BYD Sealion 8 (DM-i 5.0 & EV 7-Seater) Australian & UK Launch Tracker: Specs, Dimensions & Towing

[OutbackEV_QLD]

Creating a dedicated tracking thread for the BYD Sealion 8, which slots above the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 as BYD's full-size 3-row 7-seater SUV for Australia, NZ, and the UK.

Confirmed Highlights:

• Length: ~5,040 mm with a 2,950 mm wheelbase (2+3+2 and 2+2+2 captain's chair layouts)
• Powertrains:
  • DM-p / DM-i 5.0: 1.5T engine + dual electric motors (400 kW combined, 200 km pure EV WLTP range, 2,000 kg braked towing capacity)
  • Pure EV: 800V architecture with dual-gun fast charging support
• Roof Load: 100 kg dynamic roof load rating for roof tents and touring pods.

[SolarToWheel_WA]

A 2,000 kg braked towing rating on a 7-seater PHEV SUV is the sweet spot between the Sealion 6 (1,300 kg) and the Shark 6 (2,500 kg). Plenty of families don't want a dual-cab ute just to tow a 1.8T pop-top caravan.

[OBD2_DiagnosticDan]

Hoping we get the 6-seater layout with second-row ventilated captain's chairs and the built-in centre console hot/cold fridge box here in Sydney!

[KirstyM_QLD]

Spotted a camouflaged RHD test mule on the M1 near Melbourne Airport last Tuesday with trade plates—ADR homologation must be well underway.

[AmeliaR_UK]

Appreciate the honest perspective! Every EV and PHEV platform has trade-offs, and seeing real long-term feedback like this is why independent owner forums are way more useful than brochure numbers.

[Ella_MCR_EV]

Interesting point about the charging curve. I found that plugging in around 15–18% SOC gives the fastest sustained peak kW before the BMS gently tapers above 80%.

[oscart92]

Thanks for sharing the real-world numbers! Dealers rarely explain this clearly during handover, so having verified owner telemetry on the forum saves everyone a lot of guesswork.

[BenjaminRoberts_SCO]

My experience has been almost identical over the past 4 months. Zero rattles in the cabin so far, and the 360-degree camera clarity at night is still the best in its price bracket.

[Sebastian_J_Sealion7]

Bookmarking this thread for reference. The build quality and LFP thermal consistency on long climbs have exceeded expectations so far.

[Craig_Z9GT]

@OutbackEV_QLD Agreed 100%. I tested this on a 320 km highway trip over the weekend and the difference in cabin noise and consumption was night and day.