Our initial fond impressions of the B8 only grew. After spending a week in the Denza B8 S6, one thing became clear: LandCruiser, Patrol, and anything made in the USA are in for a rough ride. Likewise, the luxobarges from the UK and Europe. And, the even more luxurious Yangwang U8 will follow the B5 and B8 in a one-two knockout blow.
We are force-fed an endless diet of towing spec, range requirements, angles of this and that, and the distance off the ground. Although that is important, only a few will ever find them relevant. But in this review, I want to expand on our quick review HERE and delve into the real reasons why the old masters are no longer the strokes of genius they once were. We’ll also go into the strengths and weaknesses, as well as breaking the myths around the old guard.
Denza B8 explores new technology from the ground up rather than merely patch in more and more computers to make mechanical things work better. This is seen nowhere more than the driveline itself, where the obvious comparison to LandCruiser and Prado becomes a stark choice between the old and the new.
Above: Denza B8 Could be the Best SUV on the Market
#denza #ElectricCars #phev #danzab8
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ABOVE: The Denza B8 Exterior and cabin.
Favourite things
The Fridge/Freezer/Oven Warmer. It isn’t huge, but accessible from the front or 2nd row seats, it is the most useful party trick in an SUV ever, unless you count the Leopard Turns.
The DM-O super hybrid offers plug-in EV range, a petrol engine to charge the battery, and a clever 1-speed hybrid drive.
Denza B8 DMO Engineering
The Denza B8’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) platform is a specialised plug-in hybrid system designed for heavy-duty 4×4 performance rather than just city and highway cruising. Although it can certainly do the latter, it can do things the Land Cruiser will never manage.
Hybrid Architecture
A longitudinal EHS (Electric Hybrid System) differs from other hybrid SUVs that use a gearbox to blend power by using high-torque electric motors as the primary drive source instead.
- Dual Motors: It features a motor on each axle, providing permanent electric four-wheel drive just as dual motor EVs do.
- The Engine’s Role: The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is a generator to charge the 36.8kWh Blade battery. But, at high speeds or under heavy load, it can connect directly to the wheels via a single-speed parallel drive to provide power. In other words, it is more a range-extended EV than either a hybrid or pure ICE-powered vehicle.
Off-Road Hardware
The B8 doesn’t need a traditional mechanical transfer case. Instead, off-road ability comes from:
- Simulated Low-Range: It uses a dedicated gearset on the rear axle as a torque multiplier for crawling. The front motor’s output is digitally managed to sync with the rear’s reduced gearing. Although some claim heat management is an issue for the battery, off-road tests show otherwise.
- Electronic Locking Diffs: As with traditional 4WD SUVs, electronic lockers on both the front and rear axles provide traction across the axle even when one of the wheels gets some air.
DiSus-P Hydraulic System
B8’s ability comes from DiSus-P Fully Active Hydraulic Suspension, instead of expensive and unreliable air suspension, the very thing that has failed us in both Land Rovers and other lux cruisers as they get a bit of age to them.
- Adjustable Height: It can raise the body to up to 310mm of ground clearance.
- Stiffness Control: Body roll and pitch are managed by adjusting hydraulic pressure at each corner, allowing front and rear double wishbone suspension to do its thing. Toyota’s live rear axle may have slightly better articulation but is far less capable on tarmac.
- Wading Depth: Because the electrical components and engine air intakes are sealed to a high standard, B8’s wading depth of 890mm is higher than LandCruiser’s 700mm. Although I would not want to wade that deep regardless of capability.
Specialised Drive Mode Party Tricks
There are several software-driven modes to amaze and amuse.
- Leopard Turn: Uses the motors to rotate the wheels in a way that minimises the turning circle on loose surfaces. You turn the front wheels, but instead of moving forward, you perform a circle with the rear axle as the centre pivot point.
- Creep Mode: Acts as an off-road cruise control, managing torque and braking automatically so the driver can focus entirely on steering through technical obstacles and scraping less paint off the doors.
It would be remiss not to mention the Yangwang U8, which has been confirmed for Australia. The B8 and the Yangwang U8 are siblings on the BYD family tree.
While the B8 is a rebadged version of the Fangchengbao Leopard 8, the U8 is the Range Rover-chasing ultra-luxury pinnacle of the group’s engineering aspirations. BYD Australia’s Mark Harland confirmed the U8 is on the list for a local debut, though it will likely ditch its current name to align with the rest of the local range. We can expect it to be the Denza B9 or B10 when it arrives late in 2026 or early 2027, as a $250,000 halo model to challenge the Range Rover and G-Wagon. Both the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz have been around a while, and neither feels as modern, and both have questionable reliability.
But we’re only just getting started.
Whereas the B8 uses a dual-motor DMO platform for deluxe touring and towing, its even posher sibling moves to an e⁴ quad-motor system with a ludicrous 880kW. This astounding hardware enables the Emergency Floating Mode, where the car can paddle through deep water at 3km/h if you exceed the 1,000mm wading depth. It is a level of tech-heavy over-engineering that the B8 doesn’t match, but by sharing the DiSus-P active hydraulic suspension, the B8 offers a portion of that flagship DNA for less than half the price.
BYD hinted that the B5 and B8 are to be the Trojan horse to get the market used to Denza before letting loose the dogs of doings.
Can you imagine driving a Rangie or Merc into a metre of frothing flood? Not on your sweet Nelly.
All 6 seats were comfortable and while I wouldn’t want to travel more than a few hours in the 3rd row, I could at a pinch. The question is, where would the luggage go?
We weren’t able to find a way to log into our Google accounts. The system is much easier to use when you do. The voice assistant is also better when logged into Google. As it was, it was unhelpful. The Denza B8 runs an Android Automotive OS (AAOS) that handles everything from climate to navigation. While the interface is easy, clean, and wonderful to navigate, early versions have proven glitchy. Users report occasional screen freezes and slow response times when toggling between apps no matter what brand the system is used in. Since the system controls nearly every cabin function, the pernickety software can make simple adjustments frustrating during a Sunday arvo drive.
Denza B8 Audio
The Denza B8 features a premium 18-speaker audio system developed in partnership with French luxury audio specialist Devialet. This setup has 800 watts of high-fidelity sound without distortion.
The system is solid for its price point. It benefits from B8’s extensive use of acoustic glass and sound-deadening materials, which create an already-Zen environment that allows the audio to remain clear even at lower volumes.
- Brand: Devialet
- Speakers: 18
- Total Power: 800W
- Layout: Placed across 6- or 7-seat cabin configurations to ensure an immersive experience for all rows.
So, if the Tonka Toy looks and Thunderbird cabin are not enough, the technology should get you over the line. Chinese models get an extra LCD screen on the passenger’s side dashboard and at least a little bit of me wants it here too.
Key Transmission and Powertrain Details
- Transmission Type: Single-speed automatic (DHT).
- System Type: DMO Super Hybrid (Plug-in Hybrid/PHEV).
- Power Distribution: Dual-motor 4×4 system.
- Performance: 425kW total power with 760Nm torque.
- Driving Experience: The system prioritises electric power, with the petrol engine acting as a generator or providing direct power at higher speeds.
The Denza B8 is a 3.3-tonne large SUV designed to compete with luxury 4x4s like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Range Rover.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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