BYD's next affordable family-size electric car? Chinese giant could target Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10 in EV SUV price-war with new BYD Sealion 05

BYD is on a new model blitz in China, with a reveal or leak it seems every second day.

The latest is a fully electric alternative to its Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid, dubbed the Sealion 05 in China.

The Sealion 05 is larger than the Atto 3 small SUV, but smaller than the Sealion 6, making it the perfect size to challenge new low-cost rivals in the electric mid-size SUV space like the Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10.

Sitting on an updated version of the brand’s e-Platform 3.0 architecture, the Sealion 05 is also rear-wheel drive unlike the Atto 3, hinting to a more premium drive experience.

It features a similar face to the rest of the brand’s ‘Ocean series’ products which we get in Australia, complete with Dolphin-style integrated rear light fittings. It also features flush doorhandles and piano black highlights on its wheel arches and roof.

The Sealion 05 is more traditionally SUV-shaped than the larger fully-electric Sealion 7 which recently launched in Australia as a coupe-style SUV rival to the likes of the Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Its rear-mounted motor produces 140kW or 160kW and it features either a 50kWh LFP battery pack for a 430km CLTC driving range or a 60.9kWh battery for a 520km range to the same standard.

A focus on practicality sees the Sealion 05 also feature a relatively large 110-litre frunk and 600-litre boot, while the interior features the brand’s usual large 12.8-inch central multimedia screen and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster with wireless phone charging up front. The centre console is also refrigerated.

Interestingly the gear shifter has moved to the column to clear space in the centre console, unlike the crystal-style shifter found on other Ocean Series EVs like the Seal and Sealion 7.

A pale interior theme features on BYD’s official images, while the Sealion 05 is also equipped with the same aquatic-themed steering wheel as the Seal electric sedan.

Like other recently-revealed BYD products, the Sealion 05 will also feature the brand’s most recent autonomous driving technology suite, dubbed ‘God’s Eye’ which is capable of using a 'navigate on autopilot' function (at least in its Chinese home market).

How much would the Sealion 05 cost if it landed in Australia? The list price in China ranges from the equivalent of A$25,800 to A$30,130.

If you add the roughly 15 to 20 per cent premium Australian-delivered Chinese cars tend to have, it would easily land in the same realm, if not cheaper than, the Geely EX5 (from $40,990 before on-roads) and Leapmotor C10 (from $43,888), both of which have vied for the title of the most affordable electric family SUV in Australia.

BYD already plans new models for the Australian market, including the launch of its Denza luxury spin-off brand some time during 2025.

The Chinese giant has already moved a massive 3956 units so far in 2025, up 38.4 per cent year-to-date. For context, this already places it in front of Suzuki, Honda, and LDV for the year, while rapidly closing the gap to Volkswagen.