BYD M9 confirmed for Australia to take on Kia Carnival

The BYD M9 will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026, giving family buyers another large people mover to consider, and one with plug-in hybrid power. It will enter a market dominated by the Kia Carnival, with other alternatives including the Hyundai Staria, GAC M8 and Ford Tourneo. The GAC M8 is currently the closest match on powertrain, as it is also offered with plug-in hybrid power. BYD Australia has confirmed two versions of the M9 for the local market, although pricing and some specifications are still to be announced.

That makes the M9 particularly interesting in Australia, where the Kia Carnival has had the mainstream people mover market largely to itself. The Chinese-made M9 is already sold in its home market as the BYD Xia, and will sit below BYD’s more upmarket Denza D9 when it reaches Australian showrooms.

BYD M9 gets plug-in hybrid power

Both Australian versions will use BYD’s DM-i 5.0 Super Hybrid system, pairing a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. The range will kick off with the M9 Premium, which gets a 36.6kWh Blade LFP battery and seven seats. It is claimed to travel up to 145km on electric power under the WLTP cycle, while total driving range is rated at up to 850km.

The Premium is also the more luxurious of the two, with heated and ventilated front seats and second-row captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation and a near-zero-gravity seating position.

The M9 Dynamic uses a smaller 20.39kWh battery and switches to an eight-seat layout. BYD Australia hasn’t yet confirmed the Dynamic’s electric range, while charging specifications for both versions are also yet to be detailed. Australian certification documents do, however, list power and torque outputs of 191.4kW and 218.2kW, respectively. Chinese specifications also list DC charging rates of 41kW and 73kW.

Both versions will have V2L capability, allowing the vehicle to supply power to external electrical equipment, while safety equipment will include a surround-view camera, a range of active safety systems and up to nine airbags.

Read more: BYD Sealion 08 SUV opens pre-orders with 585kW and nine-minute charging

It is big, but not quite Carnival-sized

The M9 measures 5145mm long, 1970mm wide and 1805mm tall, riding on a 3045mm wheelbase. That puts it close to the Kia Carnival in overall dimensions, although the BYD is 10mm shorter, 25mm narrower and 30mm taller. Its wheelbase is also 45mm shorter.

There is 470 litres of claimed luggage space behind the third row, while braked towing capacity is rated at 1500kg. Both versions are also certified with a 654kg payload.

BYD M9 price could make or break it

BYD isn’t talking Australian pricing yet, but the M9’s Chinese price gives us a rough idea of where it could sit. Known as the Xia in China, it costs the equivalent of around $42,000 to $54,750 based on current conversions.

Australian pricing will obviously be higher once local taxes, specifications and other costs are factored in, but the M9 is expected to be significantly cheaper than the Denza D9. The D9 currently starts at $85,990 plus on-road costs in Australia.

The BYD Sealion 8 provides another useful benchmark. It costs $56,990 to $70,990 plus on-road costs locally, while the M9’s Chinese pricing sits in a similar broad bracket. The Kia Carnival ranges from around $54,560 to $76,840 plus on-road costs, making the M9’s final Australian price one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.

Can the M9 actually challenge the Carnival?

This is where the BYD M9 gets more interesting than another Chinese luxury people mover. Most of the new Chinese entrants have been aimed at the premium end of the segment, going after vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The M9 is different. It is coming for the family buyers who would otherwise be looking at a Carnival or a Staria.

And that is a much tougher target. The Carnival currently accounts for 87.8 per cent of mainstream people mover sales year-to-date, giving Kia a huge head start. The Hyundai Staria remains one of its most established alternatives, while the GAC M8 gives buyers another plug-in hybrid option. But neither has the same sales dominance as the Carnival.

BYD’s growing sales momentum in Australia could give the M9 a stronger starting point than many Chinese people movers have had. The plug-in hybrid setup could also appeal to families who want to cover daily trips using electric power while retaining the ability to travel long distances without relying entirely on charging infrastructure.

But the M9 won’t be able to rely on its powertrain alone. If BYD can get the price right, the M9 could be one of the more serious new challenges to the Carnival yet. More details on Australian pricing and specifications are expected before the M9 goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2026.