BYD launches Sealion 08 SUV with up to 900 km CLTC range

At 5,115mm long, BYD's Sealion 08 has launched in China as a mid-to-large SUV, available in eight variants, with five- or six-seat layouts and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) power. It is the second flagship in BYD's Ocean lineup, after the Seal 08 sedan launched on July 2.

The price range runs from 229,900 yuan to 279,900 yuan. PHEV versions use a 1.5T system and a 55.843 kWh second-generation Blade Battery, delivering 350 km to 400 km of CLTC test-cycle electric range and a combined range of up to 1,650 kilometers. The battery-electric versions use a 115.072 kWh battery, with rear-wheel-drive models rated for 900 km and all-wheel-drive models for 800 km on the same cycle.

BYD says the Sealion 08 can charge from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes, then reach 10% to 97% in 9 minutes. The BEV rear-wheel-drive version delivers 370 kW, while the all-wheel-drive version adds a 215 kW front motor to the 370 kW rear motor. Reported acceleration ranges from 5.9 to 3.9 seconds from 0-100km/h.

The cabin is built around a 17.3-inch central screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 26-inch augmented-reality head-up display. Six-seat versions add zero-gravity seats, while rear passengers can use a 21.4-inch ceiling screen. Its DiSus-A intelligent body-control system combines air suspension with active rear-wheel steering, crab-walk mode and rollover prevention; the minimum turning radius is 4.95m. CnEVPost identifies the driver-assistance package as God's Eye B using God's Eye 5.0, with urban navigation-assisted driving and automated parking.

Concretely, for a family buyer in China, the Sealion 08 puts long-range BEV travel, plug-in hybrid flexibility, five- or six-seat capacity and fast charging into one model, while prices remain clearly stated for the domestic market. For BYD, it is a move into a higher price range alongside Denza and Fang Cheng Bao, entering a segment that includes Xpeng's G9L and GWM's Wey V8X. The context is mixed: the Sealion series sold 48,559 vehicles in August, down 8.86% year on year and 1.02% from July, although its first-eight-month sales reached 275,974, up about 25.91% from a year earlier. The range figures use the CLTC test cycle, and BYD is the source of the charging claims.