BYD SEALION 5 Smashes Prices as Australia’s Cheapest PHEV SUV

BYD is once again doing what legacy brands fear most: making electrified motoring affordable, sensible, and just a little bit irresistible. The latest proof arrives in the form of the BYD SEALION 5, now officially confirmed as Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid SUV, with pricing that starts from a wallet-loosening $33,990 before on-road costs.

That figure alone is enough to send rivals scrambling for the smelling salts, but the real story is what BYD hasn’t sacrificed to get there. This is not a bargain-basement eco box. The SEALION 5 lands as a fully fledged electric-platform SUV designed for Australian families who want to dip a toe into electric driving without the cold shock of range anxiety or premium pricing.

Available to order from today, the SEALION 5 is built around BYD’s DM-i 4.0 Super Hybrid technology, a clever setup that prioritises electric driving while keeping petrol power quietly on standby. In real terms, that means up to 100 kilometres of pure electric range on the NEDC cycle, with a combined driving range approaching 1,000 kilometres when both power sources are working together.

Download specifications HERE: BYD-SEALION-5-2025

For daily duties, many owners may find themselves rarely visiting a servo at all. Short commutes, school drop-offs, grocery runs and inner-city schlepping can all be handled on electric power alone. When the weekend calls, the petrol engine steps in seamlessly, turning long drives into a stress-free affair rather than a charger-hunting expedition.

Efficiency figures are equally headline-worthy. BYD claims fuel consumption as low as 1.2 litres per 100 kilometres in hybrid mode, positioning the SEALION 5 among the most frugal SUVs in its class. That is not just good for the environment, it is very good for household budgets that are already under enough pressure.

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ABOVE: BYD Sealion 5 PHEV

There are, of course, a couple of omissions worth noting, and BYD is not pretending otherwise. The SEALION 5 does not offer DC fast charging, relying instead on AC charging for its plug-in duties. In the real world, that means overnight charging at home is the intended use case. For a plug-in hybrid with a relatively modest battery and a petrol safety net, that is hardly a deal-breaker, and at this price point, it is a compromise most buyers will happily live with.

Likewise, all-wheel drive is not on the menu. The SEALION 5 sticks with a simpler drivetrain layout, focusing on efficiency rather than off-road posturing. For the vast majority of buyers who spend their lives on sealed roads, school drop-offs and shopping centre ramps, the absence of AWD is unlikely to raise an eyebrow. Again, at $33,990, we’ll forgive it.

Two variants will be offered in Australia: SEALION 5 Essential and SEALION 5 Premium. Both benefit from BYD’s Blade Battery technology, now well known for its focus on safety, durability and thermal stability. It is the same battery tech that has helped BYD build a global reputation for robust electric and hybrid vehicles, and its inclusion here reinforces that this is a serious product, not a cut-price experiment.

While BYD has not positioned the SEALION 5 as a performance hero, early indications suggest it delivers strong, confident acceleration and a calm, composed driving experience. This is a car aimed squarely at real life. Comfortable, easy to live with, and engineered to remove the intimidation factor that still surrounds electrified vehicles for many buyers.

BYD Australia says the SEALION 5 is all about expanding choice, and the timing could not be better. With cost-of-living pressures squeezing families from every angle, the idea of an affordable plug-in hybrid SUV that offers electric driving without compromise is likely to resonate loudly.

According to BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins, the SEALION 5 represents a significant step forward in accessibility for new energy vehicles. He notes that Australians want genuine options when it comes to electrified mobility, and the SEALION 5 delivers exactly that without watering down the features that have made BYD such a disruptive force in the market.

The arrival of the SEALION 5 also builds on BYD’s recent momentum, following the introduction of models like the ATTO 1 and ATTO 2. Together, they paint a clear picture of a brand intent on democratising electric and hybrid technology rather than locking it behind luxury price tags.

Put simply, the BYD SEALION 5 feels like the kind of car that could quietly change buying habits. It does not shout. It does not posture. It just turns up with sharp pricing, clever tech and a very persuasive argument for going electric on your own terms.

Orders for the BYD SEALION 5 are now open in Australia.

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