2026 Denza B5 PHEV Review: China’s Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Lexus GX rival arrives to electrify Australia’s off-road scene

February 28, 2026February 28, 2026 Andrew Chesterton 116 Views 0 Comments Denza B5

Picture yourself as a new brand in Australia. Now picture the hardest, most rusted-on vehicle segment to break into right across our wide and sunburnt land. Let me guess; you’re picturing something big and boxy and which looks a lot like a Toyota LandCruiser Prado.

That’s exactly the mission BYD’s premium brand Denza has set for itself with this B5 (and with its big brother, the three-row B8), with both models targeting Australia’s towing, off-roading and big-lapping community.

And the B5 has a secret weapon to deploy. Because while the brand is new, the technology powering it isn’t, with this Denza 4WD using the BYD group’s DMO plug-in hybrid platform which also appears in the sales-storming Shark 6 ute – and we’ve all seen the impact it has had on Australia’s dual-cab ute market.

So, can Denza do it again?

2026 Denza B5 price and equipment

The B5 range kicks off $74,990 plus on-road costs for the standard model, and then climbs to what we think is the sweet spot, the Leopard, which is $79,990. We’re not alone, apparently – Denza tells us some 80 per cent of buyers are shopping for the flagship model.

Denza has stacked both models with kit, too. You get 18- or 20-inch alloys, LED lighting, a panoramic sunroof with a shade and and keyless entry.

Inside, there are leather seats which are heated, ventilated and offer a massage function up front, a huge 15.6-inch central screen, a 16-speaker stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch display for the driver and a wireless charge pad.

There’s also a cool or hot box between the front seats, mechanical diff locks front and rear, 3000kg towing, a full-size spare and a seemingly infinite number of pre-programmed drive and terrain modes.

Step up to the Leopard and you get a second wireless charging pad, Nappa leather seats, active hydraulic suspension which Denza calls DiSus-P, a digital rear-view mirror and ventilation for the rear seats.

That seems cheap no matter which end of the buying spectrum you’re comparing it to, too. Only a couple of LandCruiser Prado trims are cheaper, while the Lexus GX starts north of $100k.

Our test vehicle was the Leopard, which gets all of the good stuff, but both models serve up plenty of cabin space. The seats up front are wide and comfortable, and space in the back seat is great, too. I’m 175cm, and found I had heaps of headroom and legroom.

It all feels pretty plush and premium, too, though we’re unconvinced by the plasticky-feeling switches below the gear selector, including the ruby-red one that starts the vehicle. They stick out in an otherwise mature-feeling cabin.

The side-hinged boot opens to reveal a 470-litre storage space, which grows to 1064 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Both B5 models are powered by the same DMO (dual mode off road) plug-in powertrain, with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with two electric motors (one at each axle), with the whole system churning out a substantial 400kW and 760Nm.

A zero to 100km/h time on a vehicle this big (we’re talking around three tonnes kerb here) should be measured with a sun dial, but electrification is a hell of a thing – the B5 can knock off the sprint in a staggering (and claimed) 4.8 seconds.

There’s also an 83-litre fuel tank and a 31.8kWh battery, which – when working together – will deliver a claimed 985km (NEDC) total driving range. On our test, we were returning around 7.5L/100km (albeit with a lot of freeway driving) which is pretty bloody good.

It also wears a full five-star ANCAP safety rating, courtesy of 11 airbags and a whole heap of active safety stuff. But… we learned very quickly how to switch off some of them, as they’re typically overzealous and annoying in the way they chirp and squawk.

Finally, the warranty. The B5 is covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, with the battery covered for eight years or 160,000kms. That’s… not quite good enough. We’d like to see unlimited-kilometre coverage for a vehicle designed to cover vast distances.

2026 Denza B8 PHEV: What we think

What do we think? That this thing is massive. We’re talking almost five-metres long, two-metres wide and more than 1.9m high – and it’s not even the biggest of the Denza models.

Anyway, those dimensions, and a three-tonne kerb weight, pretty much rule out any sharpness to the driving dynamics, and Denza has really leant into that idea. The B5 prioritises on-road comfort above all else, with the Leopard’s hydraulic suspension doing its part to hide the 4WD’s ladder-frame underpinnings. Think of it as like a ute that’s been sent to finishing school.

It can feel a bit floaty and soft at times, but it also feels purpose-built for long-haul adventures. We covered several hundred kays, and it was comfy and (once the more chirpy of active safety systems were switched off) a quiet way to devour Australia’s highways.

There’s no escaping the weight entirely when cornering – there’s certainly some lateral movement in the cabin – and it makes itself known again under flat-footed acceleration. Rolling acceleration is ample, and you’ll have no problem overtaking, but from a stand-still there’s a notable beat or two of nothingness after planting your foot before the wheels start to turn – even in the adorably named “Race” drive setting (who is taking this to a race track?).

The B5 Leopard’s suspension is less complex than that of the B8, with the former offering two levels of stiffening to the latter’s three, but it is somehow more comfortable on the road, with the bigger B8 feeling busier and at times harsher than the smaller B5.

Off-road, it feels immensely capable, but there it feels as though it’s working at it, and you’re acutely aware of the B5’s weight and complexity. Especially over jagged stuff the B5 feels as though its bending the earth beneath it to its will, rather than working with it, which translated to a slightly jarring ride in the cabin.

But I suspect there’s little in the way of off-road challenges the B5 can’t rise to. Denza will soon announce that it conquered the infamous Beer O’Clock Hill, which has derailed plenty of more established brands.

2026 Denza B5 PHEV: Verdict

Premium, plush and with a hard edge, the Denza B5 is an impressive opening salvo from the Denza brand in Australia. In a segment dominated by a handful of expensive options, the cut-price B5 will absolutely turn heads.

Perhaps the biggest challenge will be servicing and parts, especially in more remote Australia, but at first blush, it feels like a lot for car for the money.

SCORE: 3.8/5

2026 Denza B5 specifications

Price: From $74,990 (plus on-road costs)
Basics: PHEV, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 90km EV only (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 31.8kWh LFP
Battery warranty: Eight-years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 23.3kWh/100km
Fuel consumption: 3.9L/100Km Combined (WTLP, battery SOC 25 per cent+)
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Motors: 1 front, 1 rear
Combined output: 400kW and 760Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 100kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds

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Andrew Chesterton

PharmacySydney.com

Andrew began his career as a journalist at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, before he was lured into the fast-paced world of supercars at TopGear Australia. He has also held senior roles at The Daily Mail, which involved spending time at HQ in London, and on the other side of the automotive divide with FCA Australia. As one of Australia's best-read freelance writers, Andrew now contributes to Robb Report, Wish in The Australian, Domain in The Australian Financial Review, CarsGuide, Wheels, The West Australian, GQ, Men's Health and more. His love for writing has carried him around the world and back again, writing for clients in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the USA. He secretly enjoys it so much he’d probably do it for free, but he hopes his editors never find out that bit...