BYD M9 pricing confirmed for Australia

BYD has priced its new M9 plug-in hybrid people-mover from $61,990 plus on-road costs, setting up a battle with the segment-leading Kia Carnival while substantially undercutting its emerging Chinese electrified rivals.

BYD has again reset the pricing parameters in an Australian new-car segment, confirming its new M9 plug-in hybrid people-mover will start from just $61,990 plus on-road costs.

The eight-seat M9 Dynamic opens the range, while the better-equipped seven-seat M9 Premium is priced at $72,990 plus ORCs and will be the first version into Australian showrooms in the coming months.

The aggressive pricing places the large Chinese plug-in hybrid much closer to mainstream people-movers than might have been expected, given its dimensions, equipment levels and electrified drivetrain.

For context, the cheapest model in the top-selling Kia Carnival range is the $54,560 plus-ORCs S diesel, while the cheapest hybrid is $56,310. The flagship GT-Line hybrid costs $76,840.

BYD's pricing looks especially sharp against the latest wave of electrified Chinese people-movers.

The recently launched GAC M8 plug-in hybrid starts at $76,590 plus ORCs, while the Denza D9 EV opens at $88,185, the XPeng X9 at $89,900 and the Zeekr 009 at $115,900.

Both M9 variants are front-wheel drive and use BYD's latest DM-i 5.0 plug-in hybrid system, combining a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor.

The major mechanical difference confirmed so far is battery capacity, with the Premium receiving a sizeable 36.6kWh BYD Blade battery and the cheaper Dynamic using a smaller 20.39kWh unit.

Detailed Australian specifications have so far been released only for the Premium, with Dynamic specifications to be announced later.

The Premium produces a combined maximum 218kW, while its petrol engine develops 315Nm and the front electric motor 300Nm. It is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds. It has a WLTP electric driving range of 145km and a combined petrol-electric range of up to 850km.

BYD’s detailed Australian specification sheet lists WLTP combined fuel consumption at 2.4L/100km, rising to 7.3L/100km when the battery is at a critical state of charge. It also lists CO2 emissions of 9g/km.

However, the cover of the same Australian M9 brochure separately advertises fuel consumption of “from 0.4L/100km” with sufficient battery state of charge, also described as a WLTP combined-cycle figure.

The Premium supports 7kW AC and up to 85kW DC charging, with BYD claiming a 30-80 per cent DC recharge takes 18 minutes. Vehicle-to-load capability is rated at up to 6kW.

At 5145mm long, 1970mm wide and 1805mm high, with a 3045mm wheelbase, the M9 is a substantial people-mover.

The Premium weighs 2650kg, has a 3374kg gross vehicle mass and offers 470 litres of luggage capacity with all three seating rows in use. Braked towing capacity is rated at 1500kg.

The Premium also comes with BYD's DiSus-C adaptive damping system and rides on 18-inch wheels with Michelin e.Primacy tyres.

The seven-seat Premium adopts a 2+2+3 layout, with heated, ventilated and massaging second-row captain’s chairs. The driver’s seat also gains a massage function, while both front seats are heated and ventilated.

Cabin technology includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, 15.6-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates and four-zone voice control.

The Premium also adds a 15.6-inch ceiling-mounted rear entertainment screen and 12-speaker sound system.

There’s also an integrated refrigerator/hotbox capable of cooling contents to minus six degrees Celsius or heating them to 50 degrees.

Safety equipment includes up to nine airbags, a 360-degree camera, five millimetre-wave radars, eight ultrasonic sensors and an extensive suite of driver-assistance systems.

BYD says high-strength steel accounts for 73 per cent of the M9's vehicle structure.

The M9 Premium will reach Australian showrooms first, with the cheaper eight-seat Dynamic following later.

It will become BYD's first Australian people-mover and its seventh all-new model introduced locally within 12 months, continuing an expansion that has pushed the Chinese brand into an increasingly broad spread of market segments and up the sales charts.

People-movers are not a big-selling segment, but the M9 fills another hole in BYD’s line-up as it takes aim at Toyota for market leadership.

How much does the 2026 BYD M9 cost?
Dynamic eight-seat – $61,990
Premium seven-seat – $72,990
*Prices exclude on-road costs

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