BYD Sealion 5 Review (2026): BYD’s New Family SUV Tested

Read Caroline’s BYD Sealion 5 review for everything you need to know about buying BYD’s new plug-in hybrid SUV in Ireland.

BYD Sealion 5 Summary

Chinese car brand BYD has enjoyed great success in Ireland in just three years since arriving in 2023 and is already a bestselling EV and plug-in hybrid brand. The model range has expanded rapidly, with new models like the Seal U and the Sealion 7 driving growth.

The new BYD Sealion 5 looks set to expand the brand’s fortunes even more in the compact SUV segment. Slotting into the range below the Seal U, the new Sealion 5 uses the same ‘Super Hybrid’ technology and is priced from just €36,990. It’s a plug-in hybrid SUV with two different trim lines available, Comfort and Design. It rivals the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson in the compact SUV segment, and is ideal for buyers who want a spacious SUV that’s incredibly efficient.

BYD Sealion 5 Video Review

Find out more about how the Sealion 5 performs on Irish roads in my video review.

BYD Sealion 5 Design

BYD has churned out some great designs in recent years like the Seal and the Sealion 7. But next to those, the Sealion 5 looks surprisingly plain. Yet the SUV shape is appealing and the thick band of silver metallic finish between the headlights gives it a bit of style, as does the silver finish to the rear pillars.

LED headlights also come as standard. There are just four colours to choose from: white, black, blue and grey.

Both Comfort and Design versions look the same with 18-inch alloy wheels and aluminium roof rails included for a chunky SUV look.

Altogether a smart-looking SUV but not a hugely memorable one.

BYD Sealion 5 Interior

Getting into the Sealion 5 and you’re met with a cabin that feels far more plush and up to date than what the outside might suggest. BYD does a great job of creating car interiors embellished with plenty of technology and soft synthetic leather upholstery. All versions come with a digital instrument panel, 12.8-inch touchscreen, as well as electrically adjustable front seats and rear parking sensors.

The infotainment system responds to ‘Hi BYD’ voice commands and has useful shortcuts as well as apps for music and streaming, and over-the-air updates. The heating and ventilation controls are in the screen, which can be fiddly. But there are a few shortcuts worth knowing using three-finger swipes from side to side for fan speed, up and down for temperature.

Design versions add front parking sensors, 360-degree camera, powered bootlid, heated front seats and a 15W wireless smartphone charging pad.

BYD Sealion 5 Practicality

There’s a 463-litre boot, which is similar to a Corolla Cross, though smaller than that of the Qashqai or Tucson. The rear seats can also be let down 60:40.

There’s a completely flat floor in the back, which is great for legroom and will seat three. Isofix points feature on the outer seats but also the front passenger seat.

Another handy feature is vehicle-to-load technology, allowing external devices like a coffee machine or portable fridge to be powered at up to 3.3kW.

Driving the BYD Sealion 5 

The Sealion 5 uses the brand’s ‘Super Hybrid with DM technology’, which aims to give an EV driving experience from a hybrid with the back-up of a 1.5-litre petrol engine.

DM stands for Dual Mode and the Sealion 5 can switch between EV and Hybrid driving. There are two different battery sizes (12.96kWh and 18.3kWh) with the Comfort offering up to 62 kilometres and the Design a more useful 86 kilometres. Charging the battery depends on the battery size and is between 4.5 and 6 hours.

Both versions have a healthy 212hp through the front wheels. The Sealion 5 Design I tested is incredibly smooth and responsive to drive with 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds. It really does drive like an EV, even in hybrid mode. Occasionally you hear the engine at work but it never gets too noisy, even under hard acceleration. There is some road noise at high speeds on the motorway but it’s not bad at all.

The ride quality is a little more mixed. It’s not uncomfortable but you do hear it thumping over any lumps or bumps in the tarmac. Even at a cruise on the motorway, it never entirely settles down underneath you, feeling fidgety and unsettled.

The handling won’t light up your world but it does grip and steer well through bends, and feels more agile and connected to the road than the larger Seal U that shares the same hybrid technology.

There are driving modes as standard – normal, sport, eco and snow – and you can adjust the strength of regenerative braking through the screen.

What sort of fuel economy has the BYD Sealion 5?

Fuel economy is excellent, even when the battery is no longer charged. Over a few days driving, my average was 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres, which makes diesel a distant memory. With the battery fully charged and a full tank of fuel, the Sealion 5 gives an indicated range well over 900 kilometres.

BYD Sealion 5 Price in Ireland 

Comfort models start from €36,990 with an electric range up to 62 kilometres. The Design from €40,990 offers up to 86 kilometres and even more equipment.

Verdict: BYD Sealion 5

The BYD Sealion 5 is a strong, sensible addition to BYD’s growing line-up in Ireland, even if it doesn’t quite have the visual flair of some of the brand’s other models.

Where it really shines is in its drivetrain. The Super Hybrid system delivers an impressively smooth, EV-like driving experience with excellent efficiency consistently. The real-world fuel economy and long combined range make it a genuinely practical alternative to diesel.

However, it’s not without compromises. The ride can feel unsettled on rougher roads and the styling also plays it safe, which may leave it blending into the background in a crowded segment.

Still, it’s spacious, well-priced and efficient, which counts for a lot for a family car.

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year