BYD Seagull Reviews

Electric cars are finally having their mainstream moment in Australia, and now make up over 16 per cent of Australia’s new car market.Sales have significantly jumped year-on-year, helped along by a much wider availability of more affordable models, but also an unprecedented fuel crisis, which has made the cost of running a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle front of mind for many.This surge of new options has also seen the list of top-selling electric cars undergo a significant re-shuffle, with new brands featuring heavily.Tesla notably takes the crown for the best selling EV in Australia for the first half of 2026, with its Model Y achieving 20,396 total registrations according to Electric Vehicle Council data. This is due to an eyebrow-raising 8072 unit tally in June thanks to a literal boatload of cars arriving.Next down the charts is BYD with its smash-hit Sealion 7 mid-size SUV. The Sealion 7, which is a key rival to the Model Y, can be had at a more keen $54,990 price-point with similar specs to the Tesla that starts from $58,900 before on-roads.Alongside the plug-in hybrid Shark 6, the Sealion 7 is a major part of BYD’s success story in Australia over the past year.The next two players down compete at the entry-level to their respective segments.Geely’s EX5 clocked up 6756 registrations in the first half of 2026, a quiet achiever in an extremely competitive part of the market. While it goes into battle against a range of rivals in the $40,000 price bracket, it has more than doubled the sales of its closest rival, the previously-popular BYD Atto 3, and it sold 20 times the volume of the similar Leapmotor C10.Below the EX5 is the Jaecoo J5. While this model is now available with petrol power, it is the EV version that has been on sale longer and managed to secure fourth position for the first half of the year, racking up 6113 units.This is no doubt largely thanks to the electric version’s extremely keen $36,990 before on-roads price-tag and generous dimensions for a small SUV, making it the sweet spot for many first time EV adopters. It also undercuts the Atto 3 and Leapmotor B10, and has good visibility in the market thanks to Omoda Jaecoo’s rapidly expanding dealer network.Rounding out the top five electric cars in Australia for the first half of 2026 is the Zeekr 7X. A smash hit for Geely’s premium arm. The 7X stands out for its radical design and strong specs at a generous price point (from $57,900 before on-roads). As a result, the brand tells us that it is attracting not only aspirational buyers, but also buyers who were previously driving BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.Previous top-sellers, the Model 3 and BYD Atto 3, have now dropped out of the top five, amassing a little over 3000 sales each. Kia’s also-popular EV5 mid-size and EV3 SUVs fell short of the list with less than 3000 sales each.All of the electric cars in the top five for the first half of the year were built in China, with the exception of the Performance grade of the Tesla Model Y (which would account for only a small proportion of its sales), showing the country’s leadership in the electric car space.Mainstream brands are struggling on the EV front, with cars like the Toyota bZ4X mid-size SUV amassing just 1718 sales. Volkswagen is in a similar position, with its similar ID.4 amassing just 1183 sales.Even MG, which was the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has tumbled down the charts. Its MG4 hatch has lost hundreds of sales year-on-year. Its S5 and S6 electric SUVs are struggling to compete with newer players, amassing just 1713 and 647 sales respectively.The share of EV sales in the Australian market will inevitably grow as tough new emissions laws start to shape the line-ups of most brands.

In a collaboration between carmaker BYD and fast food outlet KFC, drivers in China can order takeaway though an embedded app in their vehicle.The initiative between BYD and KFC sees the central media display in a BYD vehicle turn into a large menu for the restaurant, similar to a self ordering touchscreen you'd find in-store.The app locates the closest KFC store, sends the order through and navigates the driver to pick up the food.A journalist writing for Chinese motoring publication Auto Home road-tested the app and highlighted the voice interaction as a strength, but that pulling over and putting the vehicle into “Park” to access the full menu was required for safety reasons.   The embedded ordering app is not the first time BYD and KFC have collaborated. In April this year the businesses announced KFC would offer a BYD vehicle charging service at its restaurant locations.Apart from the tasty opportunity for humans to fill up themselves, the chargers are a draw, too. They are the fastest BYD has ever built, delivering up to 1500kW that can provide up to 2km of range a second. The ultra fast chargers are only compatible with second-generation BYD Blade batteries.In April there were already 5000 KFC outlets hosting BYD's chargers and by December the expectation is for there to be 20,000 locations in operation.The numbers are mind boggling and only highlight the sheer scale of commercialisation in China.As for the tech coming to Australia - there’s no word on that. For now, Aussies will have to order their takeaway the old fashioned way and do it through an app on their phone.    

BYD is a serious sales threat to Toyota in Australia.The giant Chinese carmaker sold 243 fewer cars than Toyota, which has dominated the Aussie charts for decades.There is one particular segment BYD is chasing Toyota in that isn't getting the attention of the others.Sedans have generally been on the decline in Australia, with SUVs climbing the charts in their place.The Toyota Camry has owned the sedan segment for many years, and has recently seen a huge boost in sales.It has faced little competition from European rivals like the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Passat.BYD is now showing promise where those models haven't made an impression.The brand has introduced two sedans in Australia so far: the Seal EV and Seal 6 plug-in hybrid. The Seal is one of few fully-electric sedans on sale in Australia, with the Kia EV4 and Mazda 6e providing further competition in recent months.It has proven to be one of the best-selling electric sedans since it launched in late 2023, trailing only the Tesla Model 3 on the sales charts this year.The Camry remains the outright leader of the sedan segment, but the Seal’s sales trump every competitor but the Camry and the Model 3. It is also the sedan that has experienced the most growth in 2026, up nearly 65 per cent. The Seal isn’t the only sedan providing a threat to the Camry from BYD, with the Seal 6 PHEV also now on sale.It has managed 249 registrations since it went on sale in April.BYD’s sedan push doesn’t stop there.The Seal 7 has recently been approved for sale in Australia.It will size up similarly to the Camry, compared to the smaller Seal and Seal 6.It could be an appealing alternative for fleets and ride share drivers, as it may be available in both plug-in and fully electric forms.Those sales remain an important component of the Camry’s success in Australia.

The small and light passenger car segments have been dwindling for years in Australia, but new offerings are helping to revive the affordable new car.These cars are the BYD Atto 1, MG3 and MG4 Urban. They’re all from Chinese carmakers and offer electrified power options.In June BYD sold a total of 871 examples of the Atto 1. It’s only been on sale for a few months and it’s the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) in Australia with a starting price of $23,990 before on-road costs.It was only pipped at the post in terms of monthly sales by the MG3 with a total of 898 examples sold. This is down 1.8 per cent compared to June 2025.The MG3 is now one of the only cars that's available for less than $20,000. It’s offered with both petrol and hybrid power.The Kia Picanto is the only other new car that’s available for less than $20,000 and it’s even smaller than the MG3. The South Korean carmaker sold 626 examples during June, which is down 13.3 per cent over the same month last year.MG also had some sales success with its new MG4 Urban small electric hatchback in June with a total of 1015 examples sold during the month.This almost outsold the venerable Toyota Corolla which shifted 1037 units. This is down 28.6 per cent compared to June 2025.Looking at the year-to-date (YTD) sales figures, BYD has sold a total of 3254 examples of the Atto 1 despite only being on sale for a few months.The Chinese carmaker has been going from strength to strength in terms of sales in Australia. It’s now the second best-selling brand in Australia behind only Toyota, which has held the crown for the last 20 consecutive years.MG sold a total of 3917 examples of the MG3 to the end of June which was down 25.9 per cent year-on-year. For context, MG sold a total of 8984 examples of the related ZS small SUV over the same period, an 11.7 per cent drop.MG sold a total of 1424 examples of the MG4 Urban up to the end of June. It’s only been on sale for a few months now and it appears full supply is coming on tap and backorders are being fulfilled.Forecasting for the rest of the 2026, it will be interesting to see how much of this renewed interest in certain small cars carries on as the segments as a whole continue to decline.Light and small SUV sales continue to boom and don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. The overall sales volume for the segments are much higher than the respective passenger car segments too.Chery sold a total of 13,638 examples of the Tiggo 4 small SUV until the end of June, which is up 70.6 per cent year-on-year. It also makes it the fifth best-selling car in Australia overall.The best-selling passenger car currently is the Toyota Corolla in 22nd place for YTD sales. Every vehicle with a higher sales volume is either an SUV or ute.

New Chinese carmakers are slowly but surely storming up the sales charts in Australia as legacy carmakers are slipping.The biggest highlight over the first six months of 2026 is BYD. It’s now the second-best-selling carmaker in Australia, behind only Toyota, which has retained the number one spot for 20 consecutive years.BYD sold a total of 52,335 vehicles until the end of June, which is up 124.1 per cent compared to H1 2025.Toyota sold a total of 95,141 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 21.4 per cent year-on-year.While BYD still has a long way to go to overtake Toyota’s annual sales crown in Australia, during June alone BYD sold a total of 18,881 vehicles, which was just 243 vehicles shy of Toyota’s monthly result.GWM is now holding steady at seventh place on the year-to-date sales charts. It has sold a total of 30,359 until the end of June, which is up 20.5 per cent year-on-year.MG sold a total of 23,146 vehicles until the end of June, making it the 11th best-selling brand. Its sales are up 6.8 per cent.Recent entrant to the market Geely sold a total of 10,970 vehicles until the end of June, which is up a wild 494.6 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 18th best-selling brand in Australia.New arrival Omoda Jaecoo sold a total of 8808 vehicles until the end of June, which is up an even wilder 1177 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 19th best-selling brand in Australia.Zeekr is now the 20th best-selling brand in Australia. It sold a total of 5835 vehicles until the end of June, which is up 1197 per cent year-on-year.The flip side of the Chinese brands having sales success is a number of legacy brands are moving down the sales charts.Ford has been relegated to third place on the year-to-date sales charts. It sold a total of 42,296 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 10.6 per cent year-on-year.Mazda is now the fifth-best-selling brand in Australia. It sold a total of 40,502 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 17.2 per cent year-on-year.Mazda previously was the second best-selling brand in Australia from 2015 until 2022.Mitsubishi is now hanging on to ninth place in the year-to-date sales charts. It dropped out of the top 10 best-selling brands in the month of June.The Japanese carmaker sold a total of 24,802 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 25.7 per cent year-on-year.Subaru is now in 13th place, selling a total of 14,817 vehicles until the end of June. This is down 25.6 per cent year-on-year.Nissan drop to 14th place, with a total of 13,854 vehicles, down 32.8 per cent.It’s not just the Japanese legacy carmakers either. Volkswagen is now the 16th-best-selling carmaker in Australia in terms of year-to-date sales.It sold a total of 12,333 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 16.6 per cent year-on-year.BMW is down 8.0 per cent and Mercedes-Benz is down 5.0 per cent.We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out for the rest of 2026, but it’s clear that these rapidly establishing Chinese carmakers are going from strength to strength in Australia.

The days of big diesel dual-cab utes could soon be over, as carmakers around the globe pour resources into a new type of workhorse.Ford has had huge success with its small Maverick ute in the US, and now others want a slice of the pie.Some of the world’s biggest ute makers are pouring resources into developing new bite-sized utes that are reminiscent of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes of the past.Forget V8 grunt though, these new work-ponies will use hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric power for work and play.They also ditch the 4WDing and load-lugging focused ladder frame underpinnings used by current big dual-cabs for a more road-biased SUV-like platform.These are the four best examples in the works right now.The Chinese behemoth is preparing to reveal its second ute later this year, but we already know plenty about the Mako — or Shark 5 as it will be known in some markets.In Brazil the Mako will use a plug-in hybrid set-up to produce 175kW and deliver about 100km of EV-only driving range. It will also be available in two- or all-wheel drive.Patent filings in Europe point to even more power, with a potent 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid combo making 200kW.It will still be a dual-cab, with spy photos showing four-doors. The tray is smaller and styling is more reminiscent of other BYD SUVs such as the Sealion 5 than the tough looks of the Shark 6.Toyota has been caught testing its Corolla Cross-based ute in South America, codenamed Project 150D.Spy shots show a little dual-cab, in the same vein as the BYD Mako, driving in heavy camouflage. It is believed to be based on Toyota’s TNGA-C platform, which also forms the base for the Toyota Corolla, Prius and C-HR.Using that platform means the ute could have petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.It will likely use a similar set-up as the Prius, which means a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to make 166kW and all-wheel drive.It is expected to launch in South America next year. Toyota North America executives have also expressed an interest in a small ute based on the RAV4.Ford is following on from the success of its Maverick ute with an all-electric alternative.It hasn’t been named yet, but it's odds-on to be called Ranchero after the company has trademarked the name in markets such as Australia for use on a pick-up truck. Ranchero also a throwback to an old car-based ute from the US discontinued in the late 1970s.It is being developed by Ford’s new ‘skunkworks’ team in California, which has been tasked with creating a low cost EV platform.Ford has publicly said it wants it to be priced about US$30,000 ($43,000) when it goes on sale next year.At its heart will be a Lithium-ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery, which will help keep costs down but will put a lower ceiling on its EV driving range. Don’t expect much more than 400km.Not much else is known, but it should be available in two- and all-wheel drive layouts. Slate Auto is a new electric car company backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and its first vehicle will be the modular Slate Truck.The Slate Truck is a little single-cab ute that can be converted into an SUV.It is a bare bones proposition with a starting price of US$24,950 ($36,200), which is several thousand more than originally promised.The Slate Truck uses a 63kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 330km. It can absorb up to 120kW via a DC fast charger or 11kW when connected to a compatible AC charger.Power comes from a single rear electric motor that produces 135kW and 264Nm.For now it is a US-only proposition, but so was Amazon and look at it now.

BYD’s latest car exposes a huge issue that is headed for Australia. Driving range is the new point of difference for Chinese carmakers, and BYD is fully participating, but it has a sinister side.The BYD Seal 08 was unveiled in China as a Mercedes S-Class size sedan, with fully-electric and plug-in hybrid set-ups.The EV offers a driving range of up to more than 900km, according to generous CLTC standards, but its PHEV sibling steals the show. Its petrol tank and 45kWh battery combine to deliver a total driving range of 1660km, with an electric-only range of 400km.This is the same size as the battery BYD puts in its fully-electric Dolphin hatchback.Big hitting electrified set-ups boasting driving ranges approaching the 2000km range mark have grown in quantity, but authorities are starting to push back, according to reports. These large range-carrying set-ups substantially increase a car's weight, with batteries accounting for the bulk of the weight. Heavier cars require more energy to run, making them less efficient. They also contribute to an increased amount of wear and tear on the roads, requiring more frequent work.The Chinese government could be about to start imposing penalties on carmakers for producing electrified cars that are more than a certain weight. The BYD Seal 08 PHEV battery weighs more than 330kg, contributing to a total weight likely to be around 2000kg, with its EV sibling exceeding that figure.Australia’s current best-selling electric car and model generally, the Tesla Model Y also weighs around the 2000kg mark.Vehicles above 4500kg incur the Heavy User Road Tax on every litre of fuel used in Australia to pay for the wear and tear caused by them.External factors such as the Iran War and subsequent fuel price increase has accelerated the uptake of electrified cars globally, including Australia. With so many heavy EVs and PHEVs hitting the roads in Australia, there could be a need to follow China’s lead to protect the country’s road network from increased damage.Innovations in technology such as solid-state batteries could provide the key to offering huge driving ranges in smaller, lighter packages.Chinese brands have driving forwards in their pursuit of such technologies, with BYD and Chery, among others working on solutions in 2027.

The winds of change are blowing a gale through the Australian car industry, as new brands and vehicles whizz past old favourites on the sales charts.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries boss Tony Weber said the June result was a paradigm shift for the new vehicle market. “The Australian automotive market has shifted on its axis during the first months of 2026. This year is likely to represent a significant turning point for the Australian automotive industry,” said Weber.BYD is officially a category five storm blowing in the direction of Toyota, Ford, Mazda and others that have dominated the top five selling brands for the past decade.BYD sold 18,881 new cars in June, all of them either electric or plug-in hybrids. This brought its three month total to 34,794 after its much ballyhooed effort to send its own ships packed to the gills with cars to Australia.Toyota had battened down the hatches in June and fortified itself against the fierce onslaught of BYD. It managed 19,124 sales in the past month to hold on to first place.It is understood that Toyota has increased supply going forward and is planning a monster second half of the year.Ford bounced back to third place with 9181 sales. Tesla came roaring up behind the Blue Oval with 8670 sales in June, which is impressive considering it only sells two vehicles.The Tesla Model Y was the best selling vehicle in the country with 8072 examples finding a home in the past month.Stablemates Kia (8005) and Hyundai (7480) held firm in fifth and sixth spots, while Mazda slid down to seventh (7278).Chinese brands finished out the top 10 with GWM (6104), MG (5001) and Chery (4505) muscling out old favourites Mitsubishi (4150), Subaru (2902) and Nissan (2337).A few other Chinese brands are lurking outside the top 10, with Geely 13th with 3507 sales and Chery’s Omoda Jaecoo sub brand 15th after moving 2541 units.Utes still delivered strong results, which is typical for the End of Financial Year period.The Toyota HiLux was the Japanese brand’s best selling model with 5175 sales, and Ford’s Ranger was the second best selling model overall with 5999 sales. BYD’s plug-in hybrid Sark 6 ute was its second best selling model, with 3398 sales.Top 10 selling car brands, June 2026 Top 10 selling vehicles, June 2026  

Hyundai has taken aim at its biggest Chinese rival in Australia, with the brand's local chief sensationally suggesting BYD is dumping cars and losing money, while labelling the auto giant's stratospheric growth unsustainable.That's the word from CEO and President of Hyundai Australia, Don Romano – not just the company's most senior automotive executive, but also CEO of the brand's Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters – who did not hold back when asked if he was surprised at how quickly BYD had been able to shoot up the Australian sales charts."I think if I were to lose money and dump cars, and if my stock price was down 40 per cent, I could do the same," he says."I think there's a big difference between growth at any cost and growth organically, so I'm not surprised. I would be if it was sustainable."We're celebrating our 40th anniversary and we're planning another 40 years, so if they're around in 40 years then hats off to them, but at the rate they're going right now?"It's their strategy, but no, I'm not surprised. I think none of us are. We know what their strategy is, we know why they're doing what they're doing, it isn't the way we would do business, but time will tell."It's a stunning attack from within the industry, with Mr Romano seemingly referring to BYD's results in China, where, in contrast to Australia, sales have been falling. That appears to be putting downward pressure on BYD's stock price, which has fallen 36.39 on the Hong Kong exchange over the past 12 months.In Australia, BYD has been on an industry-reshaping roll, finishing May as the second-best-selling brand in the country, trailing only Toyota. Its year-to-date sales are up around 120 per cent as it emerges as the fastest-growing brand in the country.Mr Romano's comments seem to suggest that at least some of that growth is being fuelled by selling vehicles here below cost.Hyundai sales are up a more modest five per cent across the first five months of 2026, though both brands have sold a similar amount of vehicles, with BYD's approximate 33,000 edging Hyundai's approximate 32,000.BYD in Australia opted not to comment on this story.

BYD’s latest luxury hybrid SUV could have one trick up its sleeve its rivals don’t.The incoming FangChengBao Titanium 9, or BYD Ti9 as it is likely to be known in export markets, is a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV that is a size-up on family favourites like the Toyota Kluger.It is 5300mm long and has a wheelbase of 3120mm, so it will be a shape up in the increasingly popular large SUV segment in China.It will be similarly sized to the Zeekr 9X which is due in Australia in the next 18 months,.AutoHome has reported the Ti9 will boast a driving range of more than 2300km, substantially more than most cars on the market.There is no news on how big the fuel tank and battery will be to achieve this, but expect it to be a cut above many of its rivals. Chinese media has been suggesting it will be powered by a dual electric motor plug-in hybrid set-up, with power and torque figures still to be revealed, but possibly shared with other recent BYD models. Its smaller Ti7 sibling has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing 358 kW and 630 Nm.This could provide an indication for what powers the Ti9. It will be available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, and is designed for urban and light off-roading environments.The large SUV is likely to be be unveiled in the second half of this year, and go on sale early next year.There is potential for this model to come to Australia, with its smaller Titanium 7 (or Ti7) sibling going on sale in the United Kingdom soon.FangChengBao, or Formula Leopard, is one of BYD’s off-roading sub-brands, but its models do not fall under that name overseas.The Ti7 in the UK will have a BYD badge on it, as might be the case in Australia, while its larger Leopard 5 is sold locally as the Denza B5.There is no official news on whether models like the Ti7 and Ti9 will launch Down Under.The UK launch means they are being built in right-hand drive, so there is a good chance they will eventually make their way over here, as almost every BYD product available in the UK has come to Australia.BYD Australia has previously told CarsGuide the Ti7 is not on its radar, but the brand has demonstrated previously that plans can change quickly.