BYD launched the Sealion 05 in China on April 20 with both a fully electric and a DM-i plug-in hybrid powertrain, starting at 96,000 yuan (roughly USD 13,200). The range tops out at 126,000 yuan (USD 17,300), a price window that places the Sealion 05 directly in the volume-SUV fight that BYD has been winning for most of 2025.
The EV version offers two single-motor rear-drive outputs: 272 hp and 326 hp, both using BYD's new-generation Blade battery with ultra-fast charging capability. Exact cell chemistry and kWh figures were not announced alongside the launch, though the car is expected to adopt the second-generation LFP Blade pack BYD has been rolling out across the Sealion and Seal families.
The DM-i plug-in hybrid combines a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine rated at 100 hp with an electric motor producing 161 hp. Battery options are 26.6 kWh or 34.3 kWh, delivering 220 or 305 km of electric-only range on China's CLTC cycle. The higher-capacity pack adds adaptive damping and a broader driver-assistance package.
Dimensions and Equipment
The Sealion 05 measures 4,620 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,630 mm tall with a 2,770 mm wheelbase. That puts it squarely in the compact SUV bracket BYD has already saturated with the Song Plus, Yuan Plus, and Dolphin, raising the obvious question of which models get thinned out of the lineup to make space.
Inside, a 15.6-inch floating infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, backed by an 8.8-inch digital cluster. Equipment includes a 50W wireless charger, panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, and semi-flush door handles. A roof-mounted LiDAR is optional for buyers who want the advanced driver-assistance package.
The Price Story Continues
A plug-in hybrid SUV at USD 13,200 is either a remarkable engineering achievement or a remarkable illustration of what margin compression looks like when every Chinese automaker needs the same segment.
BYD is not operating alone. Geely, Changan, and Chery are all pricing compact SUVs within yuan of each other, and each one has a hybrid and an EV variant. The Sealion 05 arrives without obvious differentiation on spec or price. The differentiation, if there is one, is BYD's Blade battery cost curve and the vertical integration behind it.
BYD has not confirmed whether the Sealion 05 will reach overseas markets. Brazil, where BYD recently refreshed the Song Plus, Yuan Plus, and Dolphin, is a logical candidate given the factory investment already in place. No Brazilian launch date has been announced.