Chinese automaker BYD introduced a hybrid SUV dubbed the Sealion 05 DM-i two years ago. It received a facelift only a year into production and was later complemented by an all-electric “Sealion 05 EV”, which was actually a totally different car with its own exterior design and platform. To avoid further confusion, the company has now redesigned the hybrid model to run on the same underpinnings as the EV.
The new BYD Sealion 05 is 4,620 mm (181.9 inches) long with 2,770 mm (109.1 inches) between the axles. It has an accentuated lower air intake in the front bumper, a reshaped rear bumper and new light signatures at both ends. It also rides on new 17- and 18-inch wheels and comes with a wider selection of exterior colors to choose from. Now that both cars are based on the same platform, they look pretty much the same.
The interior closely corresponds to that of the pre-facelift Sealion 05 EV. There is an 8.8-inch digital dashboard and a 12.8-inch infotainment system display that gets replaced with a larger 15.6-inch panel in the top trim. Options include heated/ventilated front seats, an extended ADAS package powered by a LiDAR, and a wireless phone charger, among others.
The DM-i hybrid variant of the SUV continues to rely on a 101-PS (100-hp / 75-kW) petrol engine mated to a 163-PS (161-hp / 120-kW) e-motor for propulsion. The biggest improvement here is the battery, which is now good for 305 kilometers (189 miles) of CLTC range. The predecessor ran out of juice after mere 115 km (71 miles).
In turn, the 2026 BYD Sealion 05 EV gains 50% power and 10% energy capacity. The entry-level single-motor version sends 272 PS (268 hp / 200 kW) to the rear wheels, while its dual-motor counterpart sends 326 PS (322 hp / 240 kW) to all four. With the biggest battery pack on offer, this SUV now covers a solid 630 km (391 miles) per charge.
Prices in China start from 97,900 Yuan ($14,360) for the DM-i hybrid and from 119,900 Yuan ($17,590) for the EV.
