BYD Sealion 5 Review (2026): Australia's Cheapest Plug-In Hybrid SUV

The BYD Sealion 5 slots in below the popular Sealion 6 as BYD's entry-level plug-in hybrid SUV, and it arrives with an aggressive price that undercuts every other PHEV SUV on the market. The pitch is simple: most of your driving on cheap electricity, none of the range anxiety of a full EV. Here is the data-led take.

How much is the BYD Sealion 5?

Two grades, both plug-in hybrid. All prices are before on-road costs.

At $33,990 the Essential is the cheapest plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia. The Premium's bigger battery and 100km of EV range for $37,990 is the one most buyers will want, because that range covers the average daily commute with room to spare.

How the plug-in hybrid works

The Sealion 5 uses BYD's DM-i plug-in hybrid system, the same basic technology that made the Sealion 6 and Shark 6 big sellers. You charge the battery from home or a public charger, and for short trips it drives as an EV. Once the battery is depleted it runs as an efficient hybrid, so you never have to plan around charging the way you would in a full EV.

The combined output is 156kW/300Nm, good for a brisk 7.7-second 0-100km/h in the Essential. The official combined-cycle fuel figure is just over 1L/100km, but treat that with the usual caution. It assumes you keep the battery topped up. Run it flat for long highway stints and you will see normal hybrid economy instead. The real saving comes if you can plug in most days.

Inside and practicality

At 4,738mm long the Sealion 5 is a usefully sized family SUV, larger than the value small SUVs and with the rear-seat and boot space to match. BYD cabins have become a genuine strength, with a large rotating touchscreen, a clean modern dashboard and material quality that feels a cut above the price. It is a five-seater aimed squarely at families who want low running costs.

Safety and ownership

At the time of writing, the BYD Sealion 5's ANCAP rating was still pending in our data, so confirm the current rating before you commit. It launches with BYD's usual active-safety package including autonomous emergency braking. Ownership is covered by a 6-year/150,000km warranty with separate longer battery cover, and servicing every 12 months or 20,000km, one of the longer service intervals around.

How it compares

Inside BYD's own range, the Sealion 6 is the step up if you want more space and a longer history of strong sales. The closest external rival is the MG HS Super Hybrid, which offers a bigger 120km EV range and more power, but costs more to get into. The Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid is the other affordable PHEV SUV worth cross-shopping.

See where it ranks in our cheapest PHEVs guide and the best Chinese cars roundup.

The verdict

The BYD Sealion 5 makes plug-in hybrid motoring cheaper than it has ever been in Australia. From $33,990, with up to 100km of electric range and BYD's well-proven DM-i system, it is a genuinely smart buy for a household that can charge at home and wants EV running costs without EV range anxiety. The one box to tick before signing is the safety rating, which was still pending when we published. Get that confirmed and the Premium is the pick of a very tempting pair.