BYD Sealion 08 beats Model Y L range at better price as it offers crabwalk parking and zero gravity chairs

BYD has just pulled the wraps off its Sealion 08, and while most legacy automakers are still figuring out how to squeeze 500 km out of a midsize SUV, BYD is shipping a version that hits 900 km (560 miles) on the CLTC cycle for less than what a Model Y AWD costs in China.

The Sealion 08 comes in eight trims split between EREV and pure electric powertrains, priced from the equivalent of $33,800 up to $41,200. Both power layouts get BYD's Blade Battery 2 that charges in ten minutes, marking the first time the company has rolled the upgraded LFP pack out across a hybrid and an EV lineup at once.

The EREV pairs a 1.5T engine with single- or dual-motor setups of up to 268 hp per motor and a 55.8 kWh battery, good for up to 400 km of electric range and a combined range of up to 1,650 km. The pure electric models are even more impressive, as the range-topping AWD version puts out 497 hp from the rear motor alone, hits 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and carries a big 115 kWh pack that is rated for up to 900 km CLTC.

For comparison, Tesla's six-seat Model Y L starts at $50,440 and only claims 751 km CLTC, meaning BYD is undercutting it by nearly $15,000 while offering a longer range, even if the CLTC standard is famously generous compared to the EPA testing in the US. The Zeekr 7X, another popular midsize option, sits in a similar price bracket but doesn't match the Sealion 08's size or its 900 km range either. On paper, at least, BYD is beating pricier rivals on specs and features, as can be expected from the world's biggest EV maker.

Beyond the powertrain, the Sealion 08 packs the kind of feature list that makes other automakers wince, like a 21.4-inch rear entertainment screen, a 25-speaker Devialet sound system with Dolby Atmos, a built-in fridge, and DiSus-A air suspension with a crabwalk mode for tight parking spaces. The six-seat versions even get zero gravity seats up front and in the second row.

The homebrew Blade Battery tech and BYD's local supply chain make these prices hard to replicate elsewhere, but as a snapshot of where the segment is heading, the Sealion 08 is a reminder that the range and price war in China shows no sign of abating for the joy of customers globally.

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