BYD M9 priced from $61,990 as plug-in hybrid rival to Kia Carnival

Key takeaways

• BYD M9 starts at $61,990 plus on-roads, Premium from $72,990
• Seven-seat Premium arrives first, due in showrooms from late 2026
• Premium claims up to 145km electric range and 850km combined

BYD has announced Australian pricing for its first people mover. The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid starts at $61,990 before on-road costs.

The flagship seven-seat M9 Premium arrives first at $72,990 plus on-roads, with deliveries due in the final quarter of 2026. The more affordable eight-seat M9 Dynamic will join the range later.

That pricing puts the M9 in direct competition with the Kia Carnival which accounts for more than three in every four people movers sold in Australia this year. The Carnival Hybrid ranges from $56,310 for the base S to $76,840 for the GT-Line, so the M9 Premium undercuts the top Carnival while adding plug-in capability.

The M9 also sits well below the electric Denza D9 from BYD's own premium brand, which starts at $85,990. It will be only the second plug-in hybrid people mover on sale locally, after the GAC M8.

BYD M9 pricing in Australia

View BYD M9 driveaway pricing and specifications →

Plug-in hybrid powertrain and range

Both variants are front-wheel drive and use BYD's DM-i 5.0 Super Hybrid system, which pairs a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate Blade battery.

The Premium's larger battery gives it a claimed 145km of electric-only driving and 850km of total range on the WLTP cycle. BYD says these are target figures based on global specifications and still subject to Australian testing. Range for the Dynamic hasn't been confirmed.

BYD Australia hasn't listed outputs in its announcement. Published figures point to 218kW and 315Nm for the Premium, while certification documents show 191.4kW for the Dynamic.

Both grades support AC and DC charging, although local DC charging speeds are yet to be confirmed. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is standard, so the M9 can power appliances or camping gear.

At 5145mm long, 1970mm wide and 1805mm tall, the M9 is 10mm shorter, 25mm narrower and 30mm taller than the Carnival. Its 3045mm wheelbase is 45mm shorter. There's 470 litres of boot space behind the third row, a 1500kg braked towing capacity and a certified 654kg payload.

BYD M9 equipment and safety

• 12.3-inch digital instrument display and 15.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Over-the-air updates and four-zone voice control
• Built-in fridge and hotbox that cools from -6°C to 6°C or heats from 35°C to 50°C
• Power sliding doors and tailgate, with available augmented reality projection to operate them
• Premium: heated and ventilated front seats, plus second-row captain's chairs with heating, ventilation and a near zero-gravity recline
• Up to nine airbags, 360-degree camera, five radars and eight ultrasonic sensors supporting a full driver-assistance suite
• Sentry Mode, which monitors the parked vehicle for intrusion

The M9 is BYD's seventh all-new model in Australia in 12 months. The brand is currently the country's second-best seller, and it says year-to-date deliveries are more than double last year's record result.

The M9 Premium is due in BYD showrooms before the end of 2026. Final Australian range figures, charging speeds and timing for the Dynamic are still to be confirmed.