BYD will reveal what shapes as the next-generation Sealion 05 medium SUV at the 2026 Beijing International Auto Show. Compared with the Sealion 5 already on sale locally, the new model is physically smaller, more advanced with more tech, larger battery options and even a fully-electric drivetrain option too.

Looking closer in design to its larger Sealion 7 sibling than the current Sealion 5, the new BYD Sealion 05 is more rounded off than the current model. According to CarNewsChina, the new Sealion 05 is 118mm shorter in length than the current model at 4620mm, which puts more distance between it and the more expensive Sealion 6 already on sale, and it features a 650-litre boot (600L in the EV, which also features a 110L front boot).

CarNewsChina also reports that it features a new plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with a 120kW electric motor and either a 26.63kW or 34.28kWh battery for between 220km and 305km of electric-only driving range (CLTC). On the same cycle, the new Sealion 05 is rated at 3.1L/100km for combined fuel consumption, and thanks to its 65-litre fuel tank, can reportedly travel up to 2105km on a full charge and tank.

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The electric Sealion 05 instead features a 200kW electric motor on the rear axle mated to a 57.545 kWh LFP battery for a claimed 540 km of CLTC range, or a more expensive 240kW version with a larger 68.547 kWh battery for 630 km of range. Both batteries can be flash charged, allowing for a 0-97 per cent charge in as little as nine minutes.

Inside the Sealion 05 is a 12.8-inch touchscreen, with a larger 15.6-inch unit available on more expensive models. An 8.8-inch digital driver’s display is also standard, while the cabin also boasts a lot of open storage like dual wireless phone chargers.

BYD Australia is yet to confirm local plans for this Sealion 05. Watch this space.