In December 2025, BYD officially launched its premium sub-brand Denza in Australia with two models that nobody expected: not sleek city EVs, but rugged, body-on-frame plug-in hybrid 4×4 SUVs. The Denza B5 and B8 arrived as direct challengers to the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol, and Jeep Wrangler — but with a high-tech electrified twist.
What is Denza?
Denza (腾势) is BYD's premium brand, positioned above BYD's mainstream models. Think of it like Lexus is to Toyota, or Genesis is to Hyundai. While BYD focuses on accessible electric vehicles, Denza targets the luxury and performance segments.
The brand launched in China in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz (then Daimler). BYD took full control in 2024 and has since turned it into one of China's fastest-growing premium brands, selling over 126,000 vehicles in China in 2025.
The Denza B8: Flagship Off-Roader
The B8 is the bigger, more capable of the two. It's a full-size body-on-frame SUV with serious off-road hardware:
| Spec | Denza B8 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L turbo-petrol 4-cylinder |
| Engine output | 145kW / 350Nm |
| Front motor | 200kW / 360Nm |
| Rear motor | 300kW / 400Nm |
| System output | 425kW / 760Nm |
| Battery | LFP (Blade Battery) |
| Combined range | 1,040km (NEDC) |
| Electric range | 100–115km (WLTC) |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.8 seconds |
| Fuel economy | 2.0L/100km (charged) |
| Towing | 3,500kg braked |
| Wading depth | 890mm (DiSus-P raised) |
| Ground clearance | 310mm (DiSus-P raised) |
| DiSus-P travel | 140mm |
| Seats | 6 or 7 |
| Price | $91,000 – $97,990 +ORC |
DiSus-P: The Secret Weapon
One of the B8's standout features is DiSus-P — BYD's Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System. It's the most advanced version of BYD's DiSus suspension technology (which comes in four tiers: DiSus-C, DiSus-A, DiSus-P, and DiSus-X). The same technology first debuted on the YangWang U8 — which was spotted testing on Australian roads in late 2024 — it's what allows the U8 to do tank turns.
- 200mm ride height adjustment — raise for off-road clearance (up to 310mm), lower for highway efficiency
- Hydraulic spring assembly at each wheel — individually adjusts to road surface conditions
- Active body control — reduces body roll in corners and nose dive under braking
- Water wading mode — raises the body to its maximum height for deep water crossings (890mm wading depth)
DiSus-P uses hydraulic actuators at each corner of the vehicle, controlled by onboard sensors that read the road surface in real time. It can individually adjust each wheel independently, giving the B8 a ride quality and off-road capability that belies its body-on-frame construction.
DMO: Dual Mode Off-road
The B8 uses BYD's DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) platform — a super hybrid-based architecture purpose-built for rugged off-road vehicles. DMO is designed to deliver both efficient urban running and robust off-road performance. It pairs a turbocharged petrol engine with electric motors and a Blade Battery, combined with double-wishbone suspension and high-strength underbody protection.
- 2.0L turbo-petrol engine (145kW / 350Nm) works with electric motors for combined 425kW
- 200kW front electric motor drives the front axle
- 300kW rear electric motor drives the rear axle
- Rear mechanical differential lock (electrically actuated) is standard
- Front locking differential is available on the 6-seat variant
- Intelligent mode management maintains outstanding efficiency with up to 800km+ combined range
Terrain Modes
The B8 offers an extensive suite of drive and terrain modes:
- On-road: Comfort, Eco, Sport
- Off-road: Rock, Snow, Sand, Mountain, Mud, Wading
- Special: Racing, Creep, Leopard Turn (tight turning), Towing, Anti-Skid
Interior & Practicality
The B8 is available as a 6-seater ($97,990) or 7-seater ($91,000). Both feature:
- Nappa leather seats with heating, ventilation, and massage
- 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen (portrait/landscape)
- Head-up display
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) — power appliances from the car
- Soft-close doors
- Full-size spare tyre
- 3,500kg braked towing capacity
- 5-star ANCAP safety rating
The Denza B5: Compact Adventure SUV
The B5 LEOPARD is the smaller, more affordable sibling. It also uses the DMO platform and DiSus-P hydraulic suspension (140mm travel), though its DiSus-P implementation is a simpler two-tier damping system compared to the B8's three-tier setup, and it lacks the B8's preaim (云辇预瞄) feature — the LiDAR/camera-based system that scans the road ahead and pre-adjusts the suspension. It also uses a 1.5-litre turbo engine instead of the B8's 2.0-litre, producing 400kW combined versus the B8's 425kW.
While the B8 competes with LandCruiser and Patrol, the B5 targets vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X, and Jeep Wrangler — but with plug-in hybrid efficiency and significantly more power.
What This Means for Australia
The B5 and B8 represent something genuinely new in the Australian market: body-on-frame 4×4 SUVs that can also be daily commuters on pure electric power. With 100–115km of electric range, most Australian daily commutes can be done without using a drop of petrol. But when you want to go off-road or tow a caravan, the petrol engine and electric motors provide serious combined grunt.
The 5-star ANCAP rating for the B8 was also a significant milestone, addressing one of the common concerns about Chinese-brand vehicles in Australia.
Read more: Denza Z9 GT Confirmed for Australia