BYD's local ANCAP safety record now has its first three-star result, with the Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid SUV falling short as the M9 people mover secured a five-star rating.

Both vehicles were tested and assessed against ANCAP's latest 2026-2028 Stages of Safety criteria, which place greater emphasis on safe driving assistance, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash performance.

The result means the M9 joins other BYD models rated five stars by ANCAP to date, while the Sealion 5 is the first rated BYD model to fall below that level.

“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,” ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said.

“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,” Hoorweg said.

“Both the M9 and SEALION 5 have been tested against our latest 2026-2028 star rating requirements.
These requirements continue to encourage balanced safety performance across all four stages of assessment, with the SEALION 5 not able to match the safety offering of its stablemate,” Hoorweg said.

Where the M9 and Sealion 5 differed

The BYD M9 scored strongly in post-crash assessment, recording 100 per cent after meeting emergency information requirements, demonstrating effective battery voltage isolation and post-crash fire-risk management, and providing accessible internal and external door releases.

The M9 also includes eCall functionality, multi-collision braking and hazard light activation, with the five-star rating applying to seven-seat variants.

The result adds safety context for the BYD M9, which is listed with October 2026 on-sale timing in Australia and New Zealand.

ANCAP recorded good physical crash protection results for the M9, with low occupant injury risk in almost all assessed areas.

Whiplash protection was rated good for first and second-row seating positions, while third-row whiplash protection was rated marginal.

The M9 provides top-tether child restraint anchorages for second-row seating positions and the left outboard seat in the third row, although many assessed child restraints could not be correctly installed in that third-row position.

The Sealion 5 returned a stronger Crash Protection result than its overall rating might suggest, scoring 79 per cent in that area.

Its adult and child occupant protection was described as respectable, although virtual and sled testing showed reduced protection for larger occupants and higher-severity impacts.

The Sealion 5's lower overall rating was driven by Safe Driving and Crash Avoidance results of 48 per cent and 51 per cent respectively.

ANCAP testing found the Sealion 5's emergency lane keeping system did not intervene in road-edge scenarios, a capability encouraged in ANCAP criteria since 2018.

Unintended lane departures account for 42 per cent of fatal crashes and 55 per cent of fatalities resulting from light-vehicle crashes in Australia.

Child presence detection is not fitted to the Sealion 5, and the SUV also misses out on seatbelt misuse alert, stature classification and low-speed pedal-misapplication suppression.

The Sealion 5 offers battery thermal management, multi-collision braking and occupant egress features, but does not provide eCall.

Its three-star rating applies to both Essential DM-i and Premium DM-i variants, which are front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid SUVs.

The BYD Sealion 5 is listed as being on sale from January 2026 in Australia and New Zealand, while the BYD M9 is listed from October 2026.

Both ANCAP ratings expire in December 2034.

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