- Denza B5 to arrive in 2026
- Plug-in hybrid SUV built for off-roading
- Rival to the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser
- Could cost from around £60-£70k.
- Just been named ‘Best Prospect’ by car of the year judges
The Land Rover Defender is about to get a new rival - because the UK launch of the new Denza B5 SUV is gathering momentum.
You might not have heard of Denza, but you’re probably more familiar with the brand than you realise.
That’s because Denza was founded as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD back in 2010. BYD is the Chinese manufacturer that already offers UK cars like the Seal, Dolphin Surf and Sealion 7.
Denza is now wholly owned by BYD and acts as the firm’s upmarket subdivision, combining ‘elegant finesse’ with ‘premium craftsmanship’.
And this - the sculpted B5 - is primed for a UK launch early in 2026.
The off-roader has just been named ‘Best Prospect’ in the New Car World Championships - staged annually by the Best Cars of the Year (Best COTY) organisation.
And here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Denza B5?
The Denza B5 is a plug-in hybrid SUV that’s designed to provide ‘authentic off-road performance’, according to its Chinese manufacturer.
It’s underpinned by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors (one at the front, one at the back).
And when the Denza B5 made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year it was packing a colossal 677 PS and 760 Nm of torque - which made it more potent than the 635 PS Land Rover Defender Octa.
That oomph means the Denza B5 is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds - not bad for a hulking SUV that weighs close to 3 tonnes.
Denza says the B5 is also built to tackle the tough stuff.
A spokesperson tells us: “The B5 is not simply about pure power; it is engineered for authentic off-road performance. Its cell-to-chassis construction provides protection for the high-voltage battery when driving over rough ground, while a one-touch automatic levelling system adapts its performance to suit different off-road terrain. Its capabilities include being able to climb gradients of up to 40 degrees.”
Denza B5 vs Land Rover Defender?
Will the Denza B5 really provide competition to the established players in the premium, luxury, 4x4 market?
It will, according to Mike Rutherford, Best Cars of the Year / New Car World Championships founder and judging panel chair.
He said: "Assuming BYD and Denza get the pricing policy right with the hugely powerful, superbly equipped, ruggedly handsome B5 that features serious on-road and off-road capabilities, the vehicle could be a game changer.
“If the traditional, long-established, sometimes complacent manufacturers of premium or luxury 4x4s aren't quaking in their boots at the thought of it soon going up against their increasingly expensive products, they should be.”
How much will the Denza B5 cost in the UK?
Prices and spec are still to be confirmed but the smart money says it’ll begin at around £60-£70,000 - which places it squarely into Land Rover Defender or Toyota Land Cruiser money.
What EV range does the plug-in hybrid Denza B5 have?
Where it’s already on sale in China, the Denza B5 uses a 31.8 kWh Blade battery (above, and which is long, thin, shaped like a blade and designed to be safer, hard-wearing and more cost-effective than traditional batteries) which gives it an EV driving range of around 60 miles on a single charge.
Full details will be revealed in the coming months, so watch this space.
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