New BYD Sealion 5 DM-i starts at £29,995

• New mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV
• Two battery choices with 38 or 58-mile electric range
• Prices start at £29,995
• On sale now

BYD has released details for its ninth UK model, the Sealion 5 DM-i. The new contender is a mid-size SUV with plug-in hybrid power, and with prices starting at less than £30,000 it represents a big saving on rivals like the Ford Kuga, the Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sportage, the Volkswagen Tiguan and more.

The new BYD Sealion 5 DM-i sits above the Atto 2 and below the Seal U DM-i in BYD's model line-up. It's powered by a plug-in hybrid system with 212PS from a 1.5-litre engine and electric motor. Two trims are available, each with a different battery, with either 38 miles or 53.4 miles of range according to official figures.

All models are well-specced with 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera and automatic LED lights. The higher-spec model gets luxuries like an electric boot lid, heated front seats and a wireless phone charger.

2026 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i price and release date

You can order the BYD Sealion 5 from BYD showrooms right now, and from other retailers from the 7 February. It costs from £29,995 for the entry-level Comfort model, and from £32,995 for the top-spec Design.

2026 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i styling, interior and technology

Measuring 4738mm in length, 2063mm in width (including side mirrors) and 1860mm wide, the Sealion 5 is longer than the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson; in fact, it's one of the longest cars of this type on the market, although its 463-litre boot, while hardly small, is unremarkable compared to several rivals that boast more than 500 litres. Fold down the back seats (which split 60:40) and that space expands to 1410 litres.

The exterior and interior design are rather conservative, but the specification is generous across the board, with a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all models, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the ability to rotate from landscape to portrait orientation. There's also an 8.8-inch instrument screen in front of the driver.

BYD promises generous space for five.The seats are trimmed in vegan leather and there's six-way driver's seat adjustment as standard (four-way for the front-seat passenger.

2026 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i engines, performance and fuel economy

The plug-in hybrid system in the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i consists of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. The battery you get depends on the trim. The Comfort model comes with a 12.96kWh battery that gives an electric-only driving range of up to 38 miles when fully charged. The Design model has a larger 18.3kWh battery, which ups the range to 53.4 miles.

However, the extra weight of the larger battery means the Comfort is a smidge quicker, hitting the 0-62mph benchmark in 7.7 seconds, while the Design takes 8.1 seconds. Both batteries can charge at up to 3.3kW, and feature Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech that lets you charge small appliances using the car's battery via a three-pin plug.

2026 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i trim levels

Two trim levels are available on the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i. The base model is the Comfort, which comes with most of the standard kit you'll need – 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, automatic LED lights, a rear-view camera, and (vegan) leather-covered electrically-adjustable seats.

Upgrade to the Design and as well as the larger battery, you also get a 360-degree camera system, heated fronts eats, an electric boot lid, and a wireless phone charger .

Atlantis Blue paint is inlcluded as standard, but if you want Obsidian Black, Time Grey or Polar White, you'll have to pay an extra £850.