- New BYD Sealion 5 launches in UK
- Plug-in hybrid SUV with lots going for it
- Priced from £29,995
- EV range of up to 53 miles
- Power of 212 PS
- No all-wheel drive option at launch
There’s a new family SUV in town - and the BYD Sealion 5 is a plug-in hybrid that’s here to set the cat amongst the pigeons.
The mid-size SUV market is one of the most lucrative going, with the likes of the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and MG HS consistently in lists of the best-selling vehicles in the UK.
The BYD Sealion 5 has got its elbows out and is now trying to muscle-in on that category.
It hopes to succeed with a bargain price tag (it begins at just £29,995), a PHEV powertrain as standard, and a bundle of equipment fitted as standard.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the BYD Sealion 5?
The BYD Sealion 5 is a new mid-size SUV that’s pitched squarely at families.
To give it its full name, it’s the Sealion 5 DM-i, with the ‘DM-i’ bit standing for ‘Dual Mode‑intelligent’. It gets such a moniker because there are two modes of propulsion - electric and internal combustion engine.
The Sealion 5 is a plug-in hybrid that offers an EV range of either 38 miles (base Comfort trim) or 53 miles (range-topping Design trim).
It’s also a smaller sibling to the larger (and more powerful) BYD Seal U DM-i, which you can also lease with Select.
BYD has high hopes for the Sealion 5, with a spokesperson for the Chinese firm saying the SUV is ‘forecast to become one of BYD’s top-selling models in the UK’.
Steve Beattie, Deputy Country Manager of BYD UK, said: “The Sealion 5 strengthens the BYD line-up by offering our most accessible entry point into DM-i plug-in hybrid technology to date. Its combination of meaningful electric-only range, outstanding efficiency and everyday usability is matched by a starting price that compares favourably against many similarly sized combustion-engine SUVs. Crucially, it also delivers the advanced technology and high specification that customers expect from BYD.”
What engine does the BYD Sealion 5 have?
In a similar fashion to the BYD Seal 6 (Saloon and Estate) or the Seal U DM-i (larger SUV), power comes via a 1.5-litre petrol engine, battery and electric motor set-up.
All models get very decent power of 212 PS, which should be more than enough to propel you through the school run.
The base Comfort trim features a 12.96 kWh battery that unlocks an EV range of up to 38 miles, which is slightly down on the 40 miles you get with the much more expensive Kia Sportage PHEV but generous at the price point.
The Design grade gets a larger 18.3 kWh battery for an electric range of up to 53 miles, which trumps many competitors - except the MG HS, which can travel further in EV mode on a single charge.
Acceleration is decent while not setting your pants on fire - 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds for the entry-level car.
In terms of charging, you get a 3.3 kW onboard charger, which is slow compared with some competitors. Expect an overnight top-up to take around 5-6 hours, depending on the model.
The battery will also regain some charge while you’re driving via braking energy recuperation.
Is the BYD Sealion 5 practical?
BYD says there’s room for five adult occupants while the 463-litre boot expands to 1,410 litres with rear seats folded flat.
That’s not a million miles away from the BYD Seal 6 Touring model, though it doesn’t get close to the 550-plus litres you get with the Hyundai Tucson PHEV.
The rear seats split in a 60:40 fashion.
What equipment is fitted as standard with the BYD Sealion 5?
Standard-issue kit when you lease the BYD Sealion 5 includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, plus electrically adjustable, electrically folding and heated door mirrors.
A larger 12.8-inch touchscreen is fitted as standard, as is an 8.8-inch driver display. You also get smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 4G connectivity.
Driver assistance tech includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, rear collision warning, blind spot detection and emergency lane keeping assist.
All in all, that’s plenty for the price and you’ll be hard pushed to find a better-appointed PHEV for the dosh.
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