This New BYD Electric Crossover Might Be the Best Deal of 2025!

The BYD Sealion 05 electric vehicle crossover has officially made its debut in China, offering a competitive starting price of 117,800 yuan, which translates to around 16,240 United States dollars. BYD is clearly targeting the mainstream market with this model, packing in practicality, high-tech features, and a sleek design into a compact crossover format.

This latest addition belongs to the Sealion lineup, a series of electric and plug-in hybrid crossovers developed with overseas markets in mind. We have already seen the Sealion 07 electric vehicle launched in international markets and the BYD Song Plus, renamed Sealion 6, introduced in Australia. Now, the Sealion 05 steps in as the smallest sibling, but do not let that fool you — it still brings a lot to the table.

Built on BYD’s updated e-Platform 3.0 Evo architecture, the Sealion 05 showcases the brand’s modern Ocean Aesthetics design. Up front, it sports sleek pointed headlights connected by a sharp LED light bar and a subtle air intake. The body is clean and minimalistic but has enough black plastic trim around the wheel arches to give it a strong and capable look.

When it comes to size, the Sealion 05 is comparable to a Volkswagen Tiguan. However, it stands out by offering serious practicality. The rear trunk has a 600-liter capacity, which expands to 1,460 liters when the back seats are folded flat. And for extra storage, there is a 110-liter front trunk, perfect for small items or charging cables.

Inside the cabin, drivers get a 12.8-inch rotating infotainment screen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. The gear selector has been mounted on the steering column, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular in Chinese cars. The center console includes physical controls, a wireless phone charger, and two cup holders.

One of the coolest features is the heated and cooled storage box — it can chill items down to minus 6 degrees Celsius or warm them up to 50 degrees. That makes it ideal for anything from chilled drinks to hot snacks. Another standout is the “God’s Eye” C driving assistance system, also known as DiPilot 100. This system includes five millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 12 cameras, supporting functions like Navigate on Autopilot for highway driving.

Under the hood — or more accurately, under the chassis — the Sealion 05 uses a single rear-mounted electric motor. The base version offers 140 kilowatts or 188 horsepower, paired with a 50 kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery good for 430 kilometers of range. A more powerful trim provides 160 kilowatts or 215 horsepower and uses a 60.9 kilowatt-hour battery for up to 520 kilometers on a full charge.

There are three trim levels, with prices ranging from 117,800 to 137,800 yuan, or roughly 16,240 to 19,000 United States dollars. For reference, the plug-in hybrid version, Sealion 05 DM-i, ranges from 102,800 to 142,800 yuan.