BYD’s barged into the SUV market like it owns the joint with the SEALION 8 — a seven-seat hybrid that looks like it was designed by someone who really, really likes straight lines and attention. It’s massive, unapologetic, and about as subtle as a drag queen at Sunday mass.

This is BYD’s first real crack at a family SUV for Australia, and you can tell they’ve done their homework. It’s tuned for our roads — meaning it won’t crumble when faced with a pothole the size of Tasmania — and it feels solid, confident, and surprisingly agile for something with three rows and ambitions of grandeur.

Inside? Think lounge meets laser show. A 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen that dominates the dash like it’s auditioning for a sci-fi movie, 21 speakers that turn Kylie into a surround-sound experience, and massage seats that’ll have you praying for traffic jams. Seven seats mean room for everyone, or for five people and a week’s worth of bad decisions.

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ABOVE: Sealion 8

The AWD models get BYD’s new DM-p hybrid setup — a 1.5-litre turbo paired with dual electric motors, pumping out 359 kW and 675 Nm. That’s 0–100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, which means it’ll out-run most V6s without breaking a sweat or a nail. The FWD version still pulls hard with 205 kW and a 103 km electric-only range, so even the “base” model feels anything but.

Underneath, the SEALION 8 rides on DiSus-C smart suspension — marketing gibberish for “it actually corners well.” It can switch between 2WD and AWD like a mood ring, and despite its bulk, it’s smooth, planted, and a bit cheeky when pushed. It’s more refined than you’d expect from a brand still being mispronounced in half the country.

Safety’s sorted too — nine airbags, 360º cameras, and enough beeping sensors to keep even the most distracted driver in line. Thankfully, they’ve toned down the overprotective chirps that made earlier BYDs sound like an anxious budgie having a meltdown.

Pricing’s still top secret, but orders open in December. Expect this thing to show up at your local cafe car park soon — gleaming, grinning, and making every diesel Prado look like last season’s mistake. The SEALION 8 isn’t just another SUV. It’s a statement: “I’ve gone hybrid, darling — and I’m fabulous about it.”

The Korean and Japanese car makers, already suffering assaults left and right,  have had it all their own way, until now. Like it or not, the Chinese brands are doing it better, cheaper and with much better looks.

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