Sealion 5 gets three stars

The Sealion 5 has received a three-star safety rating to become the first BYD model rated by ANCAP to fall short of the brand’s “established” five-star standard.

Crash-test results showed the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), pictured, offers adult and child occupants with respectable crash protection, but overall it provides a mixed level of safety.

“BYD is leaving a noticeable mark on the Australian and New Zealand new-car markets, quickly rising to become Australia’s second highest-selling brand since its arrival in 2022,” says Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP’s chief executive.

“Since then, BYD has been and continues to be proactive in bringing forward models for ANCAP testing.

“However, the Sealion 5 was a model the brand hadn’t actively pursued for testing and was subsequently selected by ANCAP to ensure consumers have a clear picture of its safety performance.

“It has not been able to match the safety offering of its stablemates. This is where independent ANCAP testing provides valuable information for consumers who, without it, may be unclear as to how different models compare.”

ANCAP’s new virtual and sled test assessments on the SUV showed that protection was reduced for larger occupants and at higher test severity.

The aspects limiting the Sealion 5 are its crash avoidance and safe-driving performance. While some of the features encouraged under the stages of safety criteria are not offered, shortcomings were also identified in established areas of assessment.

Of note, the SUV’s emergency lane-keeping system did not intervene when tested in road-edge scenarios. This capability has been encouraged through ANCAP’s rating criteria since 2018. Child-presence detection – assessed since 2023 – is not provided.

The Sealion 5 also misses out a number of other important safety features, several of which are fitted to the M9 and other current BYDs. These include seatbelt misuse alert, stature classification and low-speed pedal-misapplication.

The PHEV offers a similar range of post-crash safety features to the M9, such as battery thermal management, multi-collision braking and occupant egress options. But e-call functionality is not provided.

The three-star rating applies to the Essential and Premium Sealion 5 variants. The BYD M9, meanwhile, has achieved the maximum five-star rating.