The Australian plug-in hybrid market is becoming increasingly competitive, with BYD firing the next volley.
The BYD Sealion 5 is priced from just $33,990 before on-road costs, undercutting the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid ($39,990 drive-away) and Geely Starray EM-i Complete ($37,490 before on-roads).
That makes it a whole $9000 cheaper than the most affordable Sealion 6, BYD’s other mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV.
Orders are now open for the Sealion 5 range, with the price leader Essential slotting in under the Premium at $37,990 before on-roads.
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The base Essential uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 72kW of power and 122Nm of torque, mated with a 145kW/300Nm electric motor and a 12.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
Total system power is 156kW, with 71km of electric range on the older NEDC cycle and 1001km of combined range. Fuel consumption is 1.2L/100km when the battery is above 25 per cent, or 4.5L/100km when it’s below that mark.
The Premium has the same electric motor but upgrades to an 18.3kWh LFP battery, bumping electric range to 100km and combined range to 1040km. Fuel consumption is virtually unchanged at 1.3L/100km or 4.6L/100km, depending on the state of charge.
There’s no DC charging available with either Sealion 5, while AC charging is capped at 3.3kW.
Specification highlights for the Essential include:
- LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- 6-speaker sound system
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Leatherette upholstery
The Premium adds:
- Power tailgate
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Heated and ventilated driver’s seat
- 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 9-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- 6-way power driver’s seat
- 4-way power passenger seat
- Front parking sensors
- Surround-view camera
A suite of active safety and driver assist technology is available on both Sealion 5 model grades, and includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist.
BYD already had a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV with the Sealion 6, which is just 37mm longer and 30mm wider, but the Sealion 5 gives it another option in this bustling segment.
The Sealion 5 is based on the Song Pro SUV, which entered production back in 2019. While it has been updated since then, this isn’t the newest model in the BYD stable.
Stay tuned for a detailed price and specs article on the 2026 BYD Sealion 5.
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 BYD Sealion 5 Essential | $33,990 |
| 2026 BYD Sealion 5 Premium | $37,990 |
MORE: Explore the BYD showroom
