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2026 Denza B5 & B8: BYD’s new luxury SUVs now on sale in Australia: pricing, specs & release date
BYD has launched its new Denza premium brand. From specs to pricing, here’s what you need to know about Denza’s arrival in Australia and the new Denza B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid large 4x4 SUV range.
Promising luxury finishes combined with off-road capability, Denza’s range of upmarket large family SUVs will take on established rivals like the Ford Everest, Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Nissan Patrol, as well as premium players like the Range Rover Sport and Lexus GX.
Read on to see how the new arrivals are expected to stack up and how Denza could extend BYD’s growing success in Australia.
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What is Denza? BYD’s new Lexus rival
Denza is to BYD Automotive what Lexus is to Toyota, and Audi is to Volkswagen – a brand born to deliver a more premium motoring experience for car buyers looking to elevate themselves from the mainstream.
Originally founded in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, Denza became fully integrated into BYD in 2024 and is guided in Australia by experienced auto leader, Mark Harland, previously with General Motors.
Australia and New Zealand are the first markets outside China to get Denza’s new line-up – in fact, BYD is using the Denza name here as an umbrella to bring in vehicles from three of its luxury brands.
In a world-first strategy, models sold in China under BYD’s Fangchengbao, YangWang and Denza marques are expected to wear the Denza badge in Australia.
“This is a landmark moment in the Australian automotive industry,” Denza Australia COO Mark Harland said. “Denza will offer a whole new range for consumers wanting a slice of luxury and the latest in innovation.
“It’s built for explorers, pioneers and leaders. For those who see roads as invitations, not boundaries, we know Denza will be one of the most exciting premium brand launches to date.”
Which Denza vehicles will launch in Australia?
The 2026 Denza B5 and Denza B8 are the first Denza brand vehicles to arrive in Australia. In China they’re known as the Fangchengbao Leopard 5 and Leopard 8, but they’ve been incorporated under Denza for Australia.
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When will Denza launch in Australia?
The Denza B5 and Denza B8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) large SUVs will launch in Australia in December 2025. Orders are now being taken, with first deliveries of the Denza B5 to customers to begin from late January 2026. The Denza B8 will reach Aussie driveways from late February 2026.
How much does the Denza B5 and B8 cost in Australia?
Denza’s first models, the 2026 Denza B5 and B8, are premium off-road SUVs that have the potential to rewrite the playbook for large 4x4 SUVs in Australia.
Sized and positioned against the Toyota Prado (for the B5) and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (for the larger B8), these vehicles are priced to succeed and undercut their competition.
The 2026 Denza B5 is priced from $74,990 plus on-road costs, keeping it around the $80,000 mark drive-away. The Denza B5 Leopard sits at the top of the range, starting $5000 upstream at $79,990 plus ORCs.
As a launch special, the first 2000 B5 customers will receive a free premium paint upgrade and interior trim enhancement, valued at $1818. Eclipse Black is the standard exterior paint colour on both models, while premium options include white, gold, silver, grey, blue and green hues, depending on the model.
The 2026 Denza B8 is priced from $91,000 plus on-road costs. It is available in six-seat (6S) and seven-seat (7S) configuration, the higher-spec 6S drawing close to the $100,000 ceiling at $97,990 plus ORCs.
| 2026 Denza B5 and B8 | |
|---|---|
|
Denza B5 |
$74,990 |
|
Denza B5 Leopard |
$79,990 |
|
Denza B8 7S – 7 Seat |
$91,000 |
|
Denza B8 6S – 6 Seat |
$97,990 |
The 2026 Denza B8 lines up against the popular Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and the related Lexus LX.
What powers the Denza B5 and Denza B8?
Under the skin, both the Denza B5 and B8 share BYD’s Dual-Mode Offroad (DM-O) technology – a plug-in hybrid system that delivers genuine electric driving capability and 4x4 performance.
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2026 Denza B5 engine specs
In the Denza B5, a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is paired with two electric motors (front and rear) and a large 31.8kWh BYD Blade battery.
Combined output is a convincing 425kW and 760Nm, besting the diesel Toyota Prado. It boasts 0–100km/h acceleration of just 4.8 seconds, even with a kerb weight of 2897kg (B5) or 3007kg (B5 Leopard).
According to Denza, the B5 can drive up to 90km on electric power alone (based on the lenient WLTC standard) and, with an 83-litre fuel tank capacity, has a total range of around 1000km for long trips.
2026 Denza B8 engine specs
The big brother SUV from Denza, the B8 also has dual e-motors but ups the ante with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 36.8kWh battery. Combined power output jumps to 450kW while maximum torque remains at 760Nm.
Despite seating six or seven, measuring 5.2m long (almost the size of a Toyota LandCruiser) and tipping the scales at 3290kg, the B8 matches the B5’s 4.8sec 0–100km/h sprint. It also has a 90km claimed pure-electric driving range, based on the WLTC standard.
Both B5 and B8 use BYD’s latest Blade LFP batteries, renowned for their safety and longevity.
In practice, these specs make the Denza duo compelling when compared to the most powerful petrol and diesel SUVs on sale in Australia. For context, a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (twin-turbo V6 diesel) produces just 227kW, and even a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee is around 350kW.
Those numbers will give Denza owners bragging rights and the large battery size means daily commutes or school runs could be done solely on electric power, saving fuel and reducing emissions.
The 2026 Denza B5 proved capable on our first drive across various off-road exercises.
How good are the Denza vehicles off-road?
Despite the complex drivetrain, these vehicles are designed for real off-roading and are likely to be of interest to buyers of perennial favourites like the Ford Everest and Nissan Patrol.
Both the Denza B5 and Denza B8 have permanent 4WD via their dual motors, with the petrol engine able to drive the wheels through a multi-mode system when extra power or battery charging is needed. Selectable off-road driving modes are offered, along with a handy 'Leopard Turn' function on some variants that pivots the vehicle on its inside rear wheel to help with navigating narrow trails.
The B5 and the seven-seater B8 7S has front and rear electronic differential locks fitted standard for improved traction on loose terrain, while the B8 6S misses out on a front locker.
To further aid off-road driving, the Denza B5 and Denza B8 have an approach angle of 35-39 degrees, departure angle of 32-35 degrees and a rampover angle 20-27 degrees (range according to suspension setting). Ground clearance is between 220mm and 310mm, the latter denoting the DiSus-P hydraulic suspension set to its highest level.
Hydraulic suspension is fitted standard on the B5 Leopard and both B8 variants. The wading depth is 700mm and 790mm respectively for the Denza B5 and B5 Leopard, rising to 890mm for the B8 twins.
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Will the new Denza B5 and B8 be good for towing?
The 2026 Denza B5 has a maximum braked towing capacity of 3000kg, which is 500kg less than the Toyota Prado and some other 4x4 off-road SUVs in this class.
The Denza B8 has a 3500kg towing capacity.
A 12-pin trailer plug comes standard on the Denza B5 and B8, the latter adding a drawbar and hitch receiver. Towing hitch and tow ball are additional.
The Denza B8 (left) and B5 have a bold, upright and practical design befitting their 4x4 off-road status.
Denza B5 and B8 exterior design
The 2026 Denza B5 is about 4.9m long which makes it slightly larger than a Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the B8 stretches to 5.2m (just shy of a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series).
Both Denza models are tall, broad SUVs with chunky, squared-off styling inherited from their ‘Leopard’ design heritage.
Just as the BYD Shark 6 stands out on the road, the Denza 4x4 SUVs have a bold, modern exterior look, with LED lighting signatures, large wheel and tyre combinations (20-inch on B5 Leopard and B8, 18-inch on B5 base model) and upright grilles that signal off-road intent.
Denza B5 and B8 interior design and features
Inside, Denza has pulled out all the stops to make these cabins feel premium and high-tech. There is a vast array of standard equipment on both the B5 and B8. Here are some of the highlights:
Denza B5 standard features
- 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster
- Leather upholstery
- 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with position memory
- 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Front seat massage function, heating and ventilation
- Heated rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Car refrigerator and hot box
- Dual-zone climate control
- Knitted fabric roof liner
- Electronic pop-up drive selector
- 5 USB ports (Type A and Type C)
- 50W wireless phone charger
- 800W Devialet 16-speaker sound system
- Four-zone voice assistant
- In-car mobile hotspot and 4G network connection
Denza B5 Leopard adds:
- Premium Nappa leather seats
- Ventilated rear seats
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Second 50W front wireless phone charger
Denza B8 7S standard features (above B5):
- 2+3+2 seating configuration
- 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Front passenger seat position memory
- Front height-adjustable cup holders
- Second row 4-way power-adjustable seats
- Tri-zone climate control
- Connected services – remote start and preconditioning
- 800W Devialet 18-speaker sound system
- 6 USB ports (Type A and Type C)
Denza B8 6S features (above B5 Leopard and B8 7S):
- 2+2+2 seating configuration
- Front seat power-adjustable leg rests
- Front seat bolster adjustment
- Second row seat massage function
- Second row power-adjustable leg rests
Denza B5 and B8 safety features
The 2026 Denza B5 and Denza B8 are fitted with a broad array of active and passive safety systems, including 11 airbags on the B5 and 14 airbags on the B8.
The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are comprehensive, with extensive camera and radar tech governing lane keeping, front and rear cross traffic alert, rearward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue and distraction monitoring, and much more.
There is a head-up display on all models bar the B8 7S, while the B8 6S has a night vision system and higher functionality with its 360-degree surround-view camera.
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The 2026 Denza B5 offers a premium, high-tech interior with lots of creature comforts.
How can you charge the new Denza range?
Being plug-in hybrids, the Denza B5 and B8 can charge up their batteries from a regular household socket but a home EV charger will speed up the process.
AC charging up to 11kW is available on both models, allowing for both single-phase and three-phase power supplies, while DC charging from public fast-charging stations is also offered, with the B5 managing up to 100kW and the B8 120kW. Charging times are still to be confirmed.
All models have Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability, which allows electrical appliances to be charged using the high-voltage battery.
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