The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a alternative of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the model’s first three-row giant SUV is to reach right here within the first quarter of 2026 (January-March).
The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – additionally confirmed for Australia in the present day – as the primary new fashions confirmed for this market because the Chinese language automaker introduced it should take over native distribution of the model on July 1.
Pricing and tools ranges are but to be introduced for the primary seven-seat BYD to be offered right here, the place it should rival present giant plug-in hybrid SUVs together with the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV.
The Sealion 8 may even compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due right here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV model along with pure petrol energy.
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Regardless of its measurement and seat rely, the Sealion 8 will not be anticipated to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electrical SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road prices) as the costliest BYD provided in Australia.
Sitting on the model’s new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8’s exterior design will introduce the model’s newer ‘Loong Face’ [sic] front-end styling to Australians, changing the ‘Dragon Face’ theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan.
The BYD Sealion 8 – offered because the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger by way of measurement, measuring 5040mm lengthy, 1996mm extensive and 1760mm excessive.
Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger’s and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s.
There’s additionally extra boot house, with Chinese language-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capability, increasing to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the entrance seats.
It’s provided in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, however BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 shall be offered right here as a seven-seater a conventional 2+3+2 format.
Two PHEV powertrains shall be provided in Australia from launch, with the usual Sealion 8 utilizing a ‘DM-i’ set-up, which sees a 110kW/220N 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single entrance axle electrical motor producing 200kW/315Nm.
The Sealion 8 would be the first BYD launched right here with its ‘DM-P’ – which stands for ‘Twin Mode Efficiency’ – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which makes use of the identical petrol engine however provides a second 141kW/360Nm rear axle motor for a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a mixed 400kW of energy and 670Nm of torque.
Regardless of being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration declare of simply 4.9 seconds.
Official China-market gas consumption is 5.6L/100km, whereas a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery supplies an electric-only vary of 150km underneath the lenient CLTC (China Gentle Car Check Cycle) take a look at commonplace.
The entry-level Sealion 8 will use a 19kW Blade battery, with DC fast-charging at a most of 71kW enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in half-hour, in response to BYD.
The Sealion 8 additionally options BYD’s DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, 5 radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to function its adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping, and lane-centering programs, amongst different driver help options.
The cabin features a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in different BYDs offered in Australia, might be rotated between panorama and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up show.
Leather-based-trimmed seats are commonplace in Chinese language variations, and Australian automobiles are additionally anticipated – however not confirmed – to come back commonplace with leather-based upholstery.
China-market variations additionally provide a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – masking all three rows – in addition to 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec variations.
Whereas the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is accountable for the lion’s share of BYD’s gross sales development to date in Australia, important contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the model’s ongoing gross sales momentum.
All three fashions have been launched right here within the final 11 months, with slower gross sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the model from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date gross sales enhance.
