The 2026 BYD Ti7 could form part of a one-two punch in Australia’s large SUV segment alongside the existing BYD Sealion 8.

The large plug-in hybrid three-row SUV has just been announced as part of BYD’s UK line-up, and the availability of a right-hand-drive version opens the door to an Australian introduction.

Despite its chunky off-road looks and Land Rover Defender-like styling, including a carrier box on the tailgate that looks like an externally-mounted spare wheel, the Ti7 uses unibody construction, similar to potential rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and Toyota Kluger.

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While the Ti7 will be sold under the BYD brand in the UK, in China it falls under the Fangchengbao brand, in the same showrooms as the B5 and B8 body-on-frame plug-in hybrid SUVs, which are sold under the Denza brand in Australia.

Full specifications for the UK market have not yet been revealed, but BYD UK confirms that the Ti7 will come with dual electric motors and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, under its Dual Mode Performance (DM-p) label. EV-only driving range is claimed to be 127km (WLTP), and 0-100km/h acceleration takes a claimed 4.8 seconds.

Chinese-market versions of the Ti7 feature a 160kW front motor and 200kW rear motor, down slightly on the dual 200kW motors offered on the BYD Sealion 8 DM-p PHEV sold in Australia, which has a 152km EV-only range using more lenient NEDC testing and a 4.9-second 0-100km/h claim.

Unlike the Chinese version, which measures 4999mm long, the UK model will stop the tape at 5146mm long, making it larger than the Sealion 8 (5040mm), Santa Fe (4830mm), Kluger (4966mm), and closer in size to BYD’s flagship Denza B8 at 5195mm.

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The three-row cabin will be offered with seven seats in the UK, unlike China’s five-seat layout, but the thick D-pillar design could limit outward visibility for rearmost occupants. Chinese specifications not confirmed for the UK version include up to seven screens in the interior, an included refrigerator with a -6ºC to 50ºC cooling and heating range, 20-speaker sound system, and heated, ventilated and massaging seats.

With BYD’s UK line-up closely aligned to what’s offered in Australia, the door is open to an Australian introduction for the Ti7, but where Australia already has the Sealion 8 to fill the need for a large seven-seat PHEV family SUV, the UK does not.

BYD may opt to add the Ti7 to the more upmarket Denza range if it comes to Australia. BYD has been contacted for comment.