BYD will be launching its first 7-seater into the Australian market in the first quarter of 2026, according to the local arm of the Chinese NEV giant.
This new model will follow the naming of the Sealion series and will be called the Sealion 8, which will also be the biggest vehicle the brand sells in the Australian market when it arrives.
Powered by BYD’s plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) technology, the new Sealion 8 will be offered in two variants, powered by BYD’s next-generation 5.0 platform.
The entry-level variant will have a 19 kWh battery based on the Dual Mode-intelligent architecture (DM-i), while the more premium variant will feature a larger 35.6 kWh BYD Blade battery pack.
Given its PHEV powertrain, there is also a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which produces 110 kW of power, feeding the wheels.
In the DM-i variant, it also feeds a 200 kW front-mounted motor producing 315 Nm of peak torque, helping the car propel from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds.
The top-spec DM-p variant uses a similar drivetrain but now, for added power, adds a second motor to the rear axle, providing an additional 141 kW and 360 Nm of torque.
This setup helps shave 3.7 seconds off the same 0-100 km/h sprint, getting the car there in just 4.9 seconds.
This would make the all-wheel-drive DM-p variant one of the fastest-accelerating seven-seater SUVs on the market.
“We’ve listened to our customers. We know the desire is here for a proper full-size, seven-seater PHEV SUV,” said Wing You, the head of BYD Australia.
“We’re incredibly proud of what the SEALION 8 will represent for BYD in Australia. It’s going to be a flagship model for us, and, in classic BYD fashion, it will exceed the consumers’ expectations for tech, luxury, and value.”
Looking at the styling, the BYD Sealion 8 borrows some cues from other BYD products but in a larger, more practical SUV body.
This includes sleeker front LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRL), which are seen at the front of the large SUV.
The side shows a swooping roofline while the rear features full-length LED lights, similar to those seen on the recently launched Sealion 7 EV in Australia.
Moving onto the inside, there is all the latest BYD tech, including a large rotating infotainment screen along with plush materials seen in high-end, large premium SUVs.
Some variants which feature the DM-p are also expected to get heated and cooled massaging seats for both the first and second rows, adding to the premium positioning of the Sealion 8.
Pricing of the model is currently unknown, but we expect it to be above the current Sealion 7, which starts at $54,990 before on-roads.
For a quick comparison of 7-seater PHEVs, brands such as Mazda have the CX-80 P50e Touring variant, priced from $75,250 before on-roads.
The Sealion 8 will adopt BYD’s full suite of safety and tech features, which many local owners are familiar with and will be backed by the company’s growing national dealership network.
Last week, BYD also announced that it will be bringing in it’s more affordable Atto 2 small electric SUV to Australia later this year.
Pricing and specs of the Sealion 8 will be announced closer to the launch in Q1 2026.
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Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.