“I’m sure that’s possible” Sub-$40K price likely for BYD Sealion 5 which boasts 1300km-plus driving range

Chinese language carmaker BYD has already confirmed the Sealion 8, a creep-in hybrid Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe stressful seven-seater, and now it’s mulling a payment-of-living crushing five-seat SUV.

The medium SUV in request is the BYD Sealion 5 PHEV, also known as the Song Legit in its dwelling market of China. Even with more than 1300km riding range (on the more lenient CLTC checking out standard) and 173kW, word is that this might perchance well also be priced under $40,000 if it comes to Australia.

The Sealion 5 is about five centimetres shorter, a small narrower and a smidge taller than the Sealion 6 Considerable already on sale here from $42,990 earlier than on-avenue charges.

Which that you might perchance think there’s too mighty crossover, then, nevertheless BYD Australia senior supervisor product planning & pricing Sajid Hasan doesn’t.

“[Sealion 5 is] a medium-size SUV, it’s a creep-in hybrid, so positively. I believe there’s a mountainous esteem of medium size SUVs and hybrids. There positively might perchance well be applicable doable for that vehicle,” he said.

Even supposing BYD’s official line is that the Sealion 5 is under consideration, reading between the strains speaking to Sajid, he regarded keen relating to the mannequin.

Plus, Chasing Autos recently spied the Sealion 5 — also known as the Song Legit DM-i in China — checking out on the streets of Sydney.

In comparison with the Sealion 6, the 5 will place charges with a less highly efficient drivetrain, the usage of most productive a non-turbo four-cylinder at its coronary heart and riding exclusively the front wheels, in desire to the Sealion 6’s non-well-known AWD Top class tidy.

With a highlight on efficiency, the Sealion 5’s 74kW petrol engine is allied to a 120kW/210Nm electric motor, handing over 173kW combined energy and as much as 1400km riding range in China’s more lenient CLTC.

An 18.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) blade battery presents the Sealion 5 115km of electric riding range.

A smaller battery with 75km of electric-most productive range and nearer to 1300km combined can be on hand in other markets — it’s this mixture that might perchance well seemingly provide the ravishing sub-$40K opening designate in Oz.

To give context on how animated which might perchance be, a Toyota RAV4 with its fashioned hybrid starts at $42,990, earlier than on-avenue charges, while a Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is $Forty five,100. These opponents don’t provide niceties indulge in cushy-contact door playing cards for each front and rear passengers — even supposing they enact force effectively in tricky Australian prerequisites.

As for how assured BYD is it goes to also bring the Sealion 5 in under that magic $40K mark, “We’re not too far off that already with the Sealion 6,” says Hasan, “you’re most productive soliciting for one other $3K below that, so I’m definite that’s that you might perchance presumably also think of.”