Denza has confirmed that UK order books will open for its Bao 5 off-roader in a few weeks, with deliveries confirmed by the end of 2026.
Officially launched at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Bao 5 has the likes of the Land-Rover Defender, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Ineos Grenadier firmly in its crosshairs.
Denza, described as a “premium- technology-oriented automotive brand” by parent company BYD, prices the Bao from £69,500 for the entry-level Elegance trim and £78,880 for the range-topping Ultimate.
Battery, range, and performance
The Bao is driven by BYD’s clever plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology, which pairs a 1.5-litre, 148bhp turbocharged petrol engine with a 31.8kWh BYD ‘Blade’ battery and an electric motor on each axle. This translates into a total power output of 536bhp and 567 pound-feet of torque.
Despite weighing anything from 2,940 kilograms to 3,035kg depending on trim level, the Bao’s beefy powertrain promises a 0-62 mph time of between 4.8 and 5 seconds. Top speed is 112mph.
According to Denza, the Bao 5 can achieve up to 56 miles of electric-only driving, and the battery can be topped up from 30-80% in just 16 minutes with a 100kW charger. Using a 11kW homebox, a 15-100% charge is achievable in three hours.
Denza Bao 5 interior and practicality
Unsurprisingly, the Denza Bao 5’s interior is a screen-heavy affair, with a combined total of three – one for the driver, one for the passenger, and one in the middle.
The car’s 15.6-inch infotainment system runs on the highly regarded Google built-in system. An in-built karaoke function and an 18-speaker sound system developed by French firm Devialet are also standard.
The centre console comes fitted with a refrigerator, four USB-C sockets, and front massaging seats. It is, however, worth noting that Ultimate versions of the Denza Bao 5 come with two wireless smartphone chargers.
Boot capacity for the Denza Bao 5 is 475 litres with the rear seats in place, and 1,096 litres with them folded. Top-tier cars come with heated and ventilated front and rear seats and a foldable front passenger seat that can act as an extended footrest. The Ultimate also gets Nappa-grade leather in place of the Elegance’s ‘regular’ swathes of cow.
Denza offers the Bao 5 in five exterior colours – Shadow Black, Snowy White, Pinnacle Grey, Wagner Glacier Blue, Dolomite Green, Tarim Polar Gold, or a matte-effect Mineral Purple. Inside, the cabin can be trimmed in Eclipse Blue, Shoal Green, or Tarim Desert Beige.
Denza Bao 5 tech and off-road chops
The Denza Bao 5 runs on BYD’s DMO (Dual-Mode Off-road) ladder-frame chassis à la Land Cruiser. However, the Chinese off-roader’s underpinnings are strengthened by front and rear electronic differential locks, which work alongside a central torque distribution that adapts to the road surface 30 times quicker than a mechanical setup.
A double-wishbone suspension is standard, while the Ultimate trim gets BYD’s DiSus-P body control setup, which debuted on its Z9 GT. The system monitors steering angle, pedal position, tyre pressure, and tyre temperatures.
DiSus-P is also paired with a hydraulic suspension system that can reduce body roll by adjusting its configuration from behind the wheel. It is also capable of withstanding a drop of up to 1.5 metres. With the system active, the Bao 5’s ground clearance reaches up to 310mm (20mm more than the Defender), along with approach and departure angles of 39mm and 34mm respectively.
