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If you happen to’re searching for a big off-road SUV with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) energy to cut back your carbon footprint, you’re just about restricted to the Land Rover Defender or the GWM Tank 500 PHEVs.
That narrows additional if you happen to want three rows of seats, because the pair of Defender 110 plug-in hybrids on sale in Australia provide as much as six seats throughout two rows – whereas petrol and diesel variants provide the choice of two additional seats out again.
So, the not too long ago launched GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV is your solely guess if you’d like one thing as massive as a Toyota LandCruiser with three rows of seating and zero-emissions functionality round city, at the very least till very, very quickly…
Meet the Denza B8, one in all two new PHEV off-road SUVs launching beneath BYD’s new luxurious sister model. It boasts meatier energy outputs and efficiency claims than its fellow Chinese language rival, in addition to the next towing capability.
That’s primarily based on the preliminary specs we’ve been given forward of the B8’s market launch, with orders to open in November forward of buyer deliveries probably commencing very early within the new 12 months.
Denza Australia gave us a really fast style of the brand new Denza B5 and B8 on the previous Holden proving floor in Lang Lang, the place we had our first have a look at early Australian manufacturing vehicles, and a tried out its off-road chops.
Must you be hanging out for BYD’s new LandCruiser hunter?
How a lot does the Denza B8 value?
Quick reply – we don’t know. The Denza B8 will likely be supplied in a single high-spec trim stage with the choice of six or seven seats, and we’re anticipating a beginning worth within the $90,000-$100,000 realm.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-rado prices |
|---|---|
| 2026 Denza B8 6S | $TBC |
| 2026 Denza B8 7S | $TBC |
Whereas that projected worth vary is some huge cash for an all-new, unproven product in a section with loads of model loyalty, Denza is promising the B8 will likely be a correct luxurious SUV with efficiency and specs to match far more costly steel.
For reference, a high-spec LandCruiser 300 will set you again over $150,000, and a Defender PHEV begins from $131,000 – each excluding on-road prices.
The GWM Tank 500 PHEV drives a more durable discount, asking for $79,990 plus on-road prices, which principally offers it the sub-$100,000 plug-on off-road SUV market all to itself.
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What’s the Denza B8 like on the within?
Similar to the smaller B5, if not moreso, the Denza B8 cloaks its upright, utilitarian cabin design parts in swathes of supple leather-based, lashings of chrome and metal-look accents, and tasteful distinction top-stitching.
Headline acts embody the large 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, shared with the smaller B5.
There’s additionally Nappa leather-based upholstery all through, laminated soundproof glass, soft-close doorways, and an enormous ol’ panoramic sunroof that stretches proper again into the cabin.
In six-seat configuration as proven right here, it’s fairly plush and slightly totally different to the extra rugged and hard-wearing interiors supplied by most rivals.
There’s an 18-speaker ‘Devialet’ premium sound system too, however like most different cabin parts we weren’t in a position to take a look at it correctly given the temporary time we had with the automobile.
It’s all very properly executed, and I recognize the chunky toggle-style switches on the centre console, and the intense purple begin/cease button which, as James Might would put it, “appears to be like like a boiled candy”.
The couch-like entrance chairs provide full electrical adjustment and perch you good and excessive – if you happen to like that form of factor – and the overall atmosphere feels fairly posh.
House within the second and third rows is fairly good for the section, given loads of ladder-frame rivals wrestle to place correct adult-sized seats within the third row.
Once more, I didn’t spend sufficient time within the B8 to get correct inside impressions, however throughout my off-road stints it was quiet, snug and properly distinguished in character from different choices out there.
A lot of the in-car performance is constructed into the touchscreen, together with the local weather controls, as with most different BYD merchandise.
There’s a everlasting taskbar on the base of the show, and the interface remains to be very BYD, which suggests it typically flashes animations and adjustments menus with the press of key buttons, and the menu construction is usually a little convoluted.
Storage can also be respectable must you want snacks and different provides throughout an opulent expedition, together with a stowage cubby beneath the bridge-like centre console.
Boot capability for the three-row off-roader is quoted at 166 litres with all three rows in use, increasing to an enormous 1130L with the third row folded.
| Dimensions | Denza B8 |
|---|---|
| Size | 5180mm |
| Width | 1994mm |
| Peak | 1905mm |
| Wheelbase | 2900mm |
| Cargo capability | 166L-1130L |
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Denza B8 will get BYD’s ‘2.0T DM-O Tremendous Hybrid’ PHEV system, which includes a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with two electrical motors fed by a 31.8kWh LFP battery.
| Specs | BYD Denza B8 |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol PHEV |
| System outputs | 450kW + 760Nm |
| Battery | 31.8kWh BYD Blade LFP |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Drive sort | All-wheel drive with 4L Entrance, rear electromechanical diff locks |
| Kerb weight | 3290kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 4.8 seconds |
| Electrical driving vary (PHEV) | TBC |
| Max DC cost price | 120kW |
| Most mixed vary | 905km |
| Gasoline tank capability | 91.5L |
Full specs will likely be obtainable nearer to the Denza B8’s on-sale date in November.
How does the Denza B8 drive?
We solely obtained a really brief time behind the wheel of the Denza vary, restricted to the off-road trails and obstacles on the Lang Lang proving floor.
Having completed the rutted hillclimb, offset moguls, water crossing and boulders within the B5, I got down to do comparable with the bigger B8 whereas capturing video content material on the similar time – and in the long run it was much more temporary.
If the B5 is already massive and heavy, the B8 is big. The added size, width, wheelbase and weight make it really feel like a plug-in luxurious tank – to not be confused with the GWM, nonetheless.
Whereas that each one appears like it can translate to a sequence of compromises, over Lang Lang’s off-road obstacles the B8 really proved to be the calmer and extra snug companion.
It felt extra steady and guaranteed over the boulders and numerous undulations, and extra planted on its ft (or tyres) when the hydraulic suspension was set to its tallest setting.
That ‘tank’ feeling I discussed earlier was really a constructive when tackling the entire numerous obstacles the B8 needed to traverse – it slowly however certainly climbs over something and the whole lot, save for the odd knock of the towbar over sharp dips.
There are not any fewer than 16 drive modes you’ll be able to flick by means of to deal with tough terrain, together with an adaptive mode that tailors the drivetrain to no matter circumstances it senses. Every include a cool animation and alter of theme on each the central touchscreen and driver instrument cluster for dramatic impact.
You can too flick by means of HEV and EV powertrain settings, select 4L low-range gearing – through a two-speed switch case on the rear axle – and within the Leopard flagship there’s a change to toggle the totally different experience heights for the aforementioned DiSus-P hydraulic suspension.
Left to its personal gadgets, the B8 will typically silently plug by means of obstacles in EV mode, however if you happen to want a bit extra grunt or lock it into sure modes, it can fireplace up the petrol engine. The two.0-litre turbo-petrol engine beneath the bonnet fires up with much less vibration and coarseness when chilly in comparison with the B5, and doesn’t ship sudden shunts by means of the cabin.
The hill descent management system is usually a little jerky on the brakes and arduous to modulate with the precise brake pedal – leading to a little bit of rocking forwards and backwards.
Denza says the B8’s adjustable suspension permits 220mm of floor clearance in its customary setting, and could be raised to supply a lofty 310mm.
The method, departure and breakover angles are as much as 34/35/20 levels respectively with the suspension in its tallest setting, which isn’t fairly pretty much as good because the B5, and for reference a LandCruiser 300 quotes method and departure angles of 32 and 25 levels.
Whereas we didn’t expertise any points throughout this temporary first native drive, we obtained no wheel time on asphalt to get a really feel for the B8’s on-road efficiency on public roads. We sit up for getting a correct street drive in real-world circumstances within the coming months.
| Off-road dimensions | Denza B8 |
|---|---|
| Floor clearance | 220mm-310mm |
| Strategy angle | 34 levels* |
| Departure angle | 35 levels* |
| Ramp breakover angle | 20 levels* |
*Chinese language specs with DiSus-P in highest setting
What do you get?
We’re nonetheless ready on last specs, however Denza has drip-fed a few of the preliminary headlines.
2026 Denza B8 gear highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- 275/55 R20 Michelin tyres
- Electromechanical differential locks – entrance, rear
- DiSus-P hydraulic suspension
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 15.6-inch touchscreen
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wi-fi Android Auto
- 18-speaker Devialet premium sound system
- Nappa leather-based upholstery
- Laminated soundproof glass
- Tender-close doorways
- 16 selectable drive modes
Is the Denza B8 secure?
The Denza B5 doesn’t have an ANCAP or Euro NCAP score, giving its newness to markets outdoors of China.
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Denza B8 highlights:
- 14 airbags
- 360-degree cameras
- ‘Superior Driving Help System’
How a lot does the Denza B8 value to run?
Denza hasn’t confirmed its guarantee program as but, although we count on the luxurious arm to observe an analogous format to its BYD father or mother, which gives a six-year, 150,000km guarantee for the automobile, and eight-year, 160,000km battery cowl.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Denza B8 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 6 years or 150,000km – automobile 8 years or 160,000km – battery |
| Roadside help | 12 months then service activated |
| Service intervals | TBC |
| Capped-price servicing | TBC |
| Whole capped-price service value | TBC |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Denza B8
I believe an appropriate score or verdict right here can be “to be continued…”
Our restricted time behind the wheel in managed circumstances makes it arduous to say whether or not the B8 is a real challenger for the Defenders and LandCruiser 300s of the world, and we don’t even understand how a lot it’ll value but.
But when the Denza B8 opens for orders subsequent month with a worth beginning with an ‘8’ or a ‘9’, it may very well be a really tempting proposition for Australian households who don’t wish to spend nicely over $100k for an opulent and environment friendly massive off-road SUV that may additionally tow an enormous load.
Pending our evaluation of its on-road manners and towing capabilities, the Denza B8’s last specs and promising early indicators off the crushed observe make it one to observe, and it might show to be a really succesful Chinese language challenger if BYD’s new premium model will get the worth proper.
We’ll hopefully know extra within the coming weeks, so keep tuned!
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MORE: Discover the BYD showroom
