BYD Sealion 8 2026 review
It’s surprising that BYD managed to break into the top 10 sales leaderboard last year without a large three-row SUV in its portfolio to challenge the likes of the Toyota Prado. But the Chinese upstart managed just fine – thanks in large part to the breakout success of its Shark 6 PHEV ute. Surely, then, the arrival of its first three-row family SUV is going to supercharge sales figures? But does this plug-in hybrid offering have the right stuff to carve out a toehold in what is one of the most competitive market segments in the country?
How much does the BYD Sealion 8 cost?
The 2026 BYD Sealion 8 lands in the meatiest part of the large SUV price spectrum, with a starting price of $56,990 for the base front-wheel drive (FWD) Sealion 8 Dynamic, and the range-topping all-wheel drive (AWD) Sealion 8 Premium sitting at $70,990.
Between them lies the AWD Sealion 8 Dynamic, at $63,990.
Measuring 5040mm long and 1996mm wide, the Sealion 8 has a larger footprint than a Toyota LandCruiser Prado, and easily eclipses the only other hybrid seven-seater at a similar price point, Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV. It’s not just physical bulk you’re getting either – it’s stacked with equipment on the inside, too.
Range-wide standard features include leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated/ventilated front seats, a massive glass roof, tri-zone climate control, a 15.6-inch infotainment display (incorporating wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay), a 10.25-inch digital-dash, wireless phone charger, and, critically, ISOFIX anchorages for the third row seats – as well as the middle row.
The FWD base big daddy Sealion rolls on 20-inch alloys with Hankook tyres, while the AWD variants get huge 21-inchers fitted with Goodyear rubber.
Adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, front and rear AEB, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and a 360-degree camera view are included on both Dynamic and Premium grades, though the Sealion 8 has yet to be rated by ANCAP.
The Premium grade adds to the above with a wide-angle head-up display, a heated steering wheel, more electric adjustment to the front seats, massage functions for the front seats and outboard second-row seats (which are also heated/ventilated), and a 21-speaker premium audio system instead of the standard 10-speaker setup.
Ahead of the firewall, all 2026 BYD Sealion 8 SUVs are powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine (110kW/220Nm). The main differences are found on the electric side of the powertrain.
The base FWD pairs a 200kW/315Nm electric motor with the engine and draws power from a 19.0kWh LFP battery, good for a claimed 103km of EV range (NEDC) before the engine needs to fire up, and delivers a combined 205kW/315Nm when operating in hybrid mode.
BYD’s efficiency claim is 1.1L/100km for the FWD and 1.0L/100km for the AWD, or 5.3L/100km and 6.3L/100km respectively when the battery gets under 25 per cent, which forces the powertrain to run in petrol-electric mode.
For the AWD Dynamic and Premium versions, a 200kW/360Nm electric motor gets grafted to the rear end and a denser 35.6kWh LFP battery is slotted under the cabin, taking maximum electric range to a 152km (NEDC) claim and maximum combined output to 359kW/675Nm.
In FWD, the Sealion 8 will hit 100km/h from standstill in 8.6 seconds… but the AWD option chops that to an ultra-brisk 4.9 secs. The twin-motor AWD brings with it a set of adaptive dampers, technology that isn’t universal in the SUV segment at this price point.
What’s good about the BYD Sealion 8?
With such a thick feature list, muscular straight-line performance credentials, solid electric range and a rather reasonable price, the 2026 BYD Sealion 8 already boasts plenty of showroom appeal. And that’s probably going to win over many buyers before they even slide into the driver’s seat.
The interesting thing is, the Sealion 8’s virtues don’t end there.
For one, the interior is cavernous. The second row of seats are mounted on sliders, and with them in the rearmost position, there’s limousine levels of legroom that’s also helped by the total absence of a transmission tunnel.
Slide them a few clicks forward and the third row also has plenty of knee room (and head room) for moderately sized adults to feel comfortable. Aft of the B-pillar, the air vents are mounted to the roof – another comfort-boosting feature – and backseaters can set their own temps via a control panel on the back of the centre console.
Our first on-road taste of the car was brief, but driving both the FWD and AWD variants back-to-back revealed two things.
First, the FWD is slow but rides rather well on its regular passive dampers, and the AWD is ridiculously fast. And second, the bum-dragger (aka FWD) feels like it has better ride comfort than the fancy adaptive suspension and bigger wheels of the AWD Sealion 8.
And while it’s far from quick, our initial impression is that it’s a nicer setup for a family SUV. More extensive testing will see how true that turns out to be.
What’s not so good about the BYD Sealion 8?
There are a few areas where things could be improved.
As a family hack, it would have been good to see integrated sunshades for the rear doors and quarter glass. There are no USB power outlets for those in the BYD Sealion 8’s third row, either. The Hyundai Santa Fe offers these.
The cabin appears well constructed, but the interior design is derivative. There is no doubt that Chinese SUVs are following a well-worn template right now.
The formula of having a big screen in the middle, a smaller screen as the instrument panel, and a high centre console with a wireless charge pad on top and a storage cubby underneath is one that’s shared with other cars like the Leapmotor C10, GAC AION V, Zeekr 7X and Haval H6.
But probably the biggest downside is the Sealion 8’s weight.
The FWD tips the scales at a little over 2300kg, while the AWD, with its extra motor and bigger battery, has a huge 2580kg kerb weight. And you definitely feel that considerable mass when navigating a corner.
While the tyres provide impressive grip levels, with that much weight (and thrust!) to manage, their longevity may be compromised.
Also, while the AWD is a hell of a sprinter from a standing start, rolling acceleration from 80-110km/h isn’t quite as crisp, as the powertrain takes a second to configure itself for maximum acceleration.
Should I buy a BYD Sealion 8?
The BYD Sealion 8’s value equation is difficult to ignore, but its appeal extends beyond that.
For roughly the same coin as a regular combustion-powered or conventional large SUV with a plugless hybrid powertrain, BYD is able to offer a capacious plug-in hybrid with considerable electric range AND a generous standard equipment list.
Although our first drive was only a brief one, from what we could glean it also feels like a cohesive package with decent suspension and, in the AWD, ridiculously strong performance.
Comparison testing will reveal exactly where it sits in the large SUV hierarchy, but right now it feels like the BYD Sealion 8 exists somewhere towards the top.
2026 BYD Sealion 8 at a glance:
Price: $56,990 - $70,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 110kW/220Nm (front electric motor: 200kW/315Nm, rear electric motor: 200kW/360Nm)
Combined output: FWD: 205kW/315Nm, AWD: 359kW/675Nm)
Transmission: automatic
Battery: FWD: 19.0kWh LFP, AWD: 35.6kWh LFP
Range: FWD: 103km, AWD: 152km (NEDC)
Energy consumption: N/A
Fuel: FWD: 1.1L/100km, AWD: 1.0L/100km
CO2: N/A
Safety rating: Not tested
Related: BYD announces rapid expansion plan for Australia
Related: BYD Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid detailed for Aus
Related: BYD Sealion 8 2026 Review
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