Denza B5 and B8 first drive: BYD’s luxury brand hits New Zealand
BYD’s premium sub-brand Denza has launched in the Australasian market with two plug-in hybrid SUVs that take direct aim at the Toyota Prado, LandCruiser 300 and even the likes of Range Rover and Mercedes GLS. We flew to outback South Australia to drive them both.
The smaller B5 is a five-seat off-roader built on BYD’s DMO platform, the same architecture under the Shark ute but wrapped in considerably more luxury. It pairs a 1.5-litre turbo with dual electric motors for 400kW and 760Nm, offers around 100km of electric range from its 31.8kWh Blade battery, and comes with front and rear mechanical locking diffs as standard. New Zealand pricing starts at $88,990.
The larger B8 stretches past 5.2 metres, seats six or seven and steps up to a 2.0-litre turbo engine for 425kW. With a 3,500kg towing capacity, a 36.8kWh battery and a claimed total range of 1,040km, it pitches itself as a plug-in hybrid alternative to the LandCruiser 300 from $109,990.
Both impressed with their refinement, off-road ability and sheer value for money, though there are areas that need attention before they fully deliver on their luxury promise. The ADAS software needs refinement, the ride in the B8 could be smoother over broken surfaces, and we’ll need to verify real-world efficiency figures on New Zealand roads.
Join the conversation