BYD has expanded its New Zealand line-up with the arrival of the Sealion 8, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV positioned as the brand’s new flagship offering.
Priced from $74,990, the Sealion 8 combines petrol-electric power with long electric driving range and a high-tech interior. The range opens with the Dynamic FWD model, which pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 115kW and 225Nm with an electric motor delivering 205kW and 315Nm. A 19kWh battery provides up to 103km of electric driving range under NEDC testing.
Stepping up to the Dynamic AWD Dm-p ($83,990) adds a second electric motor on the rear axle, lifting combined outputs to 359kW and 675Nm. The larger 35.6kWh battery extends electric range to a claimed 152km and enables faster DC charging of up to 74kW.
At the top of the line-up is the Premium AWD Dm-p, priced from $91,990, which adds additional luxury features including leather upholstery, a head-up display and a premium 21-speaker sound system.
Inside, the Sealion 8 features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen running BYD’s in-house operating system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with over-the-air software updates.
Measuring just over five metres in length, the SUV offers three rows of seating, with generous second-row space and a usable third row for occasional passengers.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain also delivers strong performance for a vehicle of its size, with the all-wheel-drive variant capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.
BYD claims fuel consumption of around 1L/100km for the AWD versions when the battery is fully charged, although real-world consumption will vary depending on battery usage.
You can read the full first drive review on Auto Trader here.
