BYD continues to shake up the Australian new car market with competitive pricing, plenty of technology and a growing range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The latest addition is the BYD Sealion 5, a medium-sized SUV that could be a winner for fleet managers and novated lease buyers.
I spent a week driving the Sealion 5 Premium to see whether it delivers the value that BYD is becoming known for.
And at a starting price of around $37,500 driveaway in NSW at the time of my review, it’s certainly got my attention.
Whole-of-life costs: the numbers look good
When fleet managers buy vehicles, it’s not about emotion. It’s about finding something fit for purpose that delivers the lowest possible whole-of-life cost (WOLC).
The Sealion 5 comes in two variants, Essential and Premium. I drove the Premium, which costs approximately $4,000 more but includes a bigger battery and a few extra creature comforts.
Both use BYD’s DM-i Super Hybrid system, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 156kW of combined power. They’re front-wheel drive and have a 52-litre fuel tank.
The Essential has a 12.9kWh battery offering 71km of electric driving range, while the Premium gets an 18.3kWh battery and a claimed 100km. Both figures are based on NEDC testing.
BYD claims a combined driving range of more than 1,000km, which is impressive for a medium-sized SUV.
In the video I also compared the Sealion 5 against the Haval H6 Lux PHEV and Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban using our Fleet News Group whole-of-life cost model.
The BYD came out slightly ahead, although there wasn’t much separating the three vehicles.
For fleet managers watching every dollar, even a small saving can make a difference when multiplied across dozens or hundreds of vehicles.
Workspace ergonomics: a comfortable place to spend the day
Climbing into the Sealion 5, I immediately felt comfortable. The driving position is good, there’s plenty of adjustment and everything is easy to reach.
The Premium gets a 12.8-inch touchscreen, compared with 10.1 inches in the Essential. Both have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and I like that BYD has retained some physical switches for commonly used functions.
The Premium also gets a heated and ventilated driver’s seat, wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof.
There’s plenty of storage for phones, drinks and all the bits and pieces that accumulate when you’re spending your working day in a car.
Could I use it as a mobile office? Well, I could balance my laptop on the steering wheel or centre console, but it’s not ideal. Then again, it’s an SUV, not a van with a purpose-built workstation.
The rear seat was a pleasant surprise. There’s heaps of headroom, knee room and shoulder room, and the seats are genuinely comfortable. Add rear air vents, USB charging and a centre armrest, and passengers won’t have much to complain about.
On the road: quiet, comfortable and plenty of performance
I’ve driven the Sealion 5 around town and on motorways throughout the week, and it’s been a very pleasant experience.
When running in electric mode, it’s quiet and smooth, which makes commuting through traffic enjoyable. Put it into Sport mode and there’s plenty of response when you need to accelerate.
The Premium reaches 100km/h in a claimed 8.1 seconds, while the lighter Essential manages 7.7 seconds. Neither is going to win a drag race against a sports car, but that’s hardly the point.
The suspension does a good job of keeping things comfortable, and I could happily spend several hours behind the wheel.
One thing I particularly like about plug-in hybrids is the flexibility. You can drive on electricity for your daily commute, but when the battery gets low, the petrol engine keeps you moving.
There’s no need to plan a long trip around charging stations.
Speaking of charging, the Sealion 5 only supports AC charging at up to 3.3kW. There’s no DC fast charging.
During my week with the car, I plugged it into a normal household power point each evening, usually around 6pm or 7pm. By the following morning, it was fully charged and ready to go.
That’s a pretty simple routine if you have somewhere to plug in at home.
Car park appeal: a good-looking SUV
I reckon the Sealion 5 is quite a stylish SUV.
It’s not particularly adventurous in its design, but the proportions are good, the front grille gives it some character and I really like the triple-element daytime running lights.
The 18-inch alloy wheels look good too.
There’s a textured plastic panel at the rear that I’m not particularly fussed about, but overall it’s a vehicle I’d be happy to have parked in my driveway.
For fleet drivers, that’s important. Nobody wants to spend their working week driving something they don’t like looking at.
Safety and sustainability: plenty of technology
The Sealion 5 comes with a comprehensive range of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance and rear cross traffic braking.
At the time of my review, it hadn’t received an ANCAP safety rating, so that’s something fleet managers with five-star purchasing policies will need to consider.
One feature that did frustrate me was the driver attention warning system.
It seemed determined to remind me to pay attention whenever I looked at the mirrors or instruments. I appreciate the safety intention, but the warnings became a little tiresome.
From a sustainability perspective, the Sealion 5 makes sense if drivers regularly charge it.
With up to 100km of claimed electric range in the Premium, many drivers could complete their daily commute without using much petrol.
But here’s the catch. If you don’t plug it in, you’re missing one of the biggest benefits of owning a PHEV.
For fleet managers, driver education and access to charging will be just as important as the vehicle itself. The differences become more interesting when looking at battery capacity and electric driving range.
| Specification | Essential | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 12.9kWh | 18.3kWh |
| EV driving range (NEDC) | 71km | 100km |
| Combined driving range (NEDC) | 1,001km | 1,030km |
| Combined power | 156kW | 156kW |
| 0–100km/h | 7.7 sec | 8.1 sec |
| Fuel tank | 52L | 52L |
| Braked towing capacity | 750kg | 750kg |
Figures from BYD’s Australian Sealion 5 specifications. Driving ranges are NEDC laboratory estimates and will vary in real-world use.
Manufacturer commitment: BYD is growing quickly
BYD has become a major player in Australia, and its growing range is attracting attention from fleet buyers.
The company has a dedicated fleet team and is building its presence in the market, which is encouraging for organisations considering the brand.
Of course, fleet managers still need to look at servicing, parts availability and ongoing support, but BYD is clearly serious about the Australian market.
The verdict: Essential for fleets, Premium for novated leasing
After a week with the Sealion 5 Premium, I reckon BYD has delivered a very competitive package.
It’s comfortable, practical, well equipped and enjoyable to drive. And when you look at the price and whole-of-life costs, it becomes even more attractive.
For fleet managers, I’d lean towards the Essential. It’s around $4,000 cheaper, has the same combined power output and retains the important safety and convenience features. For many fleet applications, that’s where the value will be.
But if I were buying one through a novated lease, I’d be looking closely at the Premium.
The bigger battery, extra electric range, heated and ventilated driver’s seat and panoramic roof make it a nicer place to spend time.
One thing novated lease buyers should remember is that new PHEV arrangements generally no longer qualify for the electric vehicle FBT exemption, so it’s worth comparing the actual after-tax costs before making a decision.
Would I recommend the Sealion 5?
Absolutely. If you’re shopping for a medium-sized plug-in hybrid SUV, whether for a fleet or your own driveway, it deserves a place on your shortlist.
The competition from Haval and Chery is strong, but BYD has delivered a vehicle that gets the fundamentals right.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what fleet managers are looking for.
