BYD Sealion 5 breaks ANCAP streak

BYD's run of five-star ANCAP safety ratings has come to an end, with the new Sealion 5 mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV awarded a three-star rating under the latest 2026-2028 testing criteria, while the brand's new M9 people mover secured the maximum five-star result. The contrasting outcomes make the Sealion 5 the first BYD model assessed by ANCAP to fall short of the brand's previously unbroken five-star record.

BYD has quickly become one of Australia's biggest automotive success stories, rising to become the nation's second best-selling vehicle brand since arriving in 2022.

But while every BYD model previously assessed by ANCAP has earned the maximum five-star rating, the new Sealion 5 has broken that streak.

According to ANCAP, the plug-in hybrid SUV delivered respectable occupant protection results in crash testing, however shortcomings in both crash avoidance and active safety technology prevented it from matching its showroom stablemates.

Of particular concern was the Sealion 5's emergency lane-keeping system, which failed to intervene during ANCAP's road-edge testing.

ANCAP noted the functionality has been encouraged through its testing protocols since 2018 and pointed to unintended lane departures as a major contributor to fatal crashes on Australian roads.

The safety authority also criticised the absence of several technologies fitted to other current BYD models, including child presence detection, seatbelt misuse alerts, stature classification and low-speed pedal misapplication prevention.

The Sealion 5 does offer a range of post-crash safety measures, including battery thermal management and multi-collision braking, though it misses out on automatic emergency call functionality.

In contrast, the new seven-seat M9 impressed across all assessment categories.

Designed with larger families and passenger transport operators in mind, the people mover comes standard with child presence detection, driver distraction monitoring and stature classification technology.

Its autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems performed strongly during testing, while crash protection scores showed low injury risk for occupants in most assessed scenarios.

The M9 also achieved a perfect 100 per cent score in ANCAP's post-crash assessment, thanks to its emergency information systems, battery isolation measures and occupant escape provisions.

"BYD is leaving a noticeable mark on the Australian and New Zealand new car markets, quickly rising to become Australia's second highest-selling brand since its arrival in 2022," ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said.

"However, the Sealion 5 was a model the brand hadn't actively pursued for testing, and was subsequently selected by ANCAP to ensure consumers have a clear picture of its safety performance."

"Both the M9 and Sealion 5 have been tested against our latest 2026-2028 star rating requirements," she added.

"These requirements continue to encourage balanced safety performance across all four stages of assessment, with the Sealion 5 not able to match the safety offering of its stablemate."

The M9's result extends BYD's collection of five-star ANCAP ratings and gives the brand another strong safety credential in the family-car market.

For the Sealion 5, however, the three-star result may raise questions among buyers given many rivals now achieve five-star ratings and several of the technologies missing from the SUV are already fitted to other BYD models.

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