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June 11, 2025

The 2026 BYD Sealion 8 Is An Opulent 3-Row SUV That's Quicker Than A Porsche Cayenne V8!


Did BYD Cars Philippines pull the trigger too quickly with the Tang DM-i? After their three-row plug-in hybrid SUV received LTO homologation (it’s even been spotted nonchalantly parked in BGC), the Chinese New Energy Vehicle brand has come up with the Sealion 8, at least for global markets.

Like the Tang, the Sealion 8 is a three-row, seven-seater SUV and comes either with the DM-i or DM-p powertrain. Both powertrains of the Sealion 8 utilize the next-generation 5.0 platform as well as the same 1.5-liter turbocharged gas engine generator (150 horsepower and 220 Nm), but unlike the Tang DM-i can be had with either a 19 kW or even larger 35.6 kW BYD Blade Battery.


The “entry-level” Sealion 8 DM-i has a purely front-drive setup thanks to a 272 horsepower (200 kW), 315 Nm permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. 0 to 100 km/h is done in 8.6 seconds. On the other hand, the range-topping Sealion DM-p supplements that with a second permanent synchronous motor at the rear axle for an additional 192 horsepower (141 kW) and 360 Nm of torque. In this case, 0 to 100 km/h is done in just 4.9 seconds—quicker than the V8-powered Porsche Cayenne S.

Visually, the Sealion 8 evolves the design language of newer BYD models, while inside, the brand promises an “opulent and thoughtfully designed cabin that features premium materials and accents, brilliant technology, and, lavish amenities.” True enough, heating and cooled massaging seats, for example, is available for the first two rows of seats.

23 comments:

  1. This could be BYD positioning the Sealion 8 DM-i/DM-p as a competitor of the PPVs like the Fortuner, Everest etc. While BYD is positioning the Tang BEV and DM-i as the competitor of the Santa Fe, Sorento, Mazda CX-9 and CX-90, and Ford Explorer.

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  2. The Nissan Ariya wheel design made me smile.

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  3. Faster in a straight line. Go around a corner still goes on a straight line.

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    1. 😂😂😂

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    2. We should have our own moose test here in PH. Only saw these tests in Latin Am YT channels

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  4. Good looking and fuel efficient SUV from BYD

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  5. This looks like the BYD Tang L. BYD should seriously stop producing copy-paste designs and making entirely new product lines out of them. It cheapens existing BYD vehicles and devalues the BYD brand altogether.

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    1. Faking its own products

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    2. That's because this is literally the Tang L. This article just doesn't mention that. It's just renamed differently for other markets it seems.

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  6. What about the sea lion 7, when is it coming to the Philippines?


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  7. BYD and other chinese brands prioritize looks and specs over quality and reliability. What you cant see are the low quality steel, use of low tensile strength steel on critical pointa such as A pillars, paint chipped off easily, low quality parts, unreliable airbags, front axle separating on normal use etc. chinese ncap equivalent is a joke, mired in corruption and faking tests.

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    1. So many specific accusations that never seem to make mainstream reporting (Chinese censorship maybe?) though I have seen the passing FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) content from clickbait youtube channels but they never seemed legit to me. Look, I know China sucks but BYD is almost everywhere in the world right now and they are selling buttloads in markets like Mexico and South America so maybe the news are all in Spanish or Portuguese and that is why I never see them. But I have been watching lots of Australian coverage of BYD ownership updates and I don't see these quality complaints from them. Ultimately, the most reliable reports will have to be from BYD owners here in the Philippines and we'll just have to wait until the good or bad news starts being reported (though you may have to wait a while if your standards are reliability in the 5-10 year timescales).

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  8. On the pipeline is BYD Tang DMi and Denza 9. BYD aims to introduce a new model in the Philippines every other month.

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  9. BYD is flooding PH with unsold and likely zero mileage cars. No one can verify that these are new cars except BYD and Chinese authorities.

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  10. Another chinese car to the philippine market just to fund their ambition in the west philippine sea.

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  11. Denza the premium brand of byd literally and figuratively in hot seat in Malaysia for numerous burning vehicles. Fact check it

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    1. Not surprising as china car brands producing cars at breakneck speed, sacrificing quality. Haste makes waste, another concern would be the avalability of parts of old models as they are more focus racing on producing new models.

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  12. the sinophobia.....

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    1. The malpractice of BYD was exposed by the chairman of Great Wall Motors

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    2. It’s CCP and its agents we hate, not the people who are also suffering but silent. Chinese brands colludes with CCP

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  13. How many car brand manufactured, designed, build in the Philippines?
    Why all we see are US, EU or Japan made?

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  14. Toyota, Mercedes Benz and BMW has been the top brands in Singapore for many decades. Not anymore. BYD has overtaken all of them in 2024 and expected to double their sales in the country in 2025. Tesla is not far behind. Shift in preference to electrified vehicles that is develop from the ground up. Singaporeans shy away from hybrid vehicles that is develop from an old ICE vehicle platform. To them its akin to buying an old house and refurbish it and sell as brand new.

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