BYD has announced its ninth model for the UK market this week, with the new Sealion 5 DM-i. This mid-sized SUV goes squarely up against the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage, but it offers the company's impressive plug-in-hybrid powertrain, at a competitive starting price of £29,995.

The Sealion 5 uses a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor to provide 209bhp. This system combined offers a range of up to 631 miles. There are two battery sizes available, either 12.96kWh on the Comfort trim or 18.3kWh on the Design. The smaller battery can run the car for 38 miles in EV only mode, whereas the larger pack can achieve 53 miles.

The big difference with the Sealion 5 compared to the Sportage for example, is that Kia don't yet offer a PHEV version of the Sportage and while the starting price is around the same as the BYD, that £30,935 price tag only gets you a pure combustion car.

While the Sealion 5 is a plug-in-hybrid, it does only supports 3.3kW AC charging, whereas some more recent cars from BYD have supported DC charging. However, for most use cases this will likely not been an issue. However, it does support V2L as standard for powering a coffee machine or an air fryer.

Four paint finishes are offered, with the pictured Atlantis Blue being the free option, whereas Obsidian Black, Time Grey and Polar White do cost an additional £850.

Standard equipment is generous, with 18-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, rear view camera and electrically front adjustable seats.

Besides the larger hybrid battery, jumping up to the Design adds an electric tailgate, 360-degree camera, heated front seats and a wireless phone charger.

The new BYD Sealion 5 will be available to order in the UK starting on the 7th February. Prices start at £29,995 for the Comfort and go up to £32,995 for the Design.