2026 Denza B5 review: Quick drive

Originally founded in partnership with Daimler AG, Denza is one of the many sub-divisions of Chinese electrified vehicle specialist, BYD.

The luxury-leaning auto brand is launching in Australia next month with two plug-in hybrid off-road SUVs, including the medium-large 2026 Denza B5 you see here. It will be joined by the larger Denza B8, deliveries of which will likely commence in the new year.

Back to the B5. It’s a boxy five-seat four-wheel drive SUV with a stonking plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain that delivers no less than 425kW of power and 760Nm of torque, allowing it to sprint to 100km/h as quickly as a Volkswagen Golf R while also being capable of 90km of electric-only driving (WLTC).

It’s also pitched as a proper off-roader with available hydraulic suspension, low-range gearing, and good approach, departure and breakover angles. BYD-Denza also says its rated to tow 3000kg.

We still don’t have full pricing and specifications yet, but we got a quick stint of an early Australian-spec vehicle around the off-road course at the old Holden Lang Lang proving ground in Victoria’s south-east.

Does the B5 have what it takes to play with the big boys in the large off-road SUV space dominated by the diesel-powered Ford Everest, Toyota Prado, and Isuzu MU-X?

How much does the Denza B5 cost?

We don’t know yet. But we do know that the B5 will be available in standard ‘B5’ and high-spec B5 Leopard trim levels in Australia, the latter offering a Nappa leather-lined cabin, and the brand’s ‘DiSus-P’ adjustable hydraulic suspension system.

We’re expecting the standard B5 to start in the $60,000-$75,000 region, with the Leopard likely demanding mid to high-$70,000 or even $80,000-plus pricing – but we also could be wrong.

What is the Denza B5 like on the inside?

I spent barely 45 minutes with the B5 at its Australian media pre-drive, which was focused more on tackling off-road obstacles and capturing content than actually driving it on a road or poking around the cabin.

Both models get a large 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, both offering bright graphics and good resolution.

There’s a very upright and square theme to how it’s all designed, much like how premium off-road vehicles like the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class are thought out.

While there’s an underlying utilitarian spirit, as in the BYD Shark 6 ute the cabin has been cloaked in swathes of padded leather and leather-look elements with top-stitching, and subtle flourishes of chrome and metal-like accents.

It’s all quite smartly executed, and I like the chunky toggle-style switches on the centre console, including the bright red start/stop button which, as James May would put it, “looks like a boiled sweet”.

The couch-like front chairs offer full electric adjustment and perch you nice and high – if you like that sort of thing – and the general ambience feels quite posh.

As with other BYD products, much of the in-car functionality is built into the touchscreen, including the climate controls.

While there’s a permanent taskbar at the base of the display, the interface is still very BYD, which means it often flashes animations and changes menus with the press of key buttons, and the menu structure can be a little convoluted.

Storage is also decent should you need snacks and other supplies during a luxurious expedition, including a stowage cubby under the bridge-like centre console.

The back seats are more than large enough for tall adults to sit behind tall adults. I’m 6’1″ and had plenty of space behind my own driving position, as well as under the panoramic glass sunroof.

Three across should be fine, especially for kids, and there are plenty of amenities like rear air vents, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and the like.

Denza claims the B5 offers a boot capacity of 470 litres with all five seats in play, expanding to 1064L with the rear bench folded.

What’s under the bonnet?

The B5 and B5 Leopard are powered by what BYD-Denza calls the ‘1.5T DM-O Super Hybrid’ system, incorporating a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with two electric motors and a big 31.8kWh LFP battery.

Full specifications will be available closer to the Denza B5’s on-sale date in November.

How does the Denza B5 drive?

We only got a short stint behind the wheel of the B5 and B5 Leopard on some of the off-road tracks at Lang Lang.

Given CarExpert founder, Paul Maric, uses most of these same obstacle courses for the off-road portions of our YouTube videos, I figured I’d subject the Denza B5 and B5 Leopard to the same assessments as we normally do.

First, the rutted hill. Now, it appears the BYD-Denza team had evened out some of the ruts on this hillclimb, famously known for beaching a pre-production Shark 6 ute when Paul first tested it.

Still, the B5 is nowhere near short on power, and the electric drive motors didn’t have much trouble getting the 4WD’s near 3.0-tonne mass up the slippery hill over multiple attempts – including ones where I stopped mid-ascent.

For reference, the B5 is up by more than 100kW and 100Nm over the Shark 6, but is also 200-300kg heftier than the BYD dual-cab.

There are no fewer than 16 drive modes you can flick through to tackle difficult terrain, including an adaptive mode that tailors the drivetrain to whatever conditions it senses. Each come with a funky animation and change of theme on both the central touchscreen and driver instrument cluster.

You can also flick through HEV and EV powertrain settings, choose 4L low-range gearing – via a two-speed transfer case on the rear axle – and in the Leopard there’s a switch to toggle the different ride heights for the DiSus-P hydraulic suspension.

Left to its own devices, the Denza B5 will often silently plug through obstacles in EV mode, but if you need a bit more grunt or lock it in specific modes it will fire up the petrol engine. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine under the bonnet can fire up with a bit of vibration and coarseness when cold, but it doesn’t send sudden shunts through the cabin.

I trialled the hill descent control on the way back down the hill, and found it can be a little jerky on the brakes and hard to modulate with the actual brake pedal – a bit of rocking back and forth results.

Denza says the B5 Leopard’s adjustable suspension allows 220mm of ground clearance in its standard setting, and can be raised to offer a lofty 310mm.

Further, the approach, departure and breakover angles are up to 39/35/27 degrees respectively, when the B5 Leopard is in its tallest setting.

The standard B5 didn’t feel like it was lacking in clearance, though there was the odd occasion when traversing the rocky wading pool when I thought I might have heard the towbar knock on something.

Speaking of, both the Denza B5 and B8 will come with a tow bar and 12-pin coupling as standard in Australia.

Doing the same activities in the B5 Leopard wasn’t all that different, save for the adjustable suspension that gave the 4WD more clearance, but also made it wobblier over obstacles.

The added height also gave a bit more confidence when navigating the boulder run and the water crossing, as we cleared the jagged rock edges and sharp incline out of the waterbed much better with the DiSus-P system set to its highest setting.

While we didn’t experience any issues on this first local drive, we got no wheel time on asphalt to get a feel for the B5’s on-road performance on public roads.

We look forward to getting a proper drive in real-world conditions in the coming months.

What do you get?

Denza has only released preliminary specifications, largely pertaining to the flagship B5 Leopard.

2026 Denza B5 Leopard equipment highlights:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• 275/55 R20 Pirelli tyres
• Tow bar, hitch and 12-pin coupling
• Electromechanical differential locks – front, rear
• DiSus-P hydraulic suspension
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Laminated soundproof glass
• 16 selectable drive modes

Is the Denza B5 safe?

The Denza B5 doesn’t have an ANCAP or Euro NCAP rating, giving its newness to markets outside of China.

Denza B5 Leopard safety highlights:

• 11 airbags
• ‘Advanced Driving Assistance System’
  • Level 2 autonomous features
• 360-degree cameras

How much does the Denza B5 cost to run?

Denza hasn’t confirmed its warranty program as yet, though we expect the luxury arm to follow a similar format to its BYD sister brand, which offers a six-year, 150,000km warranty for the vehicle, and eight-year, 160,000km battery cover.

CarExpert’s Take on the Denza B5

If priced right, the Denza B5 could be a really interesting addition to Australia’s off-road SUV market and potentially disrupt the home favourites.

Boasting eye-catching design, a thumping but (theoretically) efficient PHEV drivetrain, and solid specs, the five-seat Denza B5 feels more polished than the GWM Tank 300, and offers the sort of luxurious ambience that an Everest or Prado could only dream of.

However, the 3000kg braked towing capacity lags behind both those seven-seat off-roaders, and the lack of a third-row seating option means family buyers will have to spend more for the larger B8, or shop elsewhere.

Then again, we still don’t have all that much to go on – Denza hasn’t announced full pricing or specifications, nor have we really put the Denza B5 to the test outside the controlled confines of a proving ground.

Until then, our verdict on this Chinese luxury off-roader remains TBC, but the early signs are promising. BYD has big ambitions in Australia and is on a roll at the moment with a range of well-priced new models on the way, so it won’t want that momentum slowing down anytime soon.

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