BYD Denza B5: plug-in hybrid SUV to rival Land Rover Defender
BYD’s premium brand Denza will launch a new plug-in hybrid rival to the Land Rover Defender in the UK next year...
On sale Summer 2026 Price from £60,000 (est)
The BYD Denza B5 might sound like some kind of vitamin supplement, but don’t let names fool you; it’s actually one of the first models being launched in the UK under the Denza brand, and it’ll take on some very plush rivals.
Launched in China with the name Bao 5 last year, the B5 SUV is one of three models produced by BYD’s subsidiary brand, Fangchengbao, which has a more upmarket, luxury focus. However, the B5 is likely to arrive in the UK with Denza badging alongside the recently-revealed Z9 GT saloon.
It’ll act as a direct rival to the likes of the Land Rover Defender, thanks to its chunky SUV styling and off-road appeal.
The plug-in hybrid B5 gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with two electric motors on both the front and rear wheels for four-wheel drive. In total, it’ll pump out up to 677bhp – punchier than any version of the Defender, even the range-topping V8 Octa. This will be the only version of the B5 to be sold in the UK, where it will offer an electric-only range of around 60 miles.
In other parts of the world, plug-in hybrid versions of the B5 will be joined by a fully electric version with a 31.8kWh BYD Blade battery, which is designed to have fewer toxic ingredients and no cobalt, improved safety and a longer shelf life. That battery is good for an electric-only range of up to 78 miles on China’s CLTC cycle, though those tests tend to be more lenient than the WLTP ones used in Europe.
Inside, the B5 gets two large 12.3in driver and passenger displays alongside a 15.0in central touchscreen, through which most functions are controlled.
Prices for the B5 haven't been revealed yet, but we can expect them to start at around £60,000, making it a little cheaper than plug-in hybrid versions of the Defender 110.
The B5 will debut alongside the Z9 GT saloon and D9 MPV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The D9 will take on the Lexus LM in the world of luxury seven-seaters, again with plug-in hybrid power. A price of around £60,000 has been mooted for the D9, while the Z9 GT should cost from around £70,000. The D9, Z9 GT and B5 will all be on sale by next Summer, and more Denza models will follow in the second half of next year.
Originally, the Denza brand sprung from a joint-venture between BYD and Daimler (parent company of Mercedes) in 2010. However, it’s now owned wholly by BYD, after the Chinese brand bought out Mercedes’ share in September last year.
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