The BYD Sealion 8 isn’t Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, but it’s among them.
BYD has announced a base price of $56,990 before on-road costs for the large crossover SUV, which translates to a drive-away price of $60,773 in New South Wales.
That undercuts the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid ($59,990 before on-roads, $65,430 in NSW) but puts it above the (admittedly significantly smaller) Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid ($45,990 to $49,990 drive-away).
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Orders are now open, ahead of deliveries commencing before the end of March.
The Sealion 8 is BYD’s largest SUV yet in Australia, and its first to feature three rows of seating.
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD | $56,990 |
| 2026 BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic AWD | $63,990 |
| 2026 BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD | $70,990 |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
All BYD Sealion 8s feature double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension.
The base Premium FWD has variable frequency damping suspension, with all-wheel drive versions upgrading to BYD’s DiSus-C intelligent damping suspension.
All Sealion 8s have a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, allowing you to power small electrical appliances.
| Specifications | Sealion 8 FWD | Sealion 8 AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L turbo 4cyl | 1.5L turbo 4cyl |
| Engine outputs | 110kW + 220Nm | 110kW + 220Nm |
| Electric motor outputs | 200kW + 315Nm | 200kW + 315Nm (front) 200kW + 360Nm (rear) |
| System outputs | 205kW + 315Nm | 359kW + 675Nm |
| Battery | 19.0kWh lithium iron phosphate | 35.6kWh lithium iron phosphate |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 2315kg | 2580kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 8.6 seconds | 4.9 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.1L/100km (battery over 25%) 5.3L/100km (battery under 25%) |
1.0L/100km (battery over 25%) 6.3L/100km (battery under 25%) |
| Electric driving range (NEDC) | 103km | 152km |
| Max AC charge rate | 11kW | 11kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 40kW | 74kW |
| Fuel tank capacity | 60L | 60L |
| Fuel requirement | TBA | TBA |
| CO2 emissions | TBA | TBA |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 | Euro 5 |
| Braked towing capacity | 750kg | 750kg |
Dimensions
The BYD Sealion 8 is a large, seven-seat crossover SUV.
| Dimensions | BYD Sealion 8 |
|---|---|
| Length | 5040mm |
| Width | 1996mm |
| Height | 1760mm |
| Wheelbase | 2950mm |
| Cargo capacity | 270L (third row up) 960L (third row folded) 1960L (second and third rows folded) |
Servicing and Warranty
The BYD Sealion 8 is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.
Service pricing has yet to be announced.
Safety
The BYD Sealion 8 has yet to be tested by independent safety authority ANCAP.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Child presence detection
- Driver distraction and fatigue detection
- Intelligent speed limit assist
- Front cross-traffic assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Front, side and curtain plus driver’s far side airbags
- Tyre pressure monitoring
An emergency call function will come in March 2026 via an over-the-air software update.
Standard Equipment
There are three members of the local Sealion 8 lineup.
The Dynamic FWD comes standard with the following equipment:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Hankook 255/50 R20 tyres
- Tyre repair kit
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Cornering lights
- Panoramic sunroof with power sunshade
- Power tailgate
- Rain-sensing wipers with built-in washer jets
- Rear privacy glass
- Keyless entry and start with key fob, NFC card, BYD digital key
- Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow drive modes
- Electronic parking brake with auto hold
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 2GB of included data per month for the first two years
- Over-the-air updates
- Nap, camping and car wash modes
- 50W wireless phone charger
- 3-zone climate control with 2nd and 3rd row air vents
- 10-speaker sound system
- Leatherette upholstery
- 6-way power-adjustable front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- 4-way steering column adjustment
- 2 x USB-C outlets (front)
- 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A outlet (second row)
The Dynamic AWD comes standard with the following equipment:
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Goodyear 265/45 R21 tyres
- DiSus-C intelligent damping suspension
- Perforated brake discs and fixed calipers front and rear
- Mud and Sand drive modes
The Premium AWD adds:
- 26-inch head-up display
- Leather upholstery
- 8-way power driver’s seat
- Massaging front seats with 4-way power lumbar, power-adjustable leg rests
- Massaging, heating and ventilation for outboard second-row seats
- Heated steering wheel
- 21-speaker DiSound sound system
- Multi-colour ambient lighting
- Footwell lighting
- Memory for mirrors
Colours
The Sealion 8 has a limited colour palette.
Aurora White is standard, with the following exterior paint finishes available for an extra $1500:
- Cosmos Black
- Dark Aquamarine
- Ridge Grey
All models have a black interior.
