The biggest and most expensive model to come from BYD in Australia, the Denza B8 off-road SUV, is aiming high with a premium interior and cutting-edge tech.
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BYD’s new premium sub-brand, Denza, is hoping it can lure the interest of buyers eyeing a BMW, Audi, Land Rover, or Lexus with its flagship B8 upper-large off-road plug-in hybrid SUV.
Due to arrive in showrooms in early 2026, the Denza B8 will launch shortly after the smaller B5, but will sit atop the brand’s – and BYD’s – range as the biggest and most expensive model in Australia to date.
However, pricing for the model is still unknown, with Denza Australia and New Zealand boss Mark Harland telling Drive the brand is aiming as low as possible.
“I would love that [a sub-$100,000 starting price], but I can’t promise that because we haven’t negotiated,” Harland said.
“What I can tell you, I will always be going for the sharpest possible price point.
“So there has to be a little margin for Denza, there has to be some margin for the dealer, but I will always try and negotiate the sharpest possible prices for us.”
It is understood the Denza B8 will not beat the similarly-sized LandCruiser 300 Series on price, as the Toyota starts at $97,990 before on-road costs in base GX form, but its upmarket appointments and plug-in hybrid powertrain will be pitched as selling points for prospective customers.
Harland told Drive these attributes are expected to draw the attention of established premium-brand buyers, but would not be drawn on sales targets for Denza’s flagship model.
“We’re not announcing any aspirations, we’re not giving any numbers or any guidance yet,” Harland said.
“My focus is to get up there amongst it with the other premium brands.
“If you look at those other premium brands that are selling SUVs and things like that.
“BMW would be at the higher end, because they have the most sales volume at the premium end.
“From Range Rover to Lexus to Audi, so there’s a spectrum, but I want to mix it up, I want to ruffle some feathers as the disruptor in year one, and I’ve got the products to do it.”
The plan, according to Harland, is to announce pricing and full specifications of the B5 and B8 concurrently later in 2025 so customers can opt to go with the former’s five-seat configuration or the latter’s six- and seven-seat layout.
The 2026 Denza B8 – or Fangchengbao 8 as it is known in China – rides on a ladder-frame chassis related to that beneath the BYD Shark 6 and Denza B5.
However, its dimensions are stretched to 5180mm, 1994mm, 1905mm, and 2900mm in length, width, height, and wheelbase, respectively, making it bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser.
Like the models it shares its underpinnings with, the Denza B8 features a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but its petrol engine size is increased from 1.5 to 2.0 litres.
Paired with two electric motors, the Denza B8 produces a combined 450kW/760Nm that is sent to all four wheels.
With a 36.8kWh battery, Denza claims an all-electric driving range of about 90km, while the combined hybrid driving range takes it to 905km on the WLTC standard.
Available in two forms, the seven-seat 7S and six-seat 6S, the Denza B8 tips the scales at 3290kg, and features a payload capacity of 700kg.
Braked towing matches the segment-standard 3500kg.
Helping its off-road ability, the B8 is fitted with front and rear locking differentials and adaptive suspension, while approach, departure, and rampover angles range between 32-35, 20-27, and 35-39 degrees, respectively, depending on drive-mode settings.
Denza is yet to reveal full specifications, but the top-spec 6S variant will feature a 12.3-inch instrument display, 16-speaker stereo, nappa leather interior, double-glazed windows, soft-closing doors, a surround-view monitor, and a 17.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Of note for family buyers, the Denza B8 does not feature top-tether child-seat anchorage points in the third-row seats.
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
