BYD Yangwang U9 Reviews

BYD and Denza plan to have "game-changing" megawatt charging technology in Australia within the next 12 to 18 months that will see its EV family recharged in the same time it takes to fill a petrol or diesel vehicle with fuel.A megwatt, or 1000kW charger, is more than twice as powerful as the most common super-fast charger in Australia, which are usually capped at 350kW or less. BYD's vision is to equip its megawatt chargers with a sizeable battery buffer which is constantly trickle charged, either via solar or electricity, lessening the impact on the grid.The vision is to have a charging solution that can deliver up to 500km of driving range in just five minutes, putting EVs roughly on par with ICE vehicles.Denza COO Mark Harland says he sees megawatt charging as a point of difference between BYD and Denza and the rest of Australia's EV fleet."It’s something we think can be a real game-changer to the industry, when someone can go for 400 or 500kms in the same time you would fill up at a bowser. They're doing the testing in China to understand the impact on the grid, but they want to back it with a battery, so you’re not drawing off the grid," Harland says."It just seems like it's really well thought out, and when you get that battery to support it it can be a game-changer. I can tell you that once the testing is done in China, we’re going to be looking at it."We need to make sure we’re selling the cars in Australia that can take that kind of charge. Those platforms exist."We’re not talking years away. We're talking maybe 12 to 18 months away from having that capability. Then it's making sure I have cars on the ground that are capable of doing it. That’s what I’m targeting."The platform in question is the brand's Super e-Platform, which runs a 1000-volt architecture, and is capable of a peak charging speed of two kilometres per second.

These are the most affordable new hatchbacks in Australia.

The federal government has released the results of the first New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), with several major manufacturers impacted. 

BYD has detailed its upcoming Racco city car as it gears up for debut in Japan.Designed expressly to meet Japanese Kei car regulations, the Racco represents BYD’s greatest market-specific attempt to shake the hold of local automakers, and serves a symbolic threat to Japan’s dominant carmakers on their own turf.The boxy battery electric is confirmed to be front-wheel drive only with two battery capacities (20kWh or 30kWh) allowing for either 200km or 300km of driving range, respectively.The brand has now revealed the car’s interior, which it did not show at its reveal at the Japan Mobility Show last year, and has confirmed it is targeting a mid-2026 launch date for the diminutive city car.On the exterior, the Racco sticks to BYD’s ‘Ocean’ design theme, while blending in the space-efficient boxy profile usually only worn by domestically-built Japanese Kei cars like the Mitsubishi eKX, Suzuki Spacia or Daihatsu Tanto.Meanwhile the interior features many familiar themes from other BYD models, including a digital instrument cluster and  central multimedia touchscreen perched atop the dash, a central control panel housing various buttons and dials. Interestingly, it features a shift stick rather than the dial-based toggle selector as seen on the Australian-delivered Atto 1, or the stalk-mounted shifter as seen on many newer BYD models.The brand says this central control console was deliberately designed to be familiar to the cabin ergonomics of other Kei-class vehicles to suit the tastes of Japanese buyers.The interior images also confirm at least one grade of the Racco will feature heated front seats, and split-bench style seating as is common on Japanese city cars.It will also feature dual sliding doors like other Kei-class vehicles, and is designed to fit a bicycle in the boot.As part of a new pre-launch web portal for the Racco in the lead-up to its Japanese launch, BYD says it assembled a specialized research team in-house to travel Japan and study how buyers used Kei-class vehicles.BYD is targeting a starting price of around the equivalent of $23,000 for the Racco.Elsewhere BYD’s range in Japan mirrors that of the models available in the Australian market, likely due to its fellow right-hand drive configuration. The brand markets the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal and Sealion 7, although is yet to offer some of the newer vehicles in our market, like the Atto 1, Atto 2, Sealion 6, or Sealion 5.It is interesting that BYD is focusing on EVs for the Japanese market, rather than plug-in hybrids, as it aims to carve out a niche in a country where Chinese cars are yet to be accepted.The brand’s commercial division also intends to launch a Japan-specific T35 compact cab chassis vehicle for the Japanese audience.Other Chinese brands are also eyeing a Japanese debut, including Geely and Xiaomi.As for the Australian market, BYD’s executives have previously indicated to CarsGuide we’re unlikely to see the Racco, as the model is made specifically for the Japanese audience. It is likely instead the Atto 1 will play this role in the compact hatch segment alongside the likes of the Kia Picanto, Fiat 500, Hyundai Inster, and incoming Honda N-One based Super-One.

BYD details the next-generation version of its best-selling mid-sizer, but what's the catch for Australia?

The new COO of BYD premium brand Denza says Holden could have pioneered the sale of Chinese vehicles in Australia, but executives were convinced Australians would never buy Chinese vehicles.

The two-variant Sealion 5 range is topped by the Premium version which costs $37,990 plus on-road costs. For that, you get the basic Sealion 5's plug-in hybrid driveline, a mid-sized SUV layout, seats for five and some extra gear such as a panoramic sunroof, improved stereo, powered front seats and a powered tailgate.You also get a larger EV battery which takes the potential EV range to a claimed 100km and can be charged on a household socket in less than six hours.The rest of the driveline is the same as the Essential model, including the single electric motor driving the front wheels through a one-speed transmission and a 1.5-litre petrol engine whose main job is the charge the battery-pack. Power is a handy 165kW and torque is 300Nm.Safety gear runs to seven airbags including a front-centre airbag, and the full range of driver aids including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, rear-cross traffic alert and active cruise-control. There's also an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system. The Sealion 5 has not yet been crash tested by ANCAP.The Sealion 5 carries BYD's six-year/150,000km warranty with an eight-year/160,000km on the EV battery.

At $34,990 plus on-road costs, the Essential trim level is the first step in the BYD Sealion 5 range. The vehicle is a mid-sized SUV with seating for five and features a plug-in hybrid driveline.Powering the vehicle is a 1.5-litre non-turbocharged engine which basically keeps the 12.9 kWh battery charged, although the petrol engine can also drive the wheel if maximum performance is required. A single-speed transmission is fitted and the Sealion 5 is front-wheel-drive. Peak power is 165kW and torque is 300Nm.The Sealion 5 can be charged on a household socket in under four hours, but there's no provision for using a commercial fast-charger.Standard equipment includes a central info-screen and separate driver-display unit, full wireless connectivity, digital radio, alloy wheels and dual-zone climate-control. The front seats are cushy and comfy, although the rear cushion feels a bit flat. There is, however, plenty of room in the rear seat, even for adults.Safety gear runs to seven airbags including a front-centre airbag, and the full range of driver aids including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, rear-cross traffic alert and active cruise-control. There's also an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system. The Sealion 5 has not yet been crash tested by ANCAP.The Sealion 5 carries BYD's six-year/150,000km warranty with an eight-year/160,000km on the EV battery.

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.

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