2024 BYD T3 Reviews

While Australian sales of Chinese vehicles continue to grow at a staggering rate it looks like the country’s car industry, including the world’s largest EV manufacturer BYD, has hit a nasty speed bump due to a perfect storm of challenging market conditions.According to data from the Chinese Passenger Car Association (CPCA) and China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), 2025 was a year of solid growth for domestic production which saw total output rise to 34.5 million units, a 9.4 per cent year-on-year increase over 2024.And similarly, exports rose to a record 7.1 million vehicles (up 21.1 per cent yoy) confirming China as the world's largest automobile exporter.But due to multiple factors including regulatory changes, reduced demand and volatile trade conditions, January numbers told a markedly different story.As of January 1, 2026 the Chinese Government revised incentives designed to encourage EV uptake and introduced a five per cent purchase tax on ‘New Energy Vehicles’ (EV and hybrid) which were previously exempt.In 2025 a maximum ¥15,000 (~$3065) subsidy was available to all new EV buyers. But now only cars with a retail value above ¥187,500 (~$38,300) qualify.At the same time, the CAAM said slowing economic growth in China has put pressure on wages, which combined with rising unemployment, has dampened demand for new cars.The government has also moved to eradicate export of ‘zombie cars’ - new, zero km vehicles road registered to qualify as ‘used’, a move likely to create a medium-term glut of new-car inventory.And of course, an all-out trade war with the United States has not only contributed to China’s economic slowdown but effectively cut-off access to one of the world’s biggest car markets.According to China Automotive News, in January China’s new vehicle production dropped 3.2 per cent year on year to below 2.35 million units, with sales down 13.9 per cent.BYD domestic sales fell off a cliff, down 53 per cent to 110,000 units, with other big players also taking a backwards step, including Geely (-13 per cent), Changan (-33 per cent) and Chery (-40 per cent).But conversely, exports were up substantially compared to January, 2025.CPCA data show Chinese vehicle exports rose to 576,000 units (+52 per cent) with close to half being NEVs, that proportion up 13 per cent year-on-year.In terms of an annual outlook, the CPCA predicts domestic sales will grow one per cent in 2026 (down from 9.4 per cent growth in 2025) with vehicle exports growing 4.3 percent, compared to 21.1 per cent last year.  Time will tell whether these predictions become reality, but for now, the only way seems to be up for BYD and Chery in particular, in Australia. With 2025 new-model additions including the Shark 6 ute, city-sized Atto 1 electric hatch and compact Atto 2 EV SUV, as well as the larger pure-electric Sealion 7 and plug-in hybrid Sealion 8 SUVs, BYD’s year-on-year sales for the month of January grew by a spectacular 640.9 per cent.At the same time, Chery more than doubled its January sales (+105.8 per cent), largely thanks to the ongoing success of its Tiggo 4 which comfortably led the small SUV category.

The Sealion 8 Premium is the flagship variant in BYD's seven-seat plug-in-hybrid SUV line-up.

BYD's Sealion 8 is a full-sized family SUV with seating for seven and a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Pricing for the incoming BYD Shark 6 cab-chassis ute has been revealed on the website RedBook.It will start from $55,900, before on-road costs, which is $2000 cheaper than the pick-up version of the popular ute already in Australia. BYD Australia when contacted for comment said that the company was not in a position to share an official launch date for the new variant. The cab-chassis Shark 6 does not have a direct rival in Australia with the Ford Ranger PHEV being a pick-up-exclusive variant. GWM is preparing a budget PHEV ute in China, which has good prospects for an Australian launch some time this year, but it looks like that will be a pick-up-only variant as well. BYD’s newest ute Down Under was first revealed in late November when it appeared in Department of Infrastructure filings confirming sale approval. These latest details reveal the car will miss out on some of the Shark 6 pick-up’s gear, such as a head-up display along with heated and ventilated front seats.It will still have a digital driver display and central touchscreen display, but the leather-wrapped steering wheel has been replaced by a synthetic one. It can also now be confirmed that the ute will have the same power set-up as found on the pick-up variant. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing 321kW and 650Nm. The ute has a 29.6kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, with an electric-only driving range of 100km, according to generous NEDC testing.The cab-chassis increases the payload to 900kg, but capacity will decrease with any tub or trailer installed. braked towing capacity remains at 2500kg.This news comes as BYD prepares to update the pick-up variant of the ute later in 2026. It is expected to be fitted with front and rear differential locks and a two-speed transfer-case, which would likely come with a price bump. 

BYD has given its fully-electric Atto 3 small SUV a massive overhaul with a larger battery, faster charging, more power and a switch from front- to rear-wheel drive.There is a catch - this Atto 3 is only available in the United Kingdom, for now. But the good news is with the UK being a right-hand drive market, it's very likely the same vehicle will be sold in Australia, possibly soon.The overhaul is much needed for the Atto3 which was BYD’s first vehicle to go on sale in Australia when the brand arrived here in 2022.Until now the UK and Australia have had the same Atto 3 - a front-wheel drive-only SUV with a single 150kW motor, and a driving range of up to 480km (WLTP) from the larger 60.48kWh battery variant. But the new Atto 3 in the UK - dubbed the Evo - has been hugely improved.For starters battery capacity has been upped to 74.8kWh for a range of up to 510km and its electrical architecture beefed up from 400V to 800V allowing 220kW fast charging and 10-80 per cent refilling in 25 minutes.Another welcome change is the switch from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive with a more powerful 227kW motor improving 0-100km/h acceleration time from 7.3 to 5.5 seconds. A two-motor all-wheel drive variant with 325kW is also available in the UK. The bump in grunt takes the Atto 3 into seriously quick hot hatch territory, outgunning rivals such as the Kia EV3, Geely EX5 and MG S5.The new configuration also allowed BYD to make changes to the Atto 3’s multi-link rear suspension for better handling, upgrading it from a four- to five-link arrangement.The new BYD Atto 3 in the UK now has a bigger 490-litre boot - up 50 litres and it's scored a 101-litre front boot. Interior changes include the repositioning of the Atto 3’s gear selector from the centre console to the steering column.CarsGuide has contacted BYD Australia to ascertain if and when the updated Atto 3 will come to Australia.Since the Atto 3’s local launch in 2022 BYD has rapidly rolled out nine more models including the Shark 6 ute and Sealion 7 large SUV, those two by far the most popular in the brand's range.  

Chinese brand FAW has unveiled a new type of battery, which can achieve a driving range exceeding 1000km, according to reports.The battery has a capacity of 142kWh, and offers an energy density of 500Wh per kilogram. This is a new type of high-tech battery, differing from the traditional idea of solid-state, which is often viewed as the next big step.Chinese companies are continuing to develop their solid-state batteries, such as BYD and Chery that have recently announced projects.Chery claims its solid-state battery has an energy density of 600Wh per kilogram, but FAW’s efforts still represent a significant improvement on conventional alternatives.Traditional solid-state batteries do not use a liquid or gel electrolyte for the mechanical separator. Unlike solid-state, the mechanical separator in FAW's battery is made up of a slurry-like substance, combining solid and liquid components. This hybrid composition is able to provide the desired high energy density in comparison to common lithium-iron batteries, while also offering potential for cost-effective mass-production.The lithium-manganese battery developed by FAW features lithium manganese cells and solid electrolyte elements.While this battery has been mounted into an FAW car, there is no news on the battery's full-scale production future.FAW produce several electric models, and from the photo, it looks like the battery has been fitted to the Hongqi Tiangong 05 sedan launched in 2025.Solid-state batteries have commercial and manufacturing challenges in the pursuit of full-scale mass-production, which is why some car makers have ruled them out in the short and medium term.BYD and Chery have taken different approaches for the composition of its solid-state battery, but neither brand has committed to long-term mass-production of the technology.Chery has unveiled two cars featuring solid-state batteries, but they are both part of the brand’s premium Exeed branch, so it will not be offered in mainstream products. BYD will only produce solid-state vehicles in a small batch coming next year. FAW’s hybrid alternative could offer a route towards solid-state in the interim while the technology develops towards a more sustainable level. 

Could the Shark 6 be about to take a bigger chunk out of the dual-cab market?The brand has come as close as it ever has to admitting there’s a driveline upgrade in the works for the Shark 6 dual-cab that would make the vehicle a more serious off-road contender.That would make it more attractive to recreational four-wheel-drive users as well as open up new fleet possibilities.BYD Australia’s Chief Operation Office Stephen Collins told Carsguide that "some improvements" to the Shark 6 were in the works.“I can’t tell you the specifics,” he said, but confirmed the changes would probably come sometime “…later in the year”.Mr Collins called the changes an "upgrade" leading to speculation the Shark 6 might grow front and rear differential locks and a two-speed transfer-case, which would vastly improve its off-road performance, the factor that is seen as the Shark 6’s weakest link right now.Chief Product Officer for BYD Australia Sajid Hasan backed up that theory, explaining that the Shark 6’s existing architecture had already been engineered for greater off-road ability.“It’s a possibility, because it’s (the Shark 6) based on a platform that already uses low-range (in the transfer-case (which the current Shark 6 sold here does not) and diff locks. So it’s mechanically possible,” he told Carsguide.The Shark 6 has been a runaway success for BYD, selling 1108 units in January this year, and helping BYD in the chase for its long-term goal of being a top-five brand in Australia.“At the end of 20204, we were 16th, and at the end of 2025, we were eighth. We just want to keep improving,” Mr Collin said. “The next phase is to get into the top five and that’s a priority.”Part of that process will be a push into the fleet market which BYD had, until now, not fully exploited, Mr Collins said.“One of the key opportunities (for BYD) is fleets,” he said. “It’s a stable market and customers want fit for purpose vehicles, and are interested in the whole of life cost.”“For us, so far, this has only been 10 per cent of our volume, but we see this as a really important part of our business going forward.”“We’re not in the top 20 fleet brands (in Australia) yet. But we’re working hard to improve that performance.”

BYD has held nothing back in extending its Sealion line-up. Not only do the new Sealion 8 variants adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain, they're also the first to offer a seven-seat solution. There's plenty of choice in trim levels and even a pair of drivelines to choose from; one pretty mild, one very wild. But can the BYD redefine the three-row SUV concept in any meaningful way?

The push towards plug-in hybrids has taken another step with BYD adding just such a powertrain with its Sealion 5 line-up. As well as the EV-only range and equipment levels a lot of families are searching for, the BYD also arrives at a super-sharp price-point. But will that be enough to make it stand out in what is becoming a sea of mid-sized plug-in SUVs?

BYD is the latest brand to get in on the solid-state battery scene, with small-batch production to get underway in 2027, according to reports.This latest development puts BYD back in the race against Chinese rival Chery that has also recently announced solid-state technology. The Chery Exeed Liefeng shooting brake will feature a battery offering a potential driving range of 1500km, with an energy density of 600Wh per kilogram.This will launch after the Exeed ES8 shooting brake, which will be Chery’s first solid-state model, with a driving range of 1000km. We do not know which BYD vehicles will be fitted with this solid-state technology or its real-world potential yet.It is expected BYD’s technology will differ from Chery’s as it will use sulfide electrolytes as opposed to oxide-based chemistry. This different set-up could be a more practical route to commercial viability for solid-state technology as it is claimed to be easier to manufacture and provides benefits such as faster and safer energy transfer that could result in faster charging and lower fire risk. BYD’s solid-state powered vehicles will only be available in a small batch next year, which suggests there are no plans yet for the technology to enter full-scale production at this stage.Solid-state batteries have been gaining traction with car makers in China, but other big-name manufacturers in Europe and North America have been slower to get behind them. General Motors has highlighted its scepticism for solid-state, preferring investment in silicon graphite batteries, while Ford views it as a ‘possible future technology’.Mercedes-Benz unveiled a prototype solid-state powered version of its EQS sedan in September 2025, which travelled 1205km on a single charge. Full integration of this technology remains several years away, with full market integration unlikely to occur until the 2030s if it continues to gather steam in the EV space.