Compare every BYD Sealion 5 variant sold new in Australia. 2 variants, from $33,990 to $37,990 RRP. Side-by-side specs, ANCAP safety, fuel economy, EV range and charging, towing capacity, warranty and running costs, pricing sourced from the BYD Australian website and updated weekly.
2 variants of the BYD Sealion 5 are on sale in Australia. Compare them side-by-side in the table below, or tap any variant to jump to it and expand its full specs.
| Variant | RRP | Power / Torque | Fuel / Range | Drive | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential2026 | $33,990 | 156kW / 300Nm | 80km WLTP | FWD | 5 |
| Premium2026 | $37,990 | 156kW / 300Nm | 80km WLTP | FWD | 5 |
The 2026 BYD Sealion 5 Essential is a compact plug-in hybrid SUV that suits Australian families wanting lower fuel costs without full EV charging anxiety, offering a genuine 80km electric range for daily commutes and a claimed 1.2L/100km combined efficiency. Its standout strength is the combination of five-star ANCAP safety, a 6-year warranty, and realistic running costs around $829 annually, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious buyers. One thing to consider is the modest 1000kg towing capacity and 400-litre boot, which may feel tight if you regularly transport large loads or tow a caravan.
Configure the EssentialRelated reading
News, buying guides and owner reviews relevant to this model.

BYD Australia has confirmed 1,265 Atto 3, Sealion 8 and Shark 6 buyers were sold cars stamped as MY26 on the paperwork that were actually built in 2025. Cause was a CRM field that stored the date the car left the factory rather than the true build date, and dealers wrote contracts off that field. No mechanical or safety defect; compliance plates and government records were correct throughout. BYD is contacting every affected owner with three options: a full refund of the original transaction price, a MY26-built replacement of the same model at the original purchase price, or keep the current car plus a $1,100 goodwill payment roughly equal to a dealer delivery fee. The full refund and MY26 swap were added only after the ABC picked the story up; BYD's initial offer to everyone was the $1,100 cheque alone. Owners can self-check the build date on the door-jamb compliance plate or by decoding the 10th character of their 17-digit VIN (S is 2025, T is 2026). Build year drives resale value on Redbook and Glass's, sum-insured bands, and fleet-lease depreciation schedules. Warranty is untouched at 6yr/150,000km vehicle and 8yr/160,000km battery from first registration.

Geely Australia locks in its cheapest EV yet. Complete $26,490 before on-roads, Inspire $30,990, both rear-drive on LFP. Complete pairs a 60kW/150Nm rear motor with a 35.3kWh pack for 252km WLTP, Inspire steps to 85kW and 47.1kWh for 345km. DC peaks at 60kW and 80kW respectively; both take 6.6kW AC. 4,135mm long five-seat hatch on a 2,650mm wheelbase with 375L boot and a 70L frunk. Standard 14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, 8.8-inch digital cluster, AEB, ACC and blind-spot on both. Inspire adds alloys, six speakers, wireless charging, heated seats and wheel, 256-colour ambient, power tailgate, contrast roof, rain-sensing wipers and 360-degree transparent-view camera. Launch offer to 31 August: free 7kW home charger, free premium paint, 0.68 per cent comparison finance over 36 months. Seven-year unlimited-km vehicle warranty, eight-year unlimited-km battery warranty. ANCAP not yet rated. Dealers from late July 2026. Slots between the BYD Atto 1 and the GAC Aion UT on price.

Australia records its biggest ever month of new-car sales in June 2026 at 140,058 units across all sources (VFACTS itself 131,134, up ~7% YoY). Toyota leads with 19,124 to BYD's 18,881, the closest gap ever. Tesla Model Y tops the model chart for the second month running on 8,072, beating Ford Ranger (5,999) and Toyota HiLux (5,175). Three BYDs in the top 10: Sealion 7 (4,730), Shark 6 (3,398) and Atto 2 (2,482). BEV share hits a record 23.3% (vs 7.6% June 2025) with electrified cars at ~49.5% of the market. China supplies 35.5% of every new car sold. YTD Toyota 95,141, BYD 52,335 (+141.1%).
Buying guides
A shortlist with prices, specs and the trade-offs to know.
A shortlist with prices, specs and the trade-offs to know.
A shortlist with prices, specs and the trade-offs to know.
Stack two models side-by-side. Price, range, towing, ANCAP and ownership cost in one view.