2026 Denza B5 and B8 review: Premium Chinese 4x4s under $100K

Denza is the luxury arm of China’s BYD brand, much like Lexus is to Toyota and Genesis is to Hyundai. 

It’s no surprise Denza positions itself as a luxury brand, as it was originally conceived as a joint venture between parent company BYD and Mercedes-Benz. BYD eventually bought out its German partner, but not before learning a thing or two about building premium automobiles.

The Denza B5 starts at $74,990 for the base model, before stepping up to the B5 Leopard at $79,990. The bigger B8 wagon starts at $91,000 for the seven-seat version and rises to $97,990 for the six-seat variant.

The Denzas ride on the same body-on-frame DMO (Dual Motor Offroad) PHEV platform as the BYD Shark, with electric motors independently powering the front and rear axles. A small-capacity internal combustion engine (ICE) acts primarily as a generator but can also provide drive to the front axle when needed.

JUMP AHEAD

• What does the B5 come with?
• What does the B8 come with?
• On-road performance
• Off-road performance
• Verdict
• Specs

What does the B5 come with?

The B5 is powered by a dual-motor hybrid setup that produces up to a claimed 400kW and 760Nm in total. 

The 31.8kWh battery provides up to 90km of electric-only driving (WLTP) and supports 100kW DC fast charging. The three-tonne B5 is claimed to do the 0-100km/h dash in 4.8 seconds. The B5’s ICE is a 135kW/260Nm 1.5-litre petrol unit that is also found in the current Shark ute. 

Inside, the Denza B5 is a two-row wagon offering five seats, with Nappa leather trim, a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, 11 airbags, a 360-degree camera, and 1064 litres of boot space. It’s a decent-size wagon with plenty of luxury and features reflecting its premium ambitions.

The Leopard specification adds off-road features to the mix, including hydraulic adaptive suspension, front and rear electric diff locks, and a 3000kg towing capacity, and of all the models we drove on the launch, we feel it would be the most appealing to off-road 4×4 enthusiasts.

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What about the B8?

The Denza B8 cranks the dial up to 11 in terms of size, features and performance. 

It is available in six- and seven-seat, three-row layouts offering more space and higher levels of equipment, including heated, ventilated and massaging seats; individual captain’s chairs in the back of the six-seat variant; premium leather trim; a cooler/hotbox; and an 18-speaker audio system. Safety equipment includes 14 airbags, a 360-degree camera, and all the usual ADAS kit.

We are keen to try out the centre console fridge/hotbox more extensively. Not only does it keep your drinks cool, but it can also be dialled up to 50°C to keep your pies warm. It even has a rear access door so passengers in the back can use it as well.

The B8’s motors are boosted to produce a claimed 425kW and 760Nm and use the same 31.8kWh battery, with DC fast charging up to 120kW. The B8’s ICE powerplant is larger than that of the B5, being a 145kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol unit. It offers a combined range of 1040km on the NEDC cycle. The hydraulic suspension from the B5 Leopard is standard on the B8, along with electric diff locks (front and rear on the six-seat version). The B8 has a 3500kg towing rating, and the towbar, hitch and wiring are all fitted from the factory.

Peak mode madness comes via 16 drive modes, including Comfort, Eco and Sport for regular driving, and Snow, Sand, Mud, Mountain, Rock, Intelligent, Creep and Wading modes for off-road terrain. Beyond those, you can also access Sport+ mode, Custom mode, Burst mode, Climbing mode, Tug-of-War mode and Leopard Turn mode.

If you ever thought modern vehicles were making off-road driving too complex, you’ll either laugh or throw your hands up in amazement at the Denza’s extensive suite of drive modes.

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On-road performance

Our first experience with the Denzas came behind the wheel of a B8 model and quickly revealed its most annoying feature as we were driving out of town. 

Driver monitoring cameras have become common in modern vehicles as manufacturers strive to achieve the highest safety ratings, and many drivers find them annoying, but the Denza takes that annoyance to a whole new level. It was constantly telling me to keep my eyes on the road despite looking straight ahead through the windscreen.

I tried removing my prescription polarised glasses and it reduced the alerts slightly, but they were still constant. They were at their most annoying when driving into the sunlight and, personally, they would be a deal-breaker for me if I were considering any vehicle. You can turn the driver monitoring system off, but what’s the point of having safety features if they’re so annoying that you need to disable them while driving? Aside from this constant annoyance, the B8 was a pleasant place to while away the kilometres as we left Adelaide and headed for the Flinders Ranges. The cabin is large and luxurious, and the performance belies the Denza’s substantial mass.

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All those motors, batteries and luxury features come at a cost, and the B8 six-seater tips the scales at a hefty 3290kg. While the combined hybrid powertrain delivers thrilling acceleration and cruises nicely on the highway, you can’t hide that weight. This made the ride choppy on some road surfaces, particularly at lower speeds in the city and when travelling through regional towns. This was less evident at higher speeds on the highway, but it did get a bit unsettled on rough sections of curves. That said, Denza has done an amazing job managing the mass the way it has.

Pleasingly, this feeling wasn’t as evident when driving the B5 Leopard, which tips the scales at a still-hefty 3007kg (the standard B5 weighs 2897kg). The B5 was far more composed and smoother riding on the rough outback highways and gravel roads we drove it on. This improved ride quality comes despite the B5’s shorter 2800mm wheelbase compared to the 2920mm between the axles of the larger B8 models.

The B5 feels like a much better-sorted vehicle in all driving conditions, both on- and off-road. If you don’t need the seating capacity of three rows or the pinnacle of Denza luxury, then the B5 could be a better option for you.

Off-road performance

Like the BYD Shark ute, the Denza’s DMO platform has no mechanical connection between the front and rear axles, so there is no traditional transfer case as such. 

This means they can’t be mechanically locked together, so the system relies on computers to regulate drive between the individual wheels. With no transfer case, there is no traditional low-range gearing, and this was found to be a limitation in the Shark. Denza has addressed this deficiency by fitting a low-range gearset on the rear axle only. There is no low-range gearset for the front axle and, instead, the computers vary the electrical input to the front electric motor to match the drive of the rear.

In practice, you can hear the diff gears change when you select off-road modes such as Rock and Mountain, but it is only a modest change in ratio and provides little engine braking, simulated or otherwise, when descending steep hills. 

To achieve the control you want when descending steep hills, the driver needs to select ‘Creep’ mode which, like Toyota’s Crawl Control and Ford’s Trail Control and other similar systems, works as a low-speed cruise control to maintain a set speed selected by the driver.

The Denzas need their cross-axle lockers to tackle rough terrain, as the fully independent suspension has relatively short control arms, meaning very little wheel travel, and they pick up wheels over even small undulations and gullies. The ETC can only do so much before you need the aid of the lockers.

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Verdict

The Denza duo are a welcome addition to the premium 4×4 wagon segment and represent a lot of bang for your buck if you’re not a badge snob. 

The folks at Denza hope to attract buyers from premium European SUV brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and even Range Rover, so they have high ambitions. We reckon buyers considering a Prado Kakadu, Everest Titanium, LandCruiser 300 Hybrid or Y63 Patrol could also be swayed to take a punt on a new brand if they get behind the wheel and sample a Denza. It is a compelling option for buyers.

Our pick of the range is the B5 Leopard, as it feels a far better-sorted vehicle than the B8 in the way it carries its weight and performs both on- and off-road. It’s a good-size wagon for anyone not needing three rows of seating and offers a lot of vehicle for less than $100K.

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Pricing

• Denza B5: $74,990 +ORC
• Denza B5 Leopard: $79,990 +ORC
• Denza B8 7S: $91,000 +ORC
• Denza B8 6S: $97,990 +ORC

Specs