2026 Denza B5 review

Denza – the luxury sub-brand of Chinese plug-in hybrid specialist BYD – is set to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the first model under the banner will likely be the B5 off-road SUV.

Badged in China as the Fangchengbao Leopard Bao 5, the five-seat B5 rides on the same ladder frame as the popular Shark 6 ute already sold in Australia, scoring a plug-in hybrid system with all-wheel drive and off-road capabilities.

We spent some time with the Denza B5 in China recently to see if it’s ready to take on the established segment benchmarks.

How much does the 2026 Denza B5 cost?

Given this model has not even been officially confirmed for the Australian market, pricing for the 2026 Denza B5 is still some time away. However, looking at what the B5’s key rivals will be can give a decent indication.

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado (from $72,500) and Ford Everest (from $54,240) are the current segment leaders and two likely targets for the Denza. However, given the B5’s more luxury-focused cabin appointment and tech, it may also contend with off-roaders such as the Land Rover Defender, which can be had from $88,870.

Denza will face an interesting challenge pricing the B5 locally in a segment where dependability is paramount.

Despite having (on paper) a superiorly specified car compared to competitors, Denza will still likely need to concede on price to make up for its non-existent brand recognition in Australia. Pricing a luxury car too cheaply can also be a problem, however, as it detracts from its perception as a premium product.

Considering all this, we’d expect to see a 2026 Denza B5 base trim kick off from about $70,000 before on-roads.

What is the 2026 Denza B5 like inside?

Luxury isn’t some vapid claim for the 2026 Denza B5: its interior provides genuinely lush opulence and functionality.

Occupants will be hard-pressed to find anything but soft-touch materials below the dash line, and Nappa leather and suede feature generously. Everything is done big here, with chunky handles and grips throughout matching a thick-rimmed steering wheel and large shifter handle. There’s no shortage of theatre either: that shifter rises out of the console to greet you at start-up, along with dynamic ambient lighting.

A motif of chain links appears all through the cabin, with crystal-look switchgear and large buttons around the shifter providing solid, satisfying tactility. Maybe we’ve succumbed to consumer psychology here, but it does all combine to give the impression that the B5 isn’t some dainty, fragile thing.

In our test car, the dash was swallowed by a tri-screen layout (though the B5 is also sold with two screens in some Chinese variants), consisting of two 12.3-inch displays (one for the driver and one for the passenger) and a 15.6-inch centre screen. If you’re against the modern convention of screen dominance in interiors, you’re not going to like the B5.

Seat comfort is excellent in both rows, with good sideways visibility thanks to the high seating position and low door line. Frontal visibility is not so good, but more on that later. Thanks to the B5’s powertrain layout, there’s also no transmission tunnel, meaning ample room for even those in the middle seat.

Load and capacity figures are not stated, but the side-hinged rear door (with full-size mounted spare) leads to a generous aperture and competitive cargo space.

What powers the 2026 Denza B5?

The 2026 Denza B5 makes use of parent company BYD’s advanced battery tech by way of a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

A 145kW 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine is connected to – and can drive – the front wheels, but its primary purpose is to provide charge for the hybrid system’s two beefy electric motors.

These motors, mounted on the front and rear axles, provide 200kW and 285kW respectively, adding up to total outputs of 505kW and 760Nm. For comparison, this represents a 160Nm jump over the Ford Everest’s 600Nm diesel V6 and almost triples its 184kW. Madness.

Energy is stored in a 31.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery – possessing an impressive 100kW DC charge rate (6.6kW for AC) – with BYD stating an all-electric driving range of 100km via the WLTP standard. Total hybrid driving range is claimed at 1200km, although this has been calculated on the generous NEDC standard and is unlikely to be achieved in real-world scenarios.

The Denza B5’s power is sent through an e-CVT, balancing speed and torque outputs between its axles without use of a front-to-rear driveshaft. Torque can be vectored with e-diffs (able to be directed front, centre and rear), with a simulated four-low mode (that mimics shorter gearing and reduces roll speed) added to help the B5 negotiate rough terrain.

The Denza B5 shares the BYD Shark 6’s 2500kg tow rating.

What equipment does the 2026 Denza B5 come with?

Regardless of how Denza decides to price the B5 in Australia, its equipment list is comprehensive.

In Chinese specification, the model picks up heating, ventilation and a massage function on its electrically adjustable front seats, with rear seats scoring heating and optional ventilation. A heated/cooled storage box is located under the centre armrest, with two 50-watt wireless phone charging pads just ahead of the shifter.

As is standard across the BYD stable in Australia, expect the Denza B5 to pick up Android Auto and Apple CarPlay projected onto those behemoth screens, as well as sat nav. Sticking with the ‘big’ theme, a head-up display can project a 50-inch vision with augmented reality for drivers.

An assortment of USB outlets fills the cabin, with a 220-volt standard outlet and up to 6kW of vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality available as well.

LED lighting is fitted front and rear, with 18-inch alloys as standard and roof racks rated to a 50kg load.

Optional active hydraulic suspension can alter ride height by up to 140mm. This is complemented by a rear electronic diff lock, with a front locker also optional on Chinese vehicles.

A ‘leopard turn’ function is available, allowing the B5 to rotate left and right on the spot, pivoting from its rear inside wheel. While this has been advertised as a parking aid on other Denza models, the B5 could use it to great avail on tight trails where sudden rotation is needed.

How safe is the 2026 Denza B5?

The 2026 Denza B5 has not been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP to date.

While no guarantee of a future safety score for the Denza B5, the BYD Shark 6 ute, which uses the same platform as the B5, scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2025.

In China, the B5 scores BYD’s ‘God’s eye’ safety suite, with level 2 autonomous driving capabilities, stop-start adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree surround view camera.

What is the 2026 Denza B5 like to drive?

Let’s start where the Denza B5 shines – interior comfort. Seating position, ergonomics, and access to controls have all been thoughtfully executed. During the off-road component of our testing in China, front seats provided good support, keeping us in place over bumps without a sense of being ‘trapped’ in the bolsters.

Unfortunately, muscular body lines have been prioritised over frontal visibility, with the tip of the B5’s boxy nose protruding frustratingly into view during steep climbs and descents. This isn’t the case for its larger B8 sibling (that gets a more sloped bonnet), and it seems inexcusable for a model without a large combustion engine crammed into the front.

Being candid, our off-road testing was limited, consisting of laps around a repurposed quad bike course (that was, at some points, mere centimetres wider than the car itself).

The Denza B5 showed good composure over mounds and ruts up to a point, but became quite unsettled with any speed introduced. It’s hard to say if its cell-to-body construction – meaning the battery acts as a structural part of the chassis – has added too much rigidity, or if its hydraulic suspension simply became overwhelmed and was left to play catch-up, but we feel some key rivals handle imperfections more gracefully.

Traction was no issue during our testing. Torque is fed in and out smoothly, and diff locks work with an eerily smooth execution. Steering weight is a bit light, leading us to think the B5 would feel a bit vague at higher speeds on unsealed roads.

Getting onto the same bitumen test track we hooned both the BYD Atto 2 and its smaller Seagull sibling around, the B5 displayed some considerable handling weaknesses. Roll and pitch are excessive, leading to a wishy-washy ride around corners and a sense the front wheels are going to lift off the ground during acceleration. We never thought we’d say this, but it could really do with less power.

We concede the vehicle we drove was tuned for the Chinese market, but Australian tuning for both steering and ride would be absolute musts for the Denza B5 to compete with the benchmarks Down Under.

Open Road’s take on the 2026 Denza B5

The 2026 Denza B5 delivers luxury, standard equipment and cutting-edge plug-in hybrid efficiency in spades, but (in a tremendously corny throwback to its interior styling) a car is only as strong as its weakest link.

The Denza B5 has all the right fundamentals to be a serious disruptor in the space, but it will need some of its larger issues ironed out, and to be priced carefully, before it enters the ring.

• Pros: Opulent cabin experience; rich tech suite; powerful and efficient powertrain
• Cons: True off-road capability remains unproven; uncomposed ride and handling; awkward value proposition