BYD to release Toyota RAV4 Hybrid rival in early 2024

Having built a base in Australia astonishingly quickly on a platform of affordable zero-emissions battery-electric vehicles including the BYD Atto 3 small SUV, the BYD Dolphin hatch and the Tesla Model 3-rivalling BYD Seal sedan, local BYD importer EVDirect has confirmed its first petrol-powered model will be a large SUV targeted for launch here by the end of March 2024.

And it has yet to confirm if it will sell a fully electric version of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV fighter in Australia as well.

Known as the BYD Song Plus in its home market of China and spied testing in Australia multiple times in recent months, the petrol-electric plug-in hybrid large SUV measures 4775mm long, making it closer in size to Toyota’s popular RAV4 (4600mm) than its Kluger (4965mm).

In Chinese specification it employs BYD’s DM-i PHEV powertrain, which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor with a choice of 18.3kWh and 26.3kWh batteries, offering a claimed electric range of 110km or 150km based on NEDC protocols.

The all-new BYD dual-cab ute scheduled to arrive here in late 2024 also employs DM-i technology, but in that case BYD has confirmed a pure EV version is also coming to Australia.

BYD intends to add another DM-i PHEV model to its Australian line-up – the luxurious Yangwang U8 large SUV – in late 2025.

The Song Plus is the close relation of the Seal U battery-electric SUV launched in Europe in September.

At this stage it appears neither Song Plus nor Seal U are guaranteed to be the name of the SUV in Australia.

“What we haven’t confirmed is the naming of it at the moment,” said EVDirect chief Luke Todd.

“What I can say is that we are launching a DM-i technology – the same as per the ute – large SUV next year, probably quarter two at the latest. We are targeting quarter one.

“I can’t guarantee it’s a Seal U, but it might be. It won’t be the full electric version, it will be DM-i.”

Todd expressed typical confidence that BYD’s expansion from pure-electric to PHEV model in Australia would be greeted positively by buyers.

“We have a very exciting vehicle that is launching before the ute which we think will be very, very attractive for people that want to switch across to electric… but they don’t have any compromise about range anxiety or any concerns like that,” he said.

The RAV4 Hybrid is the dominant player in the mid-size SUV space, but it has very minimal electric-only range and waiting lists stretching out over two years. The Outlander is the leading PHEV in the segment, but is AWD-only and more expensive with a starting price of $57,290 plus ORCs.

If the BYD, which in China is priced between the equivalent of $33,800 and $40,200, matches the Toyota on its front-wheel drive starting price of $42,260 plus on-road costs in Australia, it would have a clear technology advantage (the RAV4 Prime PHEV is not sold here).

In addition to the Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal EVs – all of which have been priced under their competitors, most notably the Seal – the unnamed new medium/large SUV, dual-cab ute and flagship SUV will bring to six the number of BYD models available in Australia by 2025.

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