DENZA BAO 5 - The Toyota Landcruiser Killer from China Arrives in the U.K.

DENZA is the luxury brand from BYD, similar to Lexus being the luxury brand to Toyota, except that Denza has its headlights focused on beating the Land Cruiser combining a competitive price, luxury, performance with strong off-road credentials.

And not only does it pinch some styling cues from the Land Cruiser, but it maintains that rugged, no-nonsense, undefeatable presence that epitomises Toyota’s off-roader, too. Should Toyota be concerned?

Technical Bits

The new DENZA is a plug-in hybrid offering a huge 544 PS and 760 Nm powertrain with a zero-to-60 sprint that can shame some hot hatches at 4.8 second. What makes this unique is the DENZA is specifically designed for proper off-roading thanks to three locking electronic differentials and DiSus-P intelligent body-control system.

To add to it’s off-road credentials, the BAO5 is built on a ladder-frame chassis and DMO's clever control systems, plus DiSus-P intelligent hydraulic suspension, two electronic differentials and an energy centre lock.

Another essential for any 4×4 is towing capacity and the DENZA is rated at 2,500 Kg, which is 1,000 Kg less than the Toyota Landcruiser.

Range, Battery and Charging

Stuffed into all of that is the plug-in hybrid powertrain that has a very decent 56 miles of pure-electric range from its 31.8 kWh LFP battery and a combined 537 miles with a full tank of petrol from the 1.5 litre engine.

AC charging is rated at 11 kW meaning the BAO 5 will recharge from 15% - 100% in 3 hours, with DC charging rated at an impressive (for a plug-in hybrid) 100 kW that will replenish the battery from 30% - 80% in 16 minutes.

Size and Space

At 4.9 meters in length, it’s larger than a Land Rover Defender 110, and the same size as a Toyota Landcruiser and is limited to five seats only. However, the 2,800 mm wheelbase should guarantee plenty of space for all occupants inside, plus there’s a very useful 475 litres of boot space, extending to a more van-like 1,736 litres with the rear seats folded.

Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice President, commented: “Premium customers in Europe love SUVs, so we're confident that the DENZA BAO 5 will be a huge hit here. Its sophisticated design, high-quality cabin and advanced DMO plug-in hybrid powertrain make it the perfect choice for buyers who want off-road ability without compromise on interior comforts and technologies. The flexibility of DMO means the BAO 5 is ready to conquer the unexpected – as appealing to urban users who like the idea of daily journeys on electricity alone as it is to those who want the ability to travel off road and go to 537mph on a full tank and a full charge. It really is the perfect example of how DENZA's uniquely new-energy approach delivers breakthrough models in key segments."

Interior

The BAO 5's interior combines useful driver-focused technologies via touchscreens and physical buttons, yet the focus is primarily on screens.

The driver has access to a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and a head-up display, with both occupants using the central 15.6-inch touchscreen, which incorporates Google built-in1 for Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play Store, the latter for adding apps.

Front passenger also gets their own widescreen display directly in front of them for accessing various independent (from the driver) entertainment systems.

The in-car voice assistant has four distinct zones of audio detection “allowing each occupant to interact personally with over 300 vehicle functions”.

A premium theatre-grade audio system from French sound specialist Devialet is fitted and comes with 18 speakers, including headrest speakers for a truly immersive experience.

There’s two charging pads up front plus three USB charging ports (two Type C, one Type A) and two in the rear (one Type C, one Type A).

The front and rear seats have heating and ventilation (Ultimate versions), and the rear seats have an adjustable backrest angle for an extra layer of comfort, with electrical adjustment to the front seats.
All BAO 5s have leather upholstery, with Ultimate versions receiving Nappa-grade leather as standard.

The centre console features a cooled and heated storage compartment. This 4.5L compartment can hold up to eight soda bottles, refrigerate items to between -6°C and 15°C and heat them to
35°-50°C. It also has a power-off memory and object detection, and can be started remotely through the DENZA app.

Safety

Safety systems start with the platform as the car's frame is made with 96% high-strength steel, reducing frontal-crash intrusion by 30% and side-pole intrusion by 25%. And the roof can resist static compression forces of up to 12 tonnes.

The BAO 5 has 11 airbags as standard, including driver's and passenger's frontal, driver's knee, front and rear side, and side curtain. The rear-view mirror operates as a screen to give a wider panoramic view, eliminating blind spots, off-roading and the assistance features include Intelligent Cruise Control, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Brake, Lake Keep and Lane Departure Assist, and front and rear parking sensors with a 360° -view camera. Hill Descent Control is also fitted as standard, for extra security in slippery conditions.

Prices & Launch Date

The entry spec BAO 5 starts at £69,500 with the top spec Ultimate starting at £78,880. First customer deliveries are due in early 2027, but the Denza UK website is open now to register an interest.

———

About the Author

Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.

You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb