The BYD Sealion 5 mid-size plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV has been locked in for Australia as one of four new models from the Chinese brand, with a local arrive scheduled for early 2026. 

At 4735mm, the Sealion 5 is slightly longer than the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, and also edges out the Mitsubishi Outlander by 25mm.

When it arrives next year alongside the larger Sealion 8 PHEV SUV, BYD’s ‘Sealion’ SUV range will become a family of four joining the similarly-sized Sealion 6 PHEV and Tesla Model Y-rivalling Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV.

Like the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7, the Sealion 5 will be strictly a five-seater, with the Sealion 8 to become the brand’s first seven-seater model in Australia.

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Key rivals will include the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV, as well as its Sealion 6 stablemate and fellow Chinese PHEV SUVs like the Geely Starray EM-i and Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid.

Toyota has also confirmed it will introduce a PHEV version of the next-generation RAV4 in 2026, finally giving its best-selling SUV a plug-in option in Australia. The new RAV4 PHEV is, however, expected to be accompanied by price rises across the lineup of up to $6000 – meaning it could be positioned as a more premium option relative to the BYD. 

In China, where it’s sold as the Song Pro, the BYD Sealion 5 is priced from ¥102,800 ($A21,812), but it will be more expensive in Australia, although BYD is yet to confirm details. 

It’s powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an electric motor, producing a combined 173kW of power and a claimed 0-100km acceleration time of 8.3 seconds.