G’day, fellow road warriors and outback explorers. With over a decade slinging reviews from Sydney’s snarls to the Simpson Desert’s sands, I’ve chased the ultimate 4×4 that ticks every box: grunt, gadgets, and garage-friendly pricing. Enter the Denza B8 – BYD’s premium PHEV beast that’s storming Australia’s shores like a southerly buster. If you’ve got your heart set on a diesel Land Cruiser or petrol Patrol, this electrified upstart might just flip your script.
Quick Summary
If you’ve been eyeing a Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, or Land Rover Defender, the 2025 Denza B8 deserves your attention. This plug-in hybrid 4×4 from BYD’s premium arm packs serious off-road muscle — 450 kW power, 760 Nm torque, 4.8s 0–100 km/h, and up to 310 mm ground clearance. It’s loaded with luxury gear — Nappa leather, 17.3-inch screen, 18-speaker system, 7L fridge, and 16 drive modes — all under AUD $100,000. It’s spacious, tech-heavy, and shockingly capable off-road, though minor quirks like the rear door opening the wrong way and slow third-row seat operation might bug you.
In short: the Denza B8 blends EV efficiency with Defender-level toughness — at a price that makes the big-name SUVs look overpriced.
Introduction — The New Challenger in Australia’s 4×4 Game
If the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, or Land Rover Defender are the old kings of the outback, the Denza B8 just arrived to shake up the throne.
Australia’s love affair with rugged 4x4s is no secret: We demand vehicles that haul trailers to the Cape, ford creeks without flinching, and ferry the family in comfort. But with EV mandates looming and fuel prices biting, electrified options are the next frontier. Enter Denza, BYD’s luxury sub-brand, launching the B8 as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powerhouse tailored for right-hand-drive Down Under. Slated for November 2025 arrival via BYD’s expanding network, it’s positioned as the “Land Cruiser alternative for the EV era” – blending silent electric torque with petrol backup for those epic hauls.
Priced under $100K AUD, the B8 undercuts rivals by a country mile while serving six or seven seats of space. It’s got to climb, crawl, and cruise — but also feel like a luxury lounge inside, with Nappa hides and a fridge for those stubby breaks. Drawing from a hands-on off-road test in China (mirroring Aussie conditions), this review dives into its dual life: urban EV commuter by day, trail dominator by weekend. Does it dethrone the icons, or is it just hype from the Middle Kingdom? Let’s throttle in and find out.
Design & Dimensions — Bold, Luxurious, and Massive
Exterior Design
The Denza B8 commands the road like a silverback in the bush – at 5.2m long, nearly 2m wide and tall, it’s a monolithic presence that dwarfs lesser SUVs. Yet, its proportions are spot-on: Sleek lines taper to a muscular haunch, with full LED lighting slicing through dusk like a boomerang. Twenty-inch alloys shod in Michelin semi-off-road tyres promise grip on gravel or bitumen, while the side-swinging tailgate packs a full-size spare – a nod to real-world remoteness.
Air suspension is the star: Adjustable from 220mm to 310mm ground clearance, it kneels for loading or rises like a goanna on alert. Fixed side steps aid entry for the vertically challenged, but here’s the rub – that tailgate swings from the “wrong” side (kerb, not traffic). In Aussie parking lots, it means circling the car to chuck in the esky – a minor headache for reverse-park pros. No opening rear glass compounds it, but the auto-lowering on boot-open is a thoughtful touch.
Practicality
Opt for six or seven seats, and you’re golden for footy runs or fishing crews. The long wheelbase ensures stability, but measure your garage – this beast might need its own postcode. That spare tyre? Buried under flimsy plastics in the cargo well, but it’s there when the track turns treacherous. Overall, it’s built for adventure without the fragility of urban crossovers – elegant, enormous, and engineered for the never-never.
Interior & Comfort — Luxury Cabin with Smart Quirks
Cabin Design & Features
Step inside the Denza B8, and it’s less outback ute, more five-star lodge: Nappa leather drapes every perch, soft-close doors whisper shut, and soundproof glass mutes the world to a hush. The 17.3-inch central touchscreen – wired with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – dominates like a cinema screen, flanked by a 12.3-inch driver display for at-a-glance stats. An 18-speaker audio system thumps bass for those dune sing-alongs, while twin 50W wireless chargers keep devices juiced.
Quirky gems abound: A 7L fridge/hot box duo chills beers or warms pies – rarer than a roo in the city. The panoramic glass roof floods light in, but the black headliner can cave-feel when shaded. Ambient lighting and electric pop-handles add flair, though the shifter’s nifty hideaway feels gimmicky at first. Tech flies: Surround-view cameras render 360° vistas in crisp detail, no lag in sight.
🔹 Space & Practicality
Front row? Plush command seating with walk-in adjustments for rear access – ideal for tag-team driving on long hauls. At 6-foot tall, I lounged with knee room to spare, the wheel telescoping perfectly.
Second row spoils: Generous leg- and foot-room, adjustable armrests, USB-C ports, and overhead vents keep passengers pampered. A cheeky rear screen pops for fridge control – hand a kid a juice mid-journey. Flat-backed seats aid third-row access, but they wobble sans bolsters; still, ventilation and cupholders make it family-proof.
Third row suits short hops for sprogs or slight adults – knees kiss the front, but headroom’s ample with grab handles for off-road grip. Electronic folding is handy, yet sloooow – not ideal for hasty swaps. Boot with third up? School bags and groceries fit; folded, it’s a vast 2,000L-plus cavern. Drawback: No top tethers here (ISO-FIX in middle row only) – a family fix pending production tweaks.
Build Quality & Finish
It feels genuinely luxurious – execution rivals Europeans, with knurled metals and stitched hides. Cargo plastics? Flimsy jack vibes aside, it’s solid. Grab handles everywhere, 12V ports, and seatbelt clips scream thoughtful. For $100K, this cabin’s a corker – airy, appointed, and oddly addictive.
Powertrain & Performance — Electrified Muscle Meets Off-Road Might
Engine & Hybrid Setup
The B8’s DMO powertrain is a hybrid symphony: A 2.0L turbo-petrol four-pot teams with dual electric motors for a colossal 450 kW and 760 Nm – Ferrari figures in a family hauler. At 3,290 kg kerb, it blitzes 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, cross-drilled brakes hauling it down with authority. Petrol filler sits passenger-side; driver’s for the charge port – street-park savvy.
Driving Modes & Control
Sixteen modes (Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock) tailor the beast: Instant EV torque silences crawls, regen braking recoups energy seamlessly. Low-range (4L) engages on-the-fly – no neutral faff. Slippery assist doles power wheel-by-wheel, making ruts routine.
Towing & Payload
3.5-tonne braked towing matches the big dogs – van life or boat pulls, sorted. Hill descent control (configurable via screen) crawls at 1-2 km/h, freeing focus for the view.
Off-Road Test — Quietly Dominant in the Wild (≈800 words)
Suspension & Articulation
Air suspension auto-adjusts: Lowers for boots, hikes to 310mm for trails. In tests, articulation shone – axles drooped into ruts, wheels dancing independently over teeter-totters without squat.
Terrain Modes Tested
Mountain Mode + 4L steadied inclines, electric motors whispering torque sans spin. Rock Mode locked the rear diff, creeping over boulders with poise – long wheelbase? No sweat, thanks to compliant damping.
Hill Descent? Dialled a 23° plunge to walking pace – brakes dabbed, confidence soared. Muddy crossings? Nose-dipped submersion, then effortless exit – EV hush amplifying the thrill.
Steering & Feedback
Electric tiller feels light off-piste, but predictable; 360° cameras bridge blind spots brilliantly. Feedback? Seat-of-pants tells tales, rattles minimal despite cargo clatter.
Reviewer’s Verdict
You’d never expect something this luxurious to perform so calmly off-road. It’s a genuine alternative to the Patrol or Land Cruiser – silent, smart, and seriously sorted.
Battery, Range & Charging — Flexibility for Urban + Adventure
A hefty Blade Battery enables 100-150 km EV-only jaunts – city commutes sans guilt. Hybrid mode stretches to 1,000+ km combined. AC charging (up to 6.6 kW) refills overnight; DC fast-charging (40 kW) tops 80% in an hour – dune-buggy quick.
You can go camping, commute, or climb dunes — all without worrying about range anxiety. Engine kicks in seamlessly below charge thresholds, but motors rule the roost.
Pricing & Rivals — The Disruptor in the Luxury 4×4 Space
Australian Pricing
Under AUD $100,000 ex-showroom – a steal for this spec-laden seven-seater. November 2025 launch means early birds snag deals.
| SUV | Powertrain | Price (AUD) | Key Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | Diesel | $140K+ | Proven reliability |
| Nissan Patrol | Petrol V8 | $98K+ | Traditional toughness |
| Land Rover Defender 110 | PHEV | $125K+ | Premium brand, less EV range |
| Denza B8 | Hybrid EV | $99K | Most power + tech |
Verdict on Value
Luxury, space, tech, and torque — without the badge tax. Strong appeal for early EV adopters and adventurous families.
Technology & Safety — Chinese Precision Meets Global Standards
ADAS arsenal: Lane-keep, blind-spot alerts, adaptive cruise – collision avoidance that’s proactive, not paranoid. Surround cams + sensors enable near-autonomous parking; software’s polished, intuitive.
Interior tech? Super quick – no lag in menus or modes. BYD’s ecosystem integrates seamlessly, from voice commands to over-air updates.
✅ Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Insane power and torque (450 kW / 760 Nm),
- Genuine off-road capability,
- Luxury-grade cabin,
- Strong EV-only range and DC charging Value pricing under $100K
Cons:
- Tailgate opens on the wrong side for Aussie drivers.
- Slightly flimsy rear plastic trim.
- Third-row seat lacks top tethers.
- No on-road test feedback yet
Final Verdict — The Electrified Off-Roader Australia Didn’t See Coming
The Denza B8 isn’t here to replace the Land Cruiser — it’s here to redefine what a luxury off-roader can be in 2025. It’s electric, effortless, and extravagantly equipped.
Bridging EV tech and hardcore 4×4 engineering, it’s perfect for families, explorers, and tech-savvy drivers. If you want old-school toughness with next-gen tech — this is your new benchmark under $100K.
Yes, Denza is expanding under BYD’s local network with right-hand drive versions expected soon.
It’s a plug-in hybrid (DMO system) — drives like an EV most of the time, with petrol backup for range.
Source: Denza B8 review Australia off-road 4×4 test
