BYD Sealion 8 News

BYD is facing backlash in its home market of China over its semi-autonomous driver-assistance system.The system, called God’s Eye by BYD, is touted as self-driving in the same way Tesla advertises Full Self Driving (FSD), but anecdotal evidence suggests the system is similarly not yet up to scratch for widespread use on public roads.A report by Bloomberg has outlined complaints from both high-profile and a slew of other customers of BYD who have experienced recurring malfunctions in their cars.There are three variants of God’s Eye, one using cameras and radars, one adding LiDAR to the equation, and another with a full array of sensors.In one of BYD’s luxury brand’s flagships, the Yangwang U8 SUV, a Chinese “entrepreneur” reported “the vehicle suddenly accelerating to 93 kilometers per hour” in a 60 zone, or “abruptly jerking into an adjacent lane”.The Yangwang U8 costs the equivalent of A$230,000 in China, though buyers of many BYD models are reporting similar issues on Chinese social media site Xiaohongshu.The Bloomberg report lists “steering flaws, navigational screen malfunctions and delays in features such as memory navigation in urban roads” as complaints made by buyers of BYD’s mass-market models.It’s not the only assisted-driving or semi-autonomous driving technology under scrutiny, given Tesla’s FSD is involved in numerous crash investigations, and there have even been incidents involving Ford’s similar BlueCruise system.It’s not yet clear if BYD plans to implement God’s Eye tech in Australia, but CarsGuide has contacted the brand’s local arm for comment.

Details of BYD’s next-generation charging hardware have leaked in China, according to reports.The upcoming stations form part of the brand’s strategy to roll out megawatt-level charging for its range of cars in the near future.The second-generation megawatt charging stations reportedly will be able to support speeds of up to 1500kW and a maximum voltage of 1000, indicating BYD is future-proofing its new charging hardware for cars that don’t exist yet.Currently the fastest charging cars in Australia use an 800-volt electrical architecture, with the Zeekr 7X capable of charging at up to a claimed 420kW.At the claimed maximum speed, Zeekr says the 7X should be able to charge from 10 - 80 per cent in 13 minutes. Other vehicles with 800-volt architectures, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9, are capable of speeds of up to 350kW for theoretically sub-20 minute charging times.Very few chargers in Australia are capable of supporting such speeds. Most chargers supporting 800-volt are limited to 350kW, and the fastest public charging station in the country are a set of 400kW ABB chargers at an Ampol AmpCharge site in Sydney.In previous conversations with charge provider Evie Networks, one major limiting factor for providing ultra-fast charging in Australia is the amount of power available to individual sites. Often the sheer input to support even 350kW is not available.In China, where power is both affordable and plentiful, charging ‘rest stops’ with tens of ultra-fast DC chargers are common. The largest site is in Shenzhen which has 258 DC fast chargers.In 2025, China reached a milestone of 20 million charging plugs, with BYD planning to deploy 15,000 MW-level chargers by 2027.These second-generation chargers look set to supersede the original 1MW chargers, which the brand announced to some fanfare in early 2025. At the time BYD said the 1MW chargers could add up to 400km of driving range to its Han L and Tang L EVs in just five minutes.BYD’s charging foray is in support of its range of fast-charge capable EVs, which will no doubt expand beyond the Han L and Tang L in the future.Currently a version of the Tang L is about to become available in Australia, badged the Sealion 8, although it is only sold as a three-row seven-seat plug-in hybrid compared to the EV version sold in China.BYD does not currently offer charging hardware in the Australian market.Tesla is one of the biggest players in the charging hardware game , and in China Tesla now offers its V4 pylons capable of outputting up to 500kW.Meanwhile for BYD locally it would be unsurprising to see the brand launch 1MW capable vehicles, such as an EV version of the Sealion 8 eventually, as part of its strategy to be a top-three automaker by the end of 2026 and beyond.

BYD’s latest and most expensive model is here.The brand has announced pricing and specifications for its new Sealion 8 three-row plug-in hybrid SUV. It starts from $56,990, before on-road costs, for the entry-level front-wheel drive variant, with all-wheel drive pricing starting at $63,990 and $70,990, depending on trim level.This sees the Sealion 8 come in as a cheaper alternative to rivals such as the Kia Sorento and Mitsubishi Outlander three-row plug-in variants. The Chery Tiggo 8 remains the budget option of the segment, starting from $45,990, drive-away.The Sealion 8 comes with two engine choices.The FWD variant is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine paired with a single electric motor, producing 205kW and 315Nm.It has a 19kWh LFP battery, which offers an all-electric driving range of 103km, according to the NEDC testing cycle (generally more optimistic than the WLTP scale). AWD variants of the Sealion 8 feature a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing a combined 359kW and 675Nm. This dual-motor set-up means the car can sprint from 0-100km in 4.9 seconds.There is a 35.6kWh battery with a driving range of 152km (NEDC). Fuel consumption when the battery is drained is 5.3L/100km for the FWD and 6.3L for the AWD.Standard equipment includes a 10.25-inch digital driver display and 15.6-inch central touchscreen as well as 10-speaker audio.The Premium grade adds a 26-inch head-up display, a 21-speaker high-quality audio system and more. BYD has already unveiled an updated version of the Sealion 8 in China, but Australia will have to wait a while for it.The Sealion 8 is available for pre-order now. 2026 BYD Sealion 8 pricing Australia2026 BYD Sealion 8 engine and efficiency  2026 BYD Sealion 8 standard featuresWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay15.6-inch central touchscreen10-speaker audio system50W wireless phone chargerHeated and ventilated front seatsSynthetic leather upholsteryElectrically operated trunk doorRain-sensing wipersPanoramic sunroofKeyless entry and start10.25-inch digital driver display21-inch alloy wheelsPremium grade adds:Massage and memory front seatsElectrically operated front leg restsPremium leather upholsteryMassaging second-row seatsHeated and ventilated second-row seats21-speaker premium soundFront footwell atmosphere lightingWelcome light sequence26-inch head-up display 2026 BYD Sealion 8 safetyThe BYD Sealion 8 has not been crash tested. Nine airbags360-degree camera viewFront and rear parking sensorsAdaptive cruise controlTraffic sign recognitionAuto emergency brakingLane keep assistBlind spot monitoringLane departure assistForward collision warningRear collision warning 2026 BYD Sealion 8 dimensions 2026 BYD Sealion 8 warrantyThe BYD Sealion 8 comes with a six-year/150,000km warranty and an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery. 

The time of the purely combustion car is over: The age of the hybrid has begun.Now entrenched as the default choice amongst Aussie new car buyers, demand for fuel-sipping electrified cars has exploded and the new car market has well and truly responded.Hybrid cars in Australia in 2026 will see the market flooded with new and updated options hitting our shores and the lengthy list below contains only the ones we know about right now.Expect even more options to be confirmed over the course of the coming year.For now expect a theme - lots of new Chinese brands offering sought-after affordable electrified alternatives, and so-called ‘legacy’ brands scrambling to play catch-up.Read on to see the best hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.BYD’s largest and most expensive product yet, the seven-seat Sealion 8 is also a new-generation offering in its Chinese home market.Expect a familiar three-variant line-up for this plug-in hybrid in early 2026, with the range extending from a comparatively affordable base two-wheel drive, to a more performance-oriented all-wheel drive which will debut a new ‘DM-P’ powertrain for BYD in Australia, producing up to 400kW/668Nm.The Sealion 8 is expected to start from around $65,000 with prices possibly cresting $75,000 at the top. It features a new interior design language and batteries enabling a range of around 100-150km of range depending on variant.Australia’s favourite hybrid SUV will be getting an overhaul in the first quarter of 2026. It is expected to be one of the best hybrid cars in Australia in 2026 when it comes to sales, although it will be hit with price rises across the range.There’s a dramatically redesigned face and tail, as well as an overhauled interior, both in terms of the look and the tech, but ultimately it is the same size and platform as the outgoing version.The version arriving early in the year will be plug-less hybrid across its expansive range of variants, with more to come later on.KGM - formerly known as SsangYong - will launch its re-booted Actyon upper mid-sized SUV as a hybrid early in 2026.It will take on the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4 as a quirky Korean alternative, also sitting above the Torres in the brand’s range.A plug-less hybrid version bodes well, with plug-ins famously a hard sell for many, but the re-booted Korean upstart will have its work cut out for it in facing popular and affordable Chinese rivals like the Haval H6.Suzuki’s ageing Vitara will get a facelift in early 2026, expected to be the same overall look and feel as the car which has already launched in the also-right-hand-drive UK market.This Vitara scores tightened-up styling on the outside, a new multimedia screen on the inside now with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and, importantly, some form of hybrid powertrain.We don’t know whether we’ll get the 1.4-litre turbo mild-hybrid powertrain or the 1.5-litre full-hybrid powertrain, both available in Europe but there’s a case for both cars being needed by the brand in Australia.Jaecoo - the semi-premium spin-off from Chery, will launch its J5 small SUV in early 2026. It will score a standard 1.5-litre turbo option, but more importantly it will also be available as a 1.5-litre plug-less hybrid. A fully-electric version will arrive first as part of a three-pronged assault on the likes of the Hyundai Kona.It will be the brand’s cheapest hybrid and you can expect a similar hybrid powertrain to the Chery Tiggo 4, consisting of a reasonably punchy electric motor and a hybrid transaxle set-up at the front.The struggling Stellantis joint-venture is no doubt hoping its curious range-extender hybrids will give it the boost it needs in Australia, after a disappointing few months for its cost-leading C10 electric mid-size SUV.The B10 follow-up is in a more compact package, and the range-extender variant will pair an engine with an electric motor - although only the electric motor will drive the wheels. Specs are far from being locked in, so tune back in later next year for more on what you can expect - but this could also be one of the best small hybrid cars in Australia in terms of price.The Sealion 5 is a plug-in hybrid mid-size electric SUV, and if you’re thinking 'isn’t that what the Sealion 6 does already' you wouldn’t be wrong.The Sealion 5 is a more cost-leading offering by the Chinese brand, designed to help it leap up the sales charts again next year by muscling out rival offerings like the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV.Expect a slightly smaller and more dressed-down alternative to the popular Sealion 6 at a more aggressive price-point, but with less impressive specifications, as part of BYD’s now two-prong assault on the title of best medium hybrid SUV in the sales charts.Toyota’s aspirational off-roader will finally line-up with the rest of the brand’s range by offering a plug-less hybrid variant in 2026.Hardly offering the middling performance of the rest of the hybrid badged Toyotas in Australia, the LC300 will pack a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 borrowed from the US-market Tundra pick-up, which has also recently landed in Australia.Unlike other Toyota hybrids, it also gets a 10-speed automatic transmission rather than the ‘e-CVT’ electrified transaxle, and maintains the same 4x4 hardware, like mechanical linkages to each axle and a low-range transfer case and three differential locks in the GR Sport variant.Wey is GWM’s luxury brand, sitting above Haval in its pantheon of passenger cars and has in the past been ruled an export-to-Europe-only venture.However, the brand has recently locked-in an Australian launch, with its 80 people mover. Expect a range of Wey SUVs to follow in the future.A luxurious plug-in hybrid, the Wey 80 enters an increasingly heated premium people mover space, which will soon be dominated by Chinese challenger brands. In particular it will go head-to-head with GAC’s M8.The relatively popular Lexus ES sedan will get a next-gen overhaul in 2026, again providing it a new lease on life in a world of shrinking sedan market share.The new model moves into new design territory for Lexus, and is set to feature a battery-electric variant for the first time to live alongside what will presumably be a hybrid-only range when it arrives in Australia mid-year.Toyota’s RAV4 will finally score a plug-in hybrid variant in Australia before the end of 2026, despite a PHEV having been available overseas for some time.The new version will land in Australia in two trim levels, as a front-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive. It has a 22.7kWh battery pack, although the official driving range is yet to be revealed for our market.Will it be the best PHEV on the sales front in 2026? Time will tell.Jaecoo, another Chery spin-off brand, will add to its line-up of hybrid SUVs with a plug-in version of the J8.The J8 large SUV launched in 2025 notably missing any form of electrification, which is unusual for a Chinese challenger brand. It is also an unusual offering given its imposing dimensions and five-seat layout, given most in this class are seven-seaters.Specs are yet to be revealed, but given the J8 shares its platform with the Chery Tiggo 9 (currently one of few seven-seater hybrid options), don’t expect it to stray too far from that car’s range and specs.Another car from Chery’s techy Omoda sub-brand, the Omoda 7 could easily be one of the group’s best hybrid SUVs. A key mid-sized offering complete with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Omoda 7 is also set to debut a new styling language for the brand, as well as new features inside and out.Specs are yet to be locked in, but expect to learn more towards the middle of 2026.Want to know what other new models are due in 2026? Check out our rolling coverage by clicking on the links below. Best EVs Australia 2026Best Small Cars Australia 2026Best 4x4 Australia 2026Best Ute Australia 2026Best New Cars 2026 AustraliaBest SUVs Australia 2026Best Family Cars Australia 2026

BYD's flagship SUV has already been given buff before its even launched in Australia, Car News China reports.The Chinese brand has announced an upgraded version of its Sealion 8 seven-seater large SUV that is launching very soon in Australia.It will be the largest and most expensive BYD that has been introduced to the market so far. BYD sells the Sealion 8 in China with electric and plug-in hybrid variants, but it will be solely available as a plug-in hybrid when it hits Aussie shores.The plug-in hybrid option Australia will get comes with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces a total output of 400kW and 668Nm.The new Sealion 7 gets 115kW from the four-cylinder engine and paired with electric motors, offers a 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds.This new version will boost range, with the 36.5kWh battery boasting an electric-only range of 175-215km via the more lenient CLTC testing system. The Australian bound versions can drive a climbed 152km using the slightly more stringent NEDC test cycle. Other updates include a re-designed front grille, bamboo wood trim, while there are improved driver assistance features. There is an all-electric version of the Sealion 8 in China that has a dual-motor set-up. The front motor produces 230kW, while the rear motor makes 580kW, to achieve a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds. It has a massive 101kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery that provides a CLTC range of 670km for the top-tier variant. BYD is growing its presence in Australia as they target a top-three place in the market by the end of next year, according to BYD Australia boss Stephen Collins.Both its Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV and Sealion 7 all-electric SUV have been well received in Australia with strong sales figures. The comparatively larger Sealion 8 will be priced competitively to its main rivals, between $65,000 and $75,000. Jaecoo’s Omoda 9 plug-in starts from $61,990, as a five-seater. But the Sealion 8 will also have to take on the Kia Sorento, which is a dominant seller in the seven-seater segment. Its plug-in variant starts from just over $70,000.Another challenger will be the seven-seater variant of the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in, which starts from under $70,000.It is unclear whether this new Sealion 8 will be seen in Australia, with the original variant still yet to hit showrooms. BYD has not confirmed whether it will bring the electric version of the Sealion 8 to Australia, but it is rapidly expanding its line-up into new segments.

BYD is phasing out one of its key features that sets it apart from the crowd.

BYD expects its hybrid seven-seat Sealion 8 will be its next segment-dominating offering.