Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 4 March 2026
For the last decade or so, the mid-size SUV segment has been one of the most competitive spaces in the global automotive industry.
This segment has long been dominated by the likes of the Toyota RAV4, the Mitsubishi Outlander, and the Mazda CX-5. And while these Japanese legacy brands have found success, they haven’t changed too much over the years, leaving space for newcomers like BYD to disrupt the segment.
The recently launched BYD Sealion 5 is a perfect example of this, as it’s a plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV with impressive numbers.
Arguably the most impressive of all its numbers is the price tag, as it starts at $42,990 for the Essential model.
It is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which makes 72kW and 122Nm of torque. This is paired with an electric motor on the front axle, which chips in with an extra 145kW and 300Nm of torque.
In the entry-level Essential model, this powertrain features a 12.9kWh battery, providing an electric driving range of 71km (NEDC).
At $48,990, the key difference in the Premium model is a larger battery, which provides more electric driving range. With an 18.3kWh battery, the Sealion 5 Premium is able to travel 100km of electric power alone, which is around 30 per cent more than the entry level model.
Unlike larger plug-in hybrid SUVs in BYD line-ups, an all-wheel drive variant of the Sealion 5 isn’t available, with both the Essential and Premium models being front-wheel drive.
With both models under $50,000, this Sealion 5 undercuts the Toyota RAV4 PHEV, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV by almost $10,000 (in the case of the Essential). And with this in mind, shouldn’t it be a no-brainer to buy in place of its rivals? Well it’s not that simple.
An Interesting Drive
BYD New Zealand recently launched this Sealion 5 at the same event as the larger (and far more expensive) Sealion 8 SUV. I understand the thinking behind the move in terms of logistics, but it didn’t do the Sealion 5 any favours. While the Sealion 8 is one of the most polished BYD products I have had the pleasure of driving, the Sealion 5, on the other hand, lacks any sort of x-factor.
Now this should be taken in context, as I mentioned earlier about the price difference between the Sealion 5 and its other plug-in hybrid rivals, but it doesn’t feel as cohesive of an offering as the other two.
Despite making use of the same petrol engine as the Sealion 8, this Sealion 5 feels a bit more strung out on the road. The noise from the engine is more noticeable, and it takes more effort to get it moving when ascending hills and such. I’m sure this wouldn’t be a factor in urban environments when you can lean on the battery’s power for commuting, but on undulating Kiwi backroads, it didn’t feel at home.
With a 0-100km/h time of around eight seconds, its clear performance isn’t much of a consideration with the Sealion 5. It will still deliver an impressive shunt of electric torque off the line as the front wheels grab at traction, but this quickly eases as the speed climbs. You have to be either using passing lanes, or quite selective with overtaking.
As for economy, we used the Sealion 5 in its hybrid mode for the duration of our drive on the local launch. BYD provides a fuel economy figure of 1.2L/100km with a full battery, and 4.5L/100km for the total combined figure. Given how demanding the Northern expressway can be with all its hills, and how the battery was almost out of charge, I wasn’t expecting to see a figure below the 5s for the drive back into Auckland. I was surprised, however, to see a figure of 8.3L/100km on the energy monitor.
The ride provided by the Sealion 5 is adequate for a mid-size SUV. Considering how large this segment is, there’s a vast scale of suspension tuning, ranging from the cheap stuff, through to the serious European contenders. I’d place the Sealion 5 right in the middle of this scale. It isn’t bad, but it’s not amazing, either, especially in the face of the Sealion 8.
I was impressed by the driver assistance systems, as they were a lot more toned down than what I was expecting. There is a driver attention monitoring camera on the a-pillar, but it’s quite restrained in how it works. If you get caught up in the infotainment system for too long it will ping you, but it’s not like others that seem far too overbearing.
Further to this point, the adaptive cruise control system works well, and the lane-keep assist didn’t do anything strange during my time with the car. The software feels very polished in this regard.
A Nice Interior
On the inside, the cabin styling is similar to what we’ve seen from BYD’s other products.
Despite undercutting its competition on the price front, BYD has managed to squeeze a fair chunk of luxury into the cabin, including soft touch materials and good-looking displays.
Where the Essential gets a 10.1-inch infotainment display, the Premium makes use of a 12.8-inch unit, but both get wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard.
Both feature an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but a head-up display isn’t offered on either model.
At 4.5-metres long, the Sealion 5 hasn’t exactly got an abundance of interior space, but you’ll fit four adult occupants in without any complaints. Arguably more impressive is the boot, which measures 600-litres with the rear seats in place, and this extends to 1460-litres with them folded.
You’ll have to opt for the Premium model to get power adjustment seats, which also come with heating and ventilation. The same goes for the panoramic sunroof, only available on the Premium model.
A Cost-Effective Option
There’s no denying the Sealion 5’s main selling point is its price. I believe the Essential model at $42,990 is the best buy, as you get the all-important electric range, but skip out on the luxuries that you might not need.
It might not ride or perform as well as some of the Japanese and Korean legacy models in the mid-size segment, but the five-figure price difference is nothing to overlook.
It features everything you’d expect from a mid-size SUV in 2026, plus a few creature comforts to sweeten the deal.
