-wheelbase Series II form First South African SEALION 6 DM-i generation
Facelift History The eighth-generation Phantom was presented globally in 2017, introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its light-touch Series II evolution in 2022 No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Four-door luxury saloon SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Full-size super-luxury saloon Medium SUV
Vehicle Type Internal-combustion passenger car Passenger vehicle
Spec Phantom SEALION 6 DM-i
Length 5762 mm 4775 mm
Width 2018 mm 1890 mm
Height 1646 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 3552 mm 2765 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 136 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 136 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 90 l 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 530 l 425 l
Kerb Weight 2560 kg 2100 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3235 kg 2510 kg
Payload Capacity 675 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.55 m 5.5 m
Front Headroom 1046 mm 980 mm
Rear Headroom 978 mm 910 mm
Front Legroom 1041 mm 1120 mm
Rear Legroom 1105 mm 820 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Phantom 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: Phantom 96 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 58.

Efficiency index: Phantom 29 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 75.

Safety-equipment index: Phantom 95 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 99.

Practicality index: Phantom 67 vs SEALION 6 DM-i 59.

Ownership-cover index: Phantom 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

Phantom leads by 3 points

Phantom and SEALION 6 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 79% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

Phantom

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 95
Practicality 67
Leads by 3 points
72
#2

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
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Phantom +38 Efficiency SEALION 6 DM-i +46 Safety SEALION 6 DM-i +4 Practicality Phantom +8

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 95/100
Practicality 67/100

SEALION 6 DM-i

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Rolls-Royce Phantom leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 72 pts for SEALION 6 DM-i

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

Phantom 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.