BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD review: the $90,000 question

We know BYD can do small and appealingly idiosyncratic really well: refer the Atto 1, Atto 2 or even Atto 3. It can also do affordable family cars that combine practicality with clever super hybrid technology: Sealion 5 and 6.

But can it convincingly execute a luxury 7-seater with a price that breaks the $90k barrier? That's the mission of the Sealion 8. The new model, the largest BYD has ever offered in New Zealand, comes in $75k and $84k versions, but the one we have here is the 8-with-everything: the $91,990 Premium AWD.

On the outside: what are the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD's main design features?

The Sealion 8 looks like nothing else in the BYD NZ lineup, although some Chinese-market models like the latest Sealion 05 (not to be confused with NZ's Sealion 5) are now picking up similar styling cues.

It's a stunning-looking thing, with lots of presence. Nicely proportioned, but also pretty bold in places: it's all inlets and aero-look protrusions. Check out the huge vents behind the front and rear wheels, and both AWD models ride on massive 21-inch wheels.

The colour choices for Sealion 8 are fairly muted: the usual white, grey and black. But our test car is finished in the hero hue, called Dark Aquamarine, which takes on subtle changes depending on the light. It's an extra $990 (white is actually the only free colour, and it looks remarkably good too).

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD cabin like?

The Sealion 8 cabin is ostensibly similar to other BYD SUVs: big central screen, a good array of supporting physical switchgear. But it also has its own sense of style. The angular exterior shapes are reflected in much of the dashboard architecture, like the asymmetrical speaker shapes or the jigsaw-like panel of drive-mode and audio controls on the centre console. Even the steering-wheel controls have a striking off-kilter look.

Can BYD convincingly execute a luxury 7-seater with a price that breaks the $90k barrier? That's the mission of the Sealion 8.

The infotainment screen is both massive and well-organised. Even when you have a takeover of the display by phone projection, it retains a dock of shortcuts to often-used functions like climate and seat heating/ventilation/massage.

You can actually hide that too if you want (not sure why you'd need to, given the huge amount of screen available) and bring it back with a click; as with all functions, the display is super-quick to respond.

The 2nd-row is the place to be in some respects: loads of space, a great view out and goodies like a separate climate-control touch screen and outboard-seat heating, ventilation and massage (activated by a physical control on the seat squab), just like you get in the front. It's a great way to travel.

The 2nd row tilts and pivots for access to the 3rd row. It's not super-spacious back there: an adult will fit for short trips, but the very back row is best considered occasional, or for young children. Good to see Isofix mounts in both the 2nd and 3rd rows.

If you choose to use the Sealion 8 as a 5-seater, you've got an absolutely enormous cargo area to play with: 960 litres.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD like to drive?

The Sealion 8 Premium AWD offers up some impressive figures: 359kW/675Nm combined. However, it's also a "super hybrid", meaning the petrol engine works mainly as a generator and the emphasis is firmly on electric drive.

While the Sealion 8 uses similar super hybrid technology to smaller BYDs, the AWD model is badged 'DM-p', meaning the emphasis is on p-for-performance.

So it's often a bit of a mystery what the powertrain is actually doing, something exacerbated by the extreme refinement of the Sealion 8; most of the time you honestly can't tell whether the petrol engine has fired up or not, and passengers not in-the-know simply assume it's a pure-electric SUV.

While the Sealion 8 uses similar super hybrid technology to smaller BYDs, the AWD model is badged "DM-p", meaning the emphasis is on p-for-performance. The brand's other SUVs are DM-i (intelligent), while the Shark 6 ute is DM-O (off-road).

The Premium AWD is theoretically capable of 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds, but it seldom feels that fast from a standing start. Who cares? It's so beautifully smooth and refined, and when you want a big performance kick for overtaking it certainly delivers.

BYD quotes 152km EV range, but that's under the rather lenient NEDC protocol. Nonetheless, we got 120km-plus from a full charge, and that included quite a bit of open-road driving, which is not always kind to electric-vehicle range.

It handles impressively for a 2.6-tonne SUV. How much of that is down to the fundamental chassis setup and how much is due to the fancy YunNian-C intelligent damping system is hard to say without driving the standard front-drive model (which has passive suspension), but it really steers with authority.

It's hard to think of another 7-seat SUV that combines such presence, quality, equipment and on-road ability with the impressive EV range of BYD's super hybrid technology.

Change modes and you can feel the suspension change character, but it's pretty subtle; it's so well-sorted that Normal mode is actually fine on bumpy backroads, even you're pressing on a bit, to avoid the tiny jitters of the stiffer setup in Sport.

You can indeed adjust the suspension independently of the drive modes; for example, you could have the car in Sport overall, but wind the suspension back to Normal.

We wouldn't call the Sealion 8 an off-roader necessarily, but there are drive-mode settings to help it deal with low-traction surfaces: Snow and Muddy/Sandy.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD warranty and servicing situation?

The warranty covers the complete vehicle for 6 years/150,000km. The traction battery is covered for 8 years/160,000km.

The Sealion 8 requires an initial service check at 6 months/5000km, then every 12 months or 20,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD?

The Sealion 8 Premium AWD looks sensational and feels genuinely luxurious.

And while $90k-plus is a lot of money, it's very hard to think of another 7-seat SUV that combines such presence, quality, equipment and on-road ability with the efficiency and impressive EV range of BYD's super hybrid technology. So we reckon it's top value too.

BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD FAQs

What kind of car is the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD?

A 7-seat large SUV.

Does the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes, it's a super hybrid PHEV.

What’s the fuel economy of the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD?

The official figure is 1.1l/100km, but as with any PHEV it depends entirely on how often you charge it. With the battery at 25%, BYD claims 6.3l/100km.

Is the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD safe?

It hasn't yet been tested by ANCAP, but gets 5 stars under the NZ VSRR system.

What safety and assistance features does the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD have?

What are the BYD Sealion 8 Premium AWD's main rivals?

• Mazda CX-80 Homura PHEV ($83,490): Beats BYD on style and 3rd-row space, but only half the EV range.
• Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy ($94,990): Dramatic design, but modest hybrid powertrain.
• Toyota Highlander Limited ZR ($89,990): Yes, the flagship Highlander is $90k now. Hybrid only, no plug.
• Chery Tiggo 9 ($66,990): Intruiging super hybrid tech, lots of power, bargain price.
• GWM Tank Ultra PHEV ($74,990): More of a hard-core 4x4, but luxurious and 120km EV range.