BYD has introduced a three-row SUV with luxury equipment to rival BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and rated with a staggering 900km EV driving range.
Electric Cars
BYD has pulled out all the stops with the 2026 BYD Sealion 08 SUV.
At over 5.1 metres long, and rated with a 900km driving range based on Chinese testing, the Sealion 08 sets new benchmarks for BYD.
Rather than a straightforward replacement for the existing Sealion 8 PHEV that’s currently on sale in Australia, the Sealion 08 moves the brand upmarket and is positioned as a flagship model in BYD’s ‘Ocean Series’ of cars in China.
The Sealion 08 is available in two-row, five-seat or three-row, six-seat versions with an emphasis on comfort and luxury equipment.
Features usually found in prestige cars, like air suspension and rear-axle steering, are available – despite the fact BYD’s Ocean Series cars are usually less prestigious than its more expensive Dynasty Series line-up.
The Sealion 08 EV will be rated to cover up to 900km on a single charge, based on CLTC testing, which isn’t as demanding as the shorter-range WLTP figures usually quoted in Western markets.
BYD hasn't announced an official battery capacity, but CarNewsChina believes the Sealion 08 will have a 130.5kWh capacity.
Despite the massive battery, charging from 10-97 per cent should take as little as nine minutes, thanks to compatibility with BYD’s flash charging system, which can charge at up to 1500kW.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive flagship version will have a combined 480kW output, but despite the huge power figures, BYD is ‘only’ claiming 0-100km/h acceleration of 4.9 seconds.
Styling for the Sealion 08 follows BYD’s Ocean Aesthetics 2.0 design language, with the design overseen by former Audi designer, Wolfgang Egger.
The clean look features gently curved bodysides, an upright rear pillar, a slim front grille graphic, full-width tail lights that blend with the tailgate glass, and minimal body adornment, save for a chrome trim on the lower body that rises towards the rear of the vehicle.
The smooth styling disguises the Sealion 08’s size, which measures 5115mm long, with a 3030mm wheelbase, making it 40mm shorter than a Kia Carnival, with a 60mm shorter wheelbase.
Although not shown at the Sealion 08’s reveal at the Beijing motor show, a plug-in hybrid version is expected to join the range at a later date.
A wider international rollout is expected to follow the Sealion 08’s Chinese market introduction later this year, but an Australian introduction has not yet been confirmed.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
