BYD’s upmarket Denza sub-brand is gearing up to land in the UK, with no fewer than four new models before the end of 2026. And one of them is this, the Bao 5. Denza calls it an SUV and there’s certainly a strong luxury-and-tech theme to the Bao 5, but it also has the same sort of tough underpinnings like classic old 4x4s such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, and the original versions of the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes G-Class. With a potent plug-in-hybrid drivetrain, the option of self-levelling suspension and fast recharging times for a large battery pack it’s an interesting looking addition.
• The Denza Bao 5 will be BYD’s first SUV and could end up the most affordable of the cars launching under the luxury sub-brand
• Those who speak fluent 4x4 will be excited by features like mechanical diff locks, adjustable ride height and a central ‘transmission lock’ for serious off-road ability
• Large battery provides up to 56 miles of EV range with fast charging speeds on the public network
• Hefty sounding 544 horsepower results in a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds
• Orders open autumn with first deliveries in late 2026 or early 2027
• Ultimate and Elegance trim levels offered, with prices starting just under £70,000 bottom-line
Design and models available
With its stocky, squared-off looks, the Denza Bao 5 looks like it can easily cope with the rigours of travelling through the more remote bits of the planet. It’s a five-door, five-seat SUV that’s more than 4.9 metres long, nearly two metres wide and 1.9 metres tall, so it’s not shy and retiring, something hammered home by distinctive colour options like Tarim Poplar Gold and Wagner Glacier Blue. There will be two generously equipped specifications called Elegance and Ultimate. Although there are some extra toys within, the main difference is that the Ultimate gains the DiSus-P intelligent hydraulic body control system, with all the fancy features of adjustable ride height and self-levelling suspension with a range of settings to tweak comfort.
Interior and tech
Technophobes look away now because the Denza Bao 5 has a heavily digitised interface with no fewer than four screens up front, all of them enormous! The central one is a huge 15.6-inch item, with two 12.3-inch displays for driver and passenger and a head-up display projecting information onto the windscreen. As in, nearly the entire windscreen! Elsewhere, there are some chunky-looking switches and a gearlever down on the transmission tunnel, giving a rugged, off-roader-like feel to an otherwise luxurious cabin. Denza has sprinkled a ‘lock’ design throughout the interior too, which you can see in the full-width design of the dashboard, as well as the door handles, the air vents, and on the grilles of the standard 18-speaker Devialet premium sound system. Other highlights include twin wireless smartphone-charging pads on the tunnel, a panoramic roof, various attractive leather upholstery colours, and even a central cooled-and-heated storage cubby.
Batteries/range or engines
As a plug-in hybrid (or PHEV) the Denza Bao 5 combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motors on both axles. All combined, these serve up 544 horsepower and can punch the three-tonne (yes, really…) Bao 5 from 0-62mph in about five seconds. The electrical element includes a large – for a PHEV – 31.8kWh battery pack which, combined with a full tank of fuel, means range of well over 500 miles, of which 56 miles can be on electric power alone. If that’s your preference you can also charge the battery at up to 100kW on the public network, which is better than some pure EVs.
Price and release
Denza has announced that the Bao 5 Elegance will start from £69,500, while the grander Ultimate is £78,880.
What other cars from Denza are due this year?
Denza will launch the Z9 GT estate first, available as both a PHEV and an EV, but the Bao 5 will be part of a three-car assault on the UK market landing in October. These include the mighty 1,605 horsepower Z sports car and seven-seater D9 MPV.
What other cars that are upcoming will this compete with?
It’s more what’s on the market already. The obvious contender is the
Land Rover Defenderwith its nifty combination of off-road chops and modern SUV style. The
Mercedes G-Classremains an impressive contender in the luxury 4x4 sector and the
Toyota Land Cruiseris built on its reputation as one of the toughest SUVs around. The Bao 5 is a lot more affordable than the Mercedes but it’s a tighter call with the other two.
