2026 BYD Sealion 5 price and specs

BYD has filled an almost invisible gap in its lineup, and launched Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in the process.

The BYD Sealion 5 mid-size SUV is the Chinese brand’s new entry-level PHEV in Australia, being only fractionally smaller than the Sealion 6 but a whopping $9000 cheaper at base level.

It’s priced from $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), and therefore becoming Australia’s cheapest PHEV.

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It’s available to order now, ahead of customer deliveries in the first quarter (January to March) of 2026.

The Sealion 5 is part of a deluge of new BYDs arriving in Australia, which also includes a pair of electric vehicles (EVs) – the Atto 1 light hatch and Atto 2 small SUV – and the large, plug-in hybrid Sealion 8 three-row crossover SUV.

Unlike those other models, however, the Sealion 5 is based on a vehicle several years old. The Song Pro entered production in 2019, though it has received updates since then to become what we’re now getting as the Sealion 5.

Pricing

Drivetrains and Efficiency

The Sealion 5 uses BYD’s DM-i plug-in hybrid hardware: a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed reduction gearbox. BYD’s Blade Battery sits under the floor.