- Denza Bao 5 - driven for the first time
- Plug-in hybrid SUV with off-road capabilities
- Lots of power - 544 PS and 561lb-ft torque
- Can 360-degree ‘tank turn’ on the spot
- Priced from £69,500
- Order books open soon
We’ve tested the incoming Denza Bao 5 - and this rugged Land Rover Defender rival has a unique trick up its sleeve.
You might not have heard of Denza, but it’s a premium, technology-oriented brand backed by Chinese carmaker BYD- and this is its first SUV: the Bao 5 plug-in hybrid.
Its large, square, and muscular physique looks good, doesn’t it? Almost like it could match the Toyota Land Cruiser’s finesse, but there’s a bit more to it than that.
Underneath, the Denza Bao 5 sits on BYD’s DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) Super Hybrid Platform, meaning four-wheel drive with differential locking, double-wishbone suspension, 220 mm of ground clearance (stretching to 310 mm in top spec), and 544 PS.
Likewise, it has a 2.5-tonne towing capacity and, with Denza’s fancier air suspension fitted, it’ll wade through up to 790mm of water.
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As a package, the Bao 5 looks mighty impressive.
Still, it has tough competition, as Denza’s not only targeting Land Cruiser buyers but also Land Rover, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Jeep customers.
What are the pros & cons of the Denza Bao 5?
Pros:
- Tough-looking
- Impressive technology
- Roomy interior
- Powerful and quiet engine
- Physical switches
Cons:
- Not cheap
- Interior storage dwindles with fridge equipped
- Doesn’t feel as quick as figures suggest
- Fidgety ride
What are the first impressions of the Denza Bao 5?
The Bao 5 rides high on 20-inch alloys, and when dressed in Vivid Yellow, which looks more gold, you won’t be losing it in a car park any time soon.
Its front end is more business than bling. Two LED headlights sit on either side of its slated grille, and underneath the front bumper is a large off-road scratch plate.
Meanwhile, body coloured wheel arches top off its tough look.
If you spotted one in a car park and didn’t know the brand, you could mistake it for a heavily modified Temu Land Cruiser, but you’d be wrong.
Denza’s clearly taken note of Land Rover, as the Bao 5’s side profile resembles that of a Defender 110, with those metal partitions that separate the rear windows.
At the back, the Denza Bao 5 emits Hummer H3 vibes rather than those of its modern rivals.
What are the Denza Bao 5’s key features?
The Denza Bao 5 comes in two trim levels.
The £69,500 entry-level Elegance gets a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, and a wireless phone charger.
You also get an 18-speaker Devialet audio system, a passenger multimedia screen, and18-inch wheels.
Spend a bit more, and you can get the £78,880 Ultimate, like the one tested here, which includes Denza’s fancy DiSuS-P intelligent hydraulic suspension, ventilated rear seats, a digital rear-view mirror and reversing camera.
Likewise, this also adds 20-inch alloys, nifty electronically folding side steps, a 4.5-litre fridge that sits between the front seats and massaging front seats.
As for powertrains, there’s only one: a 150PS 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol that’s mounted longitudinally within the car’s frame. However, this is teamed with a front-axle 272PS electric motor, while the rear-axle motor develops 387PS. With everything working together, the Bao 5 makes 544 PS and 561lb-ft.
Power and trims aside, the Bao 5 has a remarkable feature called ‘tank turn’.
Here, the car applies the brakes to the inside wheels and drives the outside wheels forward, allowing it to make a full 360-degree turn on the spot - ideal if you get stuck down a one-way street.
That said, tyre longevity will be a question to ponder if you plan on tank turning during every trip!
What is the range of the Denza Bao 5, and what are the battery options?
There’s only one battery option for now: a 31.8 kWh unit.
As for range, the car will run up to 56 miles on electric power alone. With the engine running, Denza claims the Bao 5 can travel up to 519 miles.
How does the Bao 5 drive and handle?
We never had the opportunity to test the Bao 5’s off-road capability, with the launch coming at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
On the road, it feels easy to place, despite its size, and it steers well for a body-on-frame vehicle, with self-centering and consistent weight.
While the ride is somewhat isolated - free from judders or rattles - the suspension delivers a mixed experience. It’s busy around potholes and drain covers and rolls like an Ineos Grenadier around corners.
The Bao 5 gets up to speed nicely (there is some initial hesitation when you hammer the throttle) but does it feel like a 500 bhp SUV? Not really. The 4.8-second 0-62 mph time feels generous.
Mid-gear acceleration from 30-70 mph is, though, pretty impressive, feeling like that of a Defender D350, while being brisker than a Land Cruiser.
Then there are the drive modes - all 16 of them.
Under pressure, the 1.5-litre engine doesn’t sound coarse or underpowered in any way. It’s quiet and smooth for everyday use, revving away only when it’s working.
How Fast can the Denza Bao 5 PHEV charge?
The 1.5-litre engine will charge the Bao 5’s battery while on the move. If the battery is depleted, it can be charged up to 100kW, which is better than some pure EVs.
What are the day-to-day running costs with the Denza Bao 5?
It’s tough to say at this point, as orders open in autumn with first deliveries arriving in late 2026 or early 2027.
That said, Denza claims the Bao 5 will return up to 68.9mpg, although this drops to around 26mpg with a depleted battery.
It also falls into the 10% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax band - alongside the BMW X5 xDrive50e, Range Rover Sport P460/P550e, and Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid - as it produces 30g/km of C02.
This also means that the base Elegance model will produce an annual tax bill of around £1,390, while the Ultimate will be closer to £1,580.
What’s the interior of the Denza Bao 5 like?
At 4.9m long, the five-seat SUV offers practicality and cargo versatility comparable to those of the Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler, and Land Rover Defender 110. Unlike some of those rivals, there’s no six- or seven-seat option available.
Opening the large rear door, which swings out like a Defender’s, reveals a square 475-litre boot (expanding to over 1000 litres with the seats flat) and a lipless floor, making it easy to load larger objects.
Don’t expect a hidden underfloor compartment, as this area is solely for storing breakdown tools. Up front, there’s a chunky, utilitarian dashboard.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive with plenty of adjustment, and the nifty 12.3-inch copilot screen - something that’s often seen from the likes of Audi - is a nice touch.
Rear occupancy space is generous thanks to the high roof. There’s also plenty of legroom, and your back seat passengers are treated to heated seats regardless of trim.
Instead of being entirely touchscreen-based, Denza has included an array of physical switches, allowing the driver to control much of the car’s functionality.
Of course, being a modern SUV, it also gets a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 50-inch HUD, and a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel.
How practical is the Denza Bao 5?
Very, but don’t expectLand Rover Defender-level practicality. There’s no sliding rear bench; the rear seats split 60:40 and don’t fold flat, either.
Regarding dimensions, the Bao 5 measures 4890mm in length, 1970mm in width, and 1920mm in height, making it around 13cm smaller, 4cm wider, and 5cm lower than a Defender 110.
Therefore, if a Defender fits in your garage, a Bao 5 should too.
While the doors have storage bins, these are fairly shallow, and by opting for the one with the fridge, as cool as it may be, you’ll lose your central storage bin. It does have a glovebox, however.
There’s also a storage net on the boot lid and two tie-down hooks on either side of the boot.
How safe is the Denza Bao 5?
EuroNCAP has yet to crash test the Bao 5, but ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) has tested the Denza B5, which is essentially the same car.
Here, it was awarded five stars and received 86% for adult occupancy protection, 95% for child occupancy protection, and 78% for its safety assistance. As for safety tech, the Bao 5 comes standard with 11 airbags.
There’s also intelligent cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure assist, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors and hill descent control.
What options are available with the Denza Bao 5?
Buyers can choose from four interior colours and seven exterior colours, including a mix of greys, blues and white, if vibrant gold isn’t quite to your taste - and that’s about it.
What are the main rivals to the Denza Bao 5?
Key rivals include the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Jeep Wrangler, Ineos Grenadier, Lexus GX, and GWM Tank (which is also tipped to arrive in the UK soon).
What’s the final verdict on the Denza Bao 5?
It’s tough to judge the Denza Bao 5 at this point, as we only had a short drive and didn’t get to challenge it off-road.
That said, we were impressed with the car’s refinement, space and versatility - even if we weren’t as bowled-over by the Bao 5’s hybrid powertrain and hydraulic suspension set-up.
It’s still early days for Denza as a brand and we’re excited to see what happens next.
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