BYD Sealion 8 2026 review: Australian preview drive

BYD’s massive growth in Australia shows no signs of slowing, with Chinese the brand announcing an onslaught of new models across new segments.

The best seller of the new models for 2026 is expected to be the car we’ve tested for this quick preview drive, the Sealion 8.

It will serve as BYD’s flagship model in Australia when it arrives, and is its biggest yet, serving up three rows with the brand’s usual plug-in hybrid flair.

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Does BYD’s first seven-seat effort have what it takes to rattle the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, or Kia Sorento? Let’s take a look.

We don’t quite know yet exactly how much the Sealion 8 will cost, although BYD has hinted that it will be competitively priced. 

If we follow the brand’s pricing strategy of undercutting key rivals while also offering PHEV at the price of a combustion or plugless model, it’s safe to say it'll be in the region of $65,000 to $75,000 before on-road costs.

Sure, this will make it the most expensive BYD-badged model to hit our shores yet, but it will also undercut established seven-seat PHEV rivals, like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $69,290) or Kia Sorento PHEV (from $73,500).

However, it also places the Sealion 8 in a league above the most affordable plug-in three-row SUV in Australia, the Chery Tiggo 8 SHS which starts from under $50k.

As usual, expect the Sealion 8 to come with a lavish array of equipment, even on base cars. Preliminary specs offered by BYD for the Premium all-wheel-drive grade include a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital dash cluster, a 21-speaker audio system, front row message seats with leather trim, a 50W wireless phone charger, LED headlights and 21-inch alloy wheels.

It will even introduce an intelligent damping system to BYD products for Australia, to pair with a new performance drivetrain. More on that later.

Range is always important when considering a PHEV and the Sealion 8 delivers up to 152km of fully electric driving range from its massive 36.5kWh LFP battery, although this is to the lenient NEDC measuring method. Expect closer to 100km in the real world.

The Sealion 8 belongs to BYD’s Dynasty design language in China, which is why it looks like a giant Atto 3, with the same slit grille face and overall shape.

However, this big SUV also carries the latest version of the look, with a more angular and techy vibe than the Atto 3. This can be seen in the contrasting cutaway in the door, cool aero-look wheel choices, as well as more minimalist LED light clusters and retractable door handles as also seen on the Sealion 7.

Inside is where this model is a step forward for the brand. It features a more subdued geometric pattern rather than the wacky design cues of the Atto 3 through the doors and dash, and it comes with a slew of more high-end feeling switchgear, too.

I had my doubts about space, but this is a big SUV and at 182cm tall, I comfortably fit in the third row.

You wouldn’t want to be too much taller than me - my head was almost touching the roof - but with the second row only rolled forward on its rails slightly I had a few inches for my knees, and there’s a small space to slide your feet under the row in front.

Third-row passengers haven’t been forgotten, with a nice padded finish to the top of the wheelarches which is surprisingly rare, and there’s cupholders, air-con vents and phone slots, too.

The windows aren’t as gratuitous as, say, the Hyundai Santa Fe back there, but they’re not bad either.

On top of that, even with the third row up, there is plenty of room for a couple of backpacks or a duffle bag. The space measures 270 litres, or a whopping 960 litres with the third row folded flat.

There will be a regular front-wheel-drive version, but the real headliner is the introduction of BYD’s latest DM-P tech, which is a cut above the DM-i system we’ve seen on every other PHEV from the brand so far.

The total system output for the top-spec all-wheel drive is a whopping 400kW/668Nm. It’s all in the EV motors though. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine which supports them only produces 110kW/220Nm.

The Sealion 8 leans into the characteristics of other BYD SUVs. It’s quiet, plush, soft, and comfortable, it really feels a bit like a larger, heavier version of the Sealion 6.

There’s not much sharp about it despite its titanic power outputs, and it still has the same easy going but overly electrically assisted steering.

It is alarmingly rapid in a straight line and the speed creeps up on you because of the quiet and serene cabin. Stomping on the accelerator feels like nothing, but before you know it this enormous SUV is doing 150km/h (noting that we tested a pre-production example at a proving ground).

Its bulk, battery size, soft suspension and vague steering make it a bit unnerving in the corners as it floats from side to side. This is a car more oriented toward comfort than anything else. In that sense family buyers will love it, but enthusiasts might be looking for a little more.

In terms of safety, it won’t be rated by ANCAP for a while but it comes with a laundry list of active gear, and the brand promises us the curtain airbags extend all the way to third row occupants.

It comes with a six-year/150,000km warranty, which is okay but not as good as Chery, MG or Mitsubishi. BYD says it is focusing on stockpiling parts in Australia under its new ownership, so keep an eye out for that.