2026 BYD Sealion 5 review: Quick drive

Yes, another new BYD stands before you.

Say hello to the 2026 BYD Sealion 5, yet another new SUV in the Chinese auto brand’s ever-growing lineup. This mid-size plug-in hybrid family crossover is looking to appeal to the budget-conscious, and sits below the larger Sealion 6.

Due to land in Australian showrooms early next year, the Sealion 5 is around the same size as the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander, but it’s strictly a five-seater and will offer two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain options with up to 100km of EV range.

BYD is also promising it will be quite affordable as well, hinting at a price point not far off the newly launched Atto 2 small SUV– potentially pointing to a ~$35,000 starting point, which could make it the cheapest new PHEV in Australia.

Ahead of its official launch in 2026, BYD Australia invited us to have a quick spin of the Sealion 5 – as well as a range of other incoming new products – at the old Holden proving ground in Lang Lang, Victoria.

Does the Sealion 5 have the makings of a family favourite? Or is it oversaturating BYD’s presence in the hotly-contested medium SUV segment?

How much does the BYD Sealion 5 cost?

We’re not sure just yet, but based on BYD’s clues we reckon you’ll be looking at the $35,000-$45,000 bracket for the Sealion 5, which nicely slots under the Sealion 6 ($42,990-$52,990 before on-road costs).

The Chinese brand’s local arm has confirmed two variants for launch, both running 1.5-litre PHEV drivetrains. The Essential gets a smaller 12.9kWh ‘Blade’ battery, while the Premium gets a larger 18.3kWh unit.

More on the drivetrain details further down, but as noted earlier the Sealion 5 will be a cut-price PHEV alternative to the likes of the X-Trail and Outlander, competing on price with the likes of similarly-sized Chinese rivals in the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (from $39,990 drive-away) and Geely Starray EM-i (from $37,490).

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What is the BYD Sealion 5 like on the inside?

The Sealion 5 hails from BYD’s older range in terms of design, which makes sense given it dates back to 2019 in the Chinese domestic market, where’s it’s known as the Song Pro.

We only had a look at the higher-spec ‘Premium’ at the drive day, which has confirmed features like a 12.8-inch touchscreen, 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, power front seats, a wireless phone charger, and 360-degree cameras.

The sweeping dashboard design and curved lines are somewhere between those in the Atto 3 and Sealion 6, and despite its more budget-leaning anticipated price tag there’s a good level of perceived quality in the way everything is screwed together.

Leather-look surfaces with contrast stitching feature throughout, and while the climate controls are accessed via a dedicated virtual toolbar on the touchscreen, there are plenty of tactile buttons and toggles for key functions both on the steering wheel and centre console.

The Sealion 5 offers good outward visibility from the driver’s seat, with its more upright body and taller glasshouse making it feel a little more open and airy than the curvier Sealion 6, for example.

Having a panoramic roof in Premium spec only emphasises it further, and it doesn’t really feel like headroom is impacted as a result, thanks to the tall roofline.

Comfort from the chunky front seats is decent though the bolstering isn’t as strong as the seats’ sporty design might suggest; and the slim digital instrument cluster is… basic.

Storage is alright but not spectacular, with a few slim cubbies strewn about and two phone-sized slots under the touchscreen with one of those doubling up as a wireless phone charger.

I’ll also note that while BYD has done a good job at minimising the use of piano black trim on high-traffic surfaces in the cabin, the glossy black lacquer across the dashboard looks like it’ll attract fingerprints, smudges and scratches pretty quickly if you have passengers that like to poke and prod around, or throw schoolbags in.

Sadly I don’t have a photo of the rear seat to show you (thanks BYD), but there’s plenty of room for 6’1″ me to sit comfortably behind a 6’1″ driver or front passenger.

Again that boxy form factor means there’s good space in all dimensions, meaning growing families should have room for the kids and their friends. ISOFIX and top-tether child seat anchor points feature, too.

You also get rear air vents and a USB charge port in the rear, in addition to map pockets behind both front seats and bottle holders in the doors.

Further back there’s a 463-litre boot which expands to 1410L with the rear seats folded, which in five-seat layout is actually more than the BYD Sealion 6 (425L).

What’s under the bonnet?

The Sealion 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre PHEV drivetrain with two available battery sizes depending on variant.

BYD’s ‘DM-i Super Hybrid’ technology is familiar from various products including the Sealion 6 and some of its other upcoming models, with the drivetrain relying more on the electric motor and largely using the petrol engine as a generator rather than a drive motor.

Interestingly, BYD also quotes a fuel consumption figure when the battery is depleted to 25 per cent charge or less with no usable electric range. Rated at 4.5-4.6L/100km, that’s pretty impressive claimed consumption when the car defaults to ‘Hybrid’ or ‘HEV’ mode.

How does the BYD Sealion 5 drive?

I’ll preface this with the fact that our drive was limited to a 30-45 minute stint on a skid pan with some 0-100km/h runs, as well as a slalom, motorkhana and a dash around the ride and handling track – so in short, it wassn’t very comprehensive.

Having driven the much more powerful Sealion 8 first, the Sealion 5’s acceleration is far more leisurely and progressive than its dual-motor stablemate.

That said, the 0-100km/h claim of high-7.0 to 8.0 seconds feels about right by the seat of the pants, and competitive with rival hybrids from Toyota, Hyundai and Kia.

BYD has tuned the throttle and drivetrain to lay on the power progressively even if you try to boot it off the line, helping to minimise wheelspin and torque steer, which makes sense for this class of car.

Under hard acceleration you’ll hear the engine fire up and spin away while you’re hammering it, and the ‘Xiaoyun’ petrol motor is a little coarse and unrefined – but unless you’re foot to the floor all the time, you won’t really hear it.

The tuning is very light and comfort-focused, so the tight handling course marked out by cones was not where the Sealion 5 felt the most comfortable. It’s not that engaging and it’s a bit rolly-polly in quick, tight turns.

A lap around the ride and handling course reiterated the Sealion 5’s more humble and comfort-focused pretentions, with its soft ride and smooth acceleration making it a comfy cruiser and a relatively neutral, if underwhelming steer.

Its tall body and softly sprung chassis makes for some lean in the bends, while the smaller 18-inch wheels and chubby Hankook eco tyres aren’t really conducive to engaging handling. Still, it’s accurate, predictable, and will suit the target market.

The ride and handling track has some patchy surfaces and stuff like simulated train tracks and sine waves, which were a good test of the ride. The Sealion 5’s softer tune isolated bumps relatively well but conversely meant it felt a bit wallowy and loose, particularly over the sine waves at 120-130km/h.

I’d also note the sound deadening isn’t all that great over coarse road surfaces, with noticeable tyre and wind noise on the handling course. For a ‘cheap’ SUV that’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worthy of a mention.

We didn’t get a chance to trial the assistance systems given the conditions and time constraints, so we’ll have to wait for the BYD to officially launch before we drive one in the real world.

What do you get?

Two grades will be available from launch, but we only have initial details for the up-spec Premium.

2026 BYD Sealion 5 Premium equipment highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 225/60 R18 Hankook tyres
• 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.8-inch touchscreen
  • incl. DiLink smart system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• 9-speaker audio
• Dual-zone climate control
• Power front seats
• 1 x wireless phone charger, front
• V2L functionality

Is the BYD Sealion 5 safe?

The Sealion 5 hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP as yet.

Confirmed safety features include:

• 7 airbags
• 360-degree cameras
• ‘Advanced Driving Assistance System’

How much does the BYD Sealion 5 cost to run?

The Sealion 5 should be covered by BYD Australia’s six-year, 150,000km new vehicle warranty and eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

CarExpert’s Take on the BYD Sealion 5

It’s a bit early to make a definitive call on the Sealion 5’s competitiveness in Australia’s largest new vehicle segment, but should BYD be able to bring the Sealion 5 in for the price of an entry-level Japanese or Korean rival, it could be a real disruptor.

The sales figures and consumer research doesn’t lie. Now, more than ever, Australian new car buyers are very open to trying new powertrain technologies, as well as new makes and models including Chinese challengers.

With price being such a critical factor for Australians, a $35,000 starting point for the Sealion 5 could make it incredible value for money, thanks to plenty of usable EV range in a vehicle the size and price of a base Outlander.

All will be confirmed with regards to pricing and specifications in the coming months, but our first impressions are positive and the promise of a bargain will no doubt help garner plenty of interest.

After all, this is the kind of car that needs to just work and be affordable to run, so limited razzle-dazzle is just fine.

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