{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”Article”,”image”:”https://car-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/244990/087-byd-sealion-5.jpg”,”mainEntityOfPage”:{“@type”:”WebPage”,”@id”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/byd/sealion-5/”},”url”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/byd/sealion-5/”,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Ted Welford”,”description”:”Ted Welford is a senior staff writer on the Bauer automotive hub, working across CAR and our sister website Parkers. Specialising in road testing the latest cars, Ted is also quite the newshound, always investigating the latest industry topics and digging out new stories at any opportunity.u00A0u00A0nTed has been a car enthusiast since the start, almost inevitable growing up with a rallying-obsessed family and being ferried around in the back seat of various Subaru Imprezas u2013 the perfect family car, obviously. As a child, Ted has an enviable collection of toy cars, and it was always obvious that he would channel a career linked to cars in one way or another.u00A0u00A0nAfter completing his A-levels, Ted started an NCTJ-accredited apprenticeship in journalism with automotive news agency Blackball Media. Thrown into the deep end from the start, he would soon be on the phone to press offices, submitting freedom of information requests and covering new car launches at the age of 20.u00A0u00A0u00A0nTed worked his way up to staff writer at Blackball Media, in a varied role that would cover news, features and a growing focus on new car reviews, writing the latest first drives on everything from the new Dacia Sandero to Lamborghinis, and honing his skills to review and report on the latest cars. He joined CAR and Parkers in February 2024.u00A0u00A0nOutside of working hours, Ted is usually browsing car auctions and classifies in search of a bargain (often unsuccessfully), and currently owns a Mk1 Audi TT Quattro Sport and Renault Clio 182 Trophy. Heu2019s also an avid and perfectionist car valeter and detailer u2013 yes, one of those bores that lectures you about the two-bucket method. Away from cars he loves travelling the world and is also a keen golfer and mountain biker.u00A0nOn social media, you can follow Ted on his personal Instagram account or one dedicated to cars, while heu2019s also on X, formerly Twitter, usually moaning about how much his cars have cost him. You can read Tedu2019s latest articles below.”,”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://car-assets.bauersecure.com/wp-images/179402/ted_welford.jpg”,”caption”:”Ted Welford”},”sameAs”:”https://x.com/TedWelford”,”url”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/author/ted-welford/”,”email”:”ted.welford@bauermedia.co.uk”,”jobTitle”:”New Cars Editor”,”knowsAbout”:”Automotive”,”worksFor”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”CAR”}},”dateModified”:”2026-01-14T17:45:51+00:00″,”datePublished”:”2026-01-14T17:40:43+00:00″,”headline”:”BYD Sealion 5 arrives as Chinese firmu0027s ninth model in UK”,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Bauer Media”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Car Magazine”},”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://car-assets.bauersecure.com/images/logos/car.200×88.png”}}}

BYD Sealion 5 arrives as Chinese firm’s ninth model in UK

By Ted Welford

Updated: 14 January 2026

• 
• 

View all BYD Reviews

► BYD’s UK line-up expands with a ninth model
► Keen sub-£30,000 pricing
► BYD’s cheapest PHEV in the UK… for now

BYD is continuing to expand its line-up of models in the UK, with the Sealion 5 DM-I arriving as its ninth car in the UK. 

With the introduction of the plug-in hybrid SUV, it means BYD now sells more models of cars in the UK than Vauxhall, ranging from the tiny Dolphin Surf city car to the Sealion 7 electric SUV. 

Priced from £29,995, the Sealion 5 DM-I arrives as a cut-price hybrid SUV, undercutting popular choices such as the MG HS and Kia Sportage, while matching the price of fellow Chinese SUV, the Chery Tiggo 7. 

Though two PHEV powertrains are available, each uses the same petrol-electric combination with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor producing 209bhp. The difference between them is the size of the battery, with the entry-level Boost using a 13kWh battery while the Design grade has an 18kWh battery. Claimed electric ranges are 38 and 53 miles for the Comfort and Boost respectively. 

Both models use a fairly weak 3.3kW onboard charger, taking between four and five and a half hours to charge. However, vehicle-to-load (V2L) is included, enabling the car’s battery to be used to charge external electrical equipment. 

Standard features on the £29,995 Comfort trim include a 12.8-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, artificial leather upholstery and an electric driver’s seat. The Comfort trim starts from £32,995 and, as well as the bigger battery and longer range, it gets  a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and electric boot. 

BYD expects the Sealion 5 to become one of its most popular models once it’s up and running, aiming to build on a successful 2025, with the Chinese firm’s registrations up 485% last year to more than 50,000 units, overtaking the sales of well-established brands such as Mini and Dacia. 

Orders are now being taken for the BYD Sealion 5, with first deliveries expected from mid-February 2026. It will temporarily be BYD’s cheapest hybrid car in the UK ahead of the arrival of the BYD Atto 2 DM-I later in 2026.