BYD Sea Lion 08 2026: specs, six-seat interior and range

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BYD has fully revealed the cabin of its flagship Sea Lion 08 crossover. The 5,115 mm-long model will come in five- and six-seat versions, and the range-topping electric variant gets a 115 kWh battery, 585 kW (about 796 hp) all-wheel drive, and up to 800 km of range on the CLTC cycle.

The photos show the six-seat cabin fitted with two separate second-row seats with electric footrests. The right-hand seat is expected to get a “zero-gravity” mode, though BYD has not officially confirmed this feature yet; passengers also get ventilation, heating, a folding table and a ceiling-mounted screen. The third row adds two more seats, dedicated climate vents, and USB-A and USB-C ports.

The dashboard gets a central touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, and two-tier ambient lighting. The gear selector has moved to the steering column, freeing up space on the center console for wireless charging and an enclosed storage compartment.

The Sea Lion 08 measures 5115x1999x1800 mm, with a 3,030 mm wheelbase. The crossover features rear-wheel steering and BYD’s DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension, which can adjust ride height and damper stiffness. The DiPilot 5.0 driver-assistance suite supports route-following in the city and on highways, but it remains a driver-assistance system that requires the driver’s attention.

The base electric version gets a 320 kW rear motor, or 435 hp, and a 92.093 kWh LFP battery. Range is rated at 710 km on CLTC. The long-range rear-wheel-drive version gets a 370 kW, or 503 hp, motor and a 115 kWh battery good for up to 900 km. The all-wheel-drive version produces 585 kW — about 796 hp — and covers up to 800 km.

The long range comes at the cost of a heavy battery. The 115 kWh pack weighs 810.5 kg — 31.2% of the rear-wheel-drive Sea Lion 08 Long Range’s total mass. The smaller 92 kWh pack weighs 633 kg. That adds load on the tires and suspension, and makes real-world energy consumption especially sensitive to speed and temperature.

The electric versions get BYD’s Flash Charging tech, with a claimed 10–97% charge in nine minutes. That figure is only achievable on a compatible high-power station and at an optimal battery temperature. The rated 710–900 km range also comes from the Chinese CLTC cycle and won’t match real highway or winter mileage.

The Sea Lion 08 DM-i hybrid pairs a 1.5-liter turbo engine producing 115 kW, or 156 hp, with a 200 kW — 272 hp — electric motor. Claimed electric-only range reaches 400 km on CLTC. The DM-p version gets two electric motors with a combined 400 kW, or about 544 hp.

Above it in BYD’s lineup sits the larger Great Tang, which is over 5.2 meters long. It’s 148 mm longer than the Sea Lion 08, with a wheelbase that’s 100 mm bigger. That makes the Sea Lion 08 a more compact alternative for buyers who want three rows of seats without the Dynasty flagship’s maximum dimensions.

BYD hasn’t published official pricing or an exact on-sale date for the Sea Lion 08 yet. Pricing will show whether the model can compete not just on battery, power and equipment, but also on cost against the large EVs and plug-in hybrids already on sale.