Hold onto your seats, Australia, because BYD is about to drop its biggest, baddest, and most family-friendly PHEV yet. The BYD Sealion 8, a full-size seven-seater SUV, is confirmed to reach Australian showrooms in early 2026.
Meet the BYD Sealion 8
The BYD Sealion 8 will launch with two plug-in hybrid options, both built on BYD’s new 5.0 platform:
| Specification | DM-i (Intelligence) | DM-p (Performance) |
| Engine | 1.5L turbo petrol (110kW / 220Nm) | 1.5L turbo petrol (110kW / 220Nm) |
| Electric Motor | Single motor (200kW front) | Dual motors (200kW front + 141kW rear) |
| Battery | 19 kWh Blade Battery | 35.6 kWh Blade Battery |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive (FWD) | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| 0–100km/h Acceleration | 8.6 seconds | 4.9 seconds |
| Performance Highlight | Efficient hybrid driving | Quicker than many sports sedans and seven-seat SUVs |
That 4.9s acceleration time makes the range-topping Sealion 8 DM-p quicker than many sports sedans, let alone seven-seat SUVs, putting it among Australia’s fastest people-movers.
Standout design with premium touches
The BYD Sealion 8 takes a bold step away from traditional boxy SUV design in the 7-seater segment. Instead, it has stuck with sleek, sculpted aesthetics seen on the BYD Sealion 7. This styling aligns more with premium European models like the Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90, but with BYD’s distinct flair.
Design highlights include:
- Bold front fascia with signature BYD styling
- Muscular side profile with coupe-inspired roofline
- Full-width LED tail lights
Upmarket interiors
Inside, the BYD Sealion 8 will offer a comfortable and technologically rich environment across all three rows. Expect premium materials, a smart cabin layout, and a generous list of features that cater to both families and tech enthusiasts.
Top-tier amenities in the Sealion 8 DM-p variant include:
- Heated, cooled, and massaging seats (first and second rows)
- BYD’s latest infotainment interface and driver-assistance systems
- Three-row cabin with competitive space and sliding second-row seat
Built for Australian families
The BYD SEALION 8 enters Australia’s competitive seven-seat SUV market in Q1 2026, offering plug-in hybrid powertrains in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. The model offers three rows of seating and cargo capacity comparable to that of segment competitors.
“We’ve listened to our customers. We know the desire is here for a proper full-size, seven-seater PHEV SUV,” Wing You, BYD Australia General Manager, said.
“We’re incredibly proud of what the SEALION 8 will represent for BYD in Australia. It’s going to be a flagship model for us, and, in classic BYD fashion, it will exceed the consumers’ expectations for tech, luxury, and value.”
Pricing and availability
While final pricing remains undisclosed, BYD’s history of aggressive value positioning suggests that the BYD Sealion 8 could undercut established rivals when it arrives in the first quarter of 2026. Full specifications will be released closer to launch.
With its compelling mix of cabin size, hybrid efficiency and performance, the BYD Sealion 8 will be one of 2026’s most anticipated new SUVs.
Comments
New Comment