BYD M9 2026 News

BYD's new affordable SUV has fallen short of a five-star safety score in Australia. The BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid SUV failed to achieve the maximum star rating under the Australiasian New Car Assessment Program's (ANCAP) protocols. ANCAP only awarded the Sealion 5 three stars, making it the first BYD model not to reach the five-star standard from the safety watchdog in Australia.  ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said BYD has been proactive in bringing models forward for ANCAP testing, but opted not to with the Sealion 5.  “However, the Sealion 5 was a model the brand hadn’t actively pursued for testing, and was subsequently selected by ANCAP to ensure consumers have a clear picture of its safety performance," Hoorweg said. The Sealion 5 hit Aussie showrooms at the start of 2026 as a smaller and more affordable alternative to the Sealion 6 to rival the Toyota RAV4.  ANCAP described the Sealion 5’s crash protection as “respectable”. It achieved a 79 per cent Crash Protection rating, but ANCAP noted increased risk for the driver’s chest and lower legs, as well as the front passenger’s neck.  New ‘Virtual’ and ‘Sled’ predictive digital tests indicated reduced protection for larger occupants and at higher test severity.  The watchdog said the Sealion 5’s inability to detect the stature of occupants in the front seats as well as phone use or intervention for an unresponsive driver marked it down.  It also said central touchscreen control of the headlights and the climate control fan “did not meet its requirements.”  The Sealion 5’s speed sign recognition software “was not sufficiently accurate to earn full points”, and emergency lane keep assist did not intervene in road-edge scenarios. ANCAP stated the Sealion 5 does not have low-speed pedal-misapplication, which suppresses the engine when the accelerator is accidentally pressed with a pedestrian ahead.  The Sealion 5 launched in Australia this year, but it was already on sale overseas for several years and was designed to meet that standard. A spokesperson for BYD Australia said the brand would not make any retrospective safety updates to the Sealion 5. "ANCAP introduced an updated testing regime in 2026, with a strengthened assessment criteria compared to the 2023-2025 protocols, which were applicable to the Sealion 5 at the time of its global introduction," they said. "The current score reflects this new standard, not any change in BYD's commitment to safety." The Sealion 5 is one of the first vehicles to be tested under ANCAP's updated protocols, after ANCAP confirmed to CarsGuide in May 2026 the first vehicles rated under the new criteria were expected later in 2026. Toyota got caught out earlier this year by the changing standards after its new RAV4 was delayed from the initial 2025 launch. It wasn't crash tested this year, but it promised to update the vehicle to the 2026 standards and the vehicle will be tested once the changes were implemented. BYD’s incoming M9 plug-in hybrid people mover received a five-star rating from ANCAP, as the new Kia Carnival rival prepares to hit showrooms in late 2026.  The M9's driver monitoring system headlined the M9's 75 per cent Safe Driving rating, performing well in detecting common forms of distraction.  The people mover’s adaptive cruise control also performed well in detecting and responding to other vehicles and road users.  ANCAP said the M9’s post-crash features and capability “are of a high standard”, which is why it received a 100 per cent score for that category. 

BYD Australia has confirmed pricing for the next of its models in line for an Australian launch, its M9 people-mover. The 2026 BYD M9 will start from $61,990, before on-road costs, in Australia for the eight-seat M9 Dynamic, though the first grade to arrive will be the flagship seven-seat M9 Premium priced at $72,990. BYD’s first people mover, the M9, joins a market category dominated by the Kia Carnival, though the Hyundai Staria and Ford Tourneo take up distant second and third places. Other new arrivals to the people-mover category are more expensive, like the BYD-related Denza D9 or the Zeekr 009. On its 3045mm wheelbase, the M9 is 5145mm long, 1970mm wide and 1805mm high and its three-row layout provides "generous accommodation" according to the brand. Its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain draws power from a 36.60kWh BYD LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) 'Blade' battery, the Dynamic with a 20.39kWh equivalent and features a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to charge the battery and help provide drive. The Premium, the only grade available from launch, boasts 145km of EV range and up to 850km of combined range (under WLTP testing) according to BYD, with AC and DC charging, as well as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) all supported. Its drivetrain consists of a front-mounted electric motor that provides 200kW and 315Nm, though with the engine’s help total outputs are 218kW and 315Nm. With enough battery charge, the fuel consumption claim for the M9 is 0.4L/100km, but with a low battery that jumps to 7.3L/100km - still a reasonable figure. While features for the entry Dynamic grade are yet to be confirmed, the Premium comes with a long list of luxe features including: A 12.3-inch digital instrument driver display A 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Over-the-air updates (OTA)  12-speaker sound system Four-zone voice control Leather upholstery  Heated and ventilated front seats with massage function  Heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs with massage function An integrated refrigerator and hotbox Augmented reality (AR) projection Power sunroof Acoustic front glass Privacy rear glass Interior ambient lighting LED headlights LED tail-lights 50W wireless phone charger The BYD M9 also features nine airbags and a suite of crash-avoidance safety kit including a surround-view camera system and eight ultrasonic sensors to aid in advanced driver assist (ADAS) functions. BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins said the M9 is part of the brand’s “commitment to this market”. “The M9 marks the seventh all-new model BYD has introduced within 12 months, and all of them in new segments.  “We also added two significant new Shark 6 variants, the Shark 6 Cab Chassis and Shark 6 Premium pick-up, in response to customer needs. “The acceptance of BYD vehicles is reflected in our continued strong sales, with year-to-date deliveries more than double ahead of last year, which itself was a record year.”

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia. The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers. The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions. The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year. The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui. It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover.  It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards.  The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet.  In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW.  It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards.  BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car.  Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability.  BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year.  The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack.  It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540.