Denza, BYD's luxury offshoot, is in New Zealand now, bringing with it a (well, eventually) a range of vehicles from both the actual Denza brand in China, along with a few Fangchengbaos for good measure.

Fangchengbao is a Chinese domestic market brand that specialises in high-end luxury ladder chassis SUVs called the Bao 5 and Bao 8, but in our market they are known as the Denza B5 and Denza B8, simplifying things somewhat.

Think of the B5 and B8 as high-end SUV versions of the BYD Shark 6 ute, in that the B8 uses the same chassis and 2.0-litre petrol PHEV powertrain and the recently announced Shark 6 Performance, while the B5 we drive here uses the 1.5-litre petrol PHEV powertrain of the Shark 6 Premium that is a very well-known quantity here, albeit in a more powerful 400kW/760Nm guise.

Positioned as the Lexus to BYD's Toyota, the Denza B5 Leopard is the top of the B5 range here in New Zealand (the larger B8 sits above it) and lands here with a price tag of $96,990, which is a hefty amount more than ute it is based on, but - perhaps more significantly - an even heftier amount less than the likes of the Lexus LX 500d that starts at $189,900.

To be fair, the fractionally smaller Prado-based GX 550 petrol is a closer competitor, but we don’t get that here, however in Australia it starts from NZ$157,000, so is still a considerable amount more.

This places the B5 in a unique position here, being a large, luxury, remarkably high-spec 4x4 with a ladder chassis and prodigious off-road abilities for under $100k, placing it closer to a $93,490 Ford Everest Platinum or a $107,490 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX Limited in terms of basic configuration, but closer to a $180k-plus Lexus or GMC Yukon Denali in terms of specification.

Then, of course, it throws that whole plug-in hybrid thing on top of it all, placing it firmly in a class of one here. For now, at least, because apparently BYD-badged versions are coming…

On the outside: what are the Denza B5 Leopard's main design features?

The Denza B5 plays things pretty straight on the outside with a relatively traditional SUV profile. It’s a big, square, ladder-chassis 4x4 that evokes design cues from established players like the Land Cruiser, Prado, and even hints of the G-Wagen.

The overall look is handsome and classic rather than revolutionary.The overall material quality is spectacular, with a tactile and premium feel to all switches and surfaces.

One key design feature potential owners, particularly cyclists, should note is the rear door. It's a side-opening "barn-style" door that also carries the full-size spare tyre. This configuration effectively prevents the B5 from both having an electric tailgate and making use of a tow-bar-mounted bike carrier, although a spare tyre mounted solution is available.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Denza B5 Leopard's cabin like?

Stepping inside the B5 is where Denza has truly cut loose on its luxury aspirations. The cabin is swathed in high-quality, real leather (Nappa leather in our top-spec Leopard), with large, comfortable armchair-like seats. The overall material quality is spectacular, with a tactile and premium feel to all switches and surfaces. It feels like a vehicle from a much higher price bracket, presenting a mature and refined ambiance that avoids being tacky or gimmicky.

The Denza B5 is a ladder-chassis SUV, and so it rather unsurprisingly drives like one, albeit a very polished and refined example.

Okay, mostly avoids it; the centre console does feature some bling with crystal-like buttons and a retractable gear shifter that rises when the car is turned on and sits flush when powered off - a pointless but fun party trick - but overall practical luxuries abound, including a refrigerator in the centre console, heated and ventilated front seats and dual wireless phone chargers.

A huge 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital cluster dominate the dash, with an equally enormous heads-up display for good measure.  Everything is pretty logical and sensibly laid out, with a good amount of physical buttons present, although it is still quite screen heavy for a lot of functions.

It all feels impressively comfortable and incredibly roomy, with an undeniable air of proper luxury throughout.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Denza B5 Leopard like to drive?

The Denza B5 is a ladder-chassis SUV, and so it rather unsurprisingly drives like one, albeit a very polished and refined example. The adjustable hydraulic suspension provides a composed ride over large bumps, but it can also feel a bit brittle and jiggly over coarse, broken surfaces.

On a winding road, the big B5 holds its own surprisingly well. While body roll is present, it's very well-controlled, and the vehicle feels more agile than its size and weight would suggest. The tyres can be noisy when pushed, but there's no wayward behaviour.

The B5’s powertrain consists of a pair of electric motors driving the wheels, with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine charging the 39kWh battery to produce a total combined output of 400kW and 675Nm. While very powerful overall, its power delivery from a standing start is noticeably measured, almost to the point of being sluggish.

Pulling out into a gap in traffic requires some forethought, as there's a delay before the power truly kicks in, but when it does a bit higher up in the mid-to-high speed range, the B5 is genuinely fast - it does rocket to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, including that sluggish start, after all -  making passing manoeuvres effortless.

For on-road driving, the B5 offers up the standard Eco and Sport settings, but also a charmingly silly Race mode that unleashes full power.

Off-road, the B5 is impressively capable. With multiple off-road modes (including Sand, Mud, Rock, and Crawl) and two locking differentials, it handles challenging terrain with ease.

While I had already driven it in China on a mildly challenging quad bike off-road track (yes, really), here I took the B5 out to see how it handled what is arguably the most demanding form of off-roading in a pure powertrain sense - soft sand.

Here it also performed effortlessly, though the engine works hard to maintain the necessary power levels creating a constant drone, much like the Shark ute on sand, albeit with noticeably more grunt as a result.

For on-road driving, the B5 offers up the standard Eco and Sport settings, but also a charmingly silly Race mode that unleashes full power but, strangely, requires the vehicle to be in Park to activate. It also flashes up multiple warnings that this mode is for race track use only. Like taking your 3 tonne ladder chassis SUV to a race track is something you are actually going to do…

In terms of fuel economy, the B5 proved to be impressively frugal for such a large and heavy vehicle. Denza’s claim of 3.9l/100km is about as wildly optimistic as all such claims are for PHEVs, but surprisingly its more grounded figure of 10.9l/100km with less than 25 percent charge in the battery proved to be a tad pessimistic.

The B5 is a refined and superbly capable vehicle both on and off the road.

A week of mixed real world use saw us achieving a combined figure of 6.9l/100km, while heading onto the soft sand only jacked this up to 12.6 L/100km. Daily use is, of course, almost entirely petrol-free thanks to the B5’s generous 90km of all-electric range.

The B5 is also equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist systems, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. These systems can be hyperactive but, fortunately, are highly customisable, allowing the driver to silence or turn off most of the more intrusive alerts.

While the driver attention monitoring system can be particularly annoying, especially when wearing sunglasses, its audible warnings can be disabled, and stay silent even when you restart the vehicle.

All up, the B5 is a refined and superbly capable vehicle both on and off the road. You do get used to the sluggish off-the-line performance (and it is arguably an advantage in off-road situations), but it is really the only minor blemish in an otherwise extremely polished and satisfying experience.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Denza B5 Leopard's warranty and servicing situation?

The Denza B5 comes with a comprehensive warranty package, covering the vehicle for 6 years/150,000km, with an 8-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery. It also includes 3 years of roadside assistance.

On the whole: what do we think of the Denza B5 Leopard?

The Denza B5 is a deeply impressive luxury SUV. It successfully combines the rugged, off-road capability of a traditional ladder-chassis 4x4 with a level of interior luxury, technology, and refinement that punches well above even its $96,900 price tag.

While its on-road ride has a slightly brittle edge and its off-the-line acceleration is somewhat lethargic, these are minor complaints in an otherwise excellent package.

It offers surprising agility, potent mid-range performance, and impressive fuel economy for its class, and those seeking a genuinely capable and luxurious family SUV that stands out from the crowd, the Denza B5 is a compelling and high-value proposition that feels like a car costing considerably more.

Denza B5 Leopard FAQs

What kind of car is the Denza B5 Leopard?

A large 5-seat luxury 4X4 SUV

Does the Denza B5 Leopard have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes, it uses a range-extender style PHEV powertrain.

What’s the fuel economy of the Denza B5 Leopard?

Denza claims a WLTP figure of 3.9l/100km, but real world use sees it anywhere between zero and 7 or 8.0l/100km. Harder off-road work gets it up to around 12.

Is the Denza B5 Leopard safe? 

The B5 scores a full 5 Star safety rating from ANCAP and packs seven airbags throughout its cabin.

What safety and assistance features does the Denza B5 Leopard have?

What are the Denza B5 Leopard's main rivals?

• Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX Limited ($107,490): more off road ability, but well down on luxury and refinement.
• Ford Everest Platinum ($93,490): traditional diesel V6 truck, likewise down on luxury and spec.
• Lexus LX 500d Limited ($191,900): larger, but closer in terms of luxury and spec. Almost twice the price.
• Land Rover Defender S ($139,900): more off-road cred and as refined, but well down on tech.
• BYD Shark 6 Premium ($68,990): twins under the skin, but less bling and a big tray out the back.