Denza seems to be focused on fulfilling promises instead of just generating hype. After the launch of the D9 luxury MPV at the end of February, we’ll now see 2 new SUVs from the premium arm of BYD.
The all-new Denza B5 and B8 aim to redefine what you can have in an SUV of this size. It’s plush, capable, and best of all – electrified. They also feature a swing-opening tailgate because of the rear-mounted spare tire, giving both behemoths an old-school appeal. The B5 is priced at PHP 3,798,000 while the B8 has 2 trims. The B8 Dynamic is at PHP 4,998,000 and the Premium at PHP 5,398,000.
The twins start with the B5 which is close in numbers to a midsize SUV. Think of the Monteros and Fortuners in the country. It measures 4,921mm long, 1,970mm wide, 1,920mm tall, and a wheelbase of 2,800mm. It makes itself distinct from the B8 with the slightly larger headlight assembly that’s reminiscent of an LC200 and a more squarish front end.
It’s not mere aesthetics as the B5 can really dish it out. It has 570 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque, a 4-wheel Drive System, Front and Rear Locking Diffs, 700mm wading depth and can go from standstill to 100kph in mere 4.8 seconds.
As for electric prowess, the B5 can go up to 100 km in electric power alone. Combined with the combustion engine, that extends to 975 km. Fuel consumption is estimated at 10.53 km/l. It can accommodate DC fast charging up to 100kW or up to 11kW for AC charging for its 31.8kWh battery that is embedded on the chassis itself for superior protection.
It’s also filled to the brim. There’s a 12-inch Heads-Up Display, 16-speaker Devialet Sound System, 15.6-inch touchscreen, Refrigerator that goes from -6° to 50°C with a 4.5L capacity. That’s on top of usual creature comforts like Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, 50w Wireless Charging, Front Massage Seats, and USB-C ports.
Safety is also top notch. There’s 11 Airbags, a plethora of standard safety features including Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Denza’s signature DiPilot Advanced Driver Assist System. It includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Smart Driving High Perception Camera, and Rear Cross Traffic Braking among others.
The more premium of the two is the B8. It’s larger at 5,195mm long, 1,994mm wide, 1,905mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,920mm putting it squarely at the Land Cruiser arena.
The B8 is “more” than the B5 in many ways. It has a 7-seater configuration, or 6 if you opt for the higher trim with captain seats on the second row. The battery is bigger at 36.86 kWh, while power is more generous at 603 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque. Range is a bit farther at 115 km pure electric or 1,040km when combined with the engine. Charging is also boosted as it can accommodate up to 120 kW of DC fast charging.
What truly sets the B8 apart from the B5 is the presence of DiSus-P Intelligent Damping Suspension on the more premium model. It has adjustment for damping, stiffness, height, as well as Four-Wheel Coordination, and even Camping Levelling. Denza says you can adjust the height by up to 90mm up and 40mm down from its stock setting.
There’s 13 Airbags in the B8, along with 18-speaker Devialet Sound System, power-folding seats from the cargo area, bigger 17.3-inch touchscreen, Dual-Access Refrigerator, Three-zone Climate Control, Digital Rear View Mirror, and two 50w Wireless Chargers.
Both the B5 and B8 get the Leopard Turn feature of Denza. It allows the SUVs to make a U-Turn on very tight spaces by rotating the rear wheels backward, while the front wheels are moving forward. They also come with a portable charger, a wall charger, smart key, NFC card, and Cloud Key for the app functionality.
The Denza B5 will be available in Granite Grey, Leopard Gold, Eclipse Black, Glacier Blue, Alpine White, and Juniper Green. Meanwhile, the Denza B8 is available in Nebula Silver, Alpine White, Eclipse Black, Emerald Green, and Dawn Gold. You may check them out in Denza’s showrooms in Alabang, Makati, Greenhills, and Cebu.
