Denza Bao 5DenzaThe Denza Bao 5 is a large, rugged plug-in hybrid SUV with the Land Rover Defender firmly in its sights. It has four-wheel drive, serious off-road hardware, more than 500 PS, and a party trick that lets it turn on the spot.It also comes from a brand you may not have heard of yet.Denza is the premium, technology-focused marque backed by Chinese automotive giant BYD, and the Bao 5 is one of its first major steps into the UK market. With prices starting from £69,500, it is going up against some seriously established names, including the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.AdvertisementAdvertisementOn paper, at least, the Denza Bao 5 has plenty going for it.Denza Bao 5 designThere is little chance of mistaking the Bao 5 for a conventional family SUV. At 4.89 metres long, it has a square, upright stance and chunky proportions that give it a distinctly off-road-focused appearance.The front end is particularly imposing, with twin LED headlights flanking a broad grille and a substantial-looking skid plate beneath the bumper. Body-coloured wheel arches and 20-inch alloy wheels give the top-spec Ultimate model an imposing road presence, while the side profile has more than a hint of the Land Rover Defender.Denza Bao 5At the rear, meanwhile, the side-hinged tailgate and boxy shape create a look that is perhaps closer to the old-school Hummer H3 than the latest generation of luxury SUVs.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Vivid Yellow paintwork fitted to my test car is also difficult to ignore. It is closer to gold than bright yellow, but it certainly ensures the Bao 5 will stand out in a crowded car park.Denza Bao 5 interior and technologyInside, the Bao 5 combines a chunky, utilitarian design with the sort of technology you would expect from a modern premium SUV.The dashboard houses a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 50-inch head-up display. There is also a 12.3-inch screen for the front passenger, while an 18-speaker Devialet sound system is fitted to the entry-level Elegance.Thankfully, Denza has not followed the trend of putting every function behind a touchscreen. There is a useful selection of physical controls, making it easier to adjust key functions without taking your eyes off the road.Denza Bao 5The five-seat cabin is spacious, too. Rear passengers benefit from generous legroom and plenty of headroom, while heated rear seats are standard across the range. Up front, the seats are comfortable and supportive, with the Ultimate adding ventilation and massage functions.AdvertisementAdvertisementBoot space is a claimed 475 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to more than 1,000 litres with them folded. The large, square load area has a flat, lipless floor, although the 60:40 split-folding rear bench does not fold completely flat.The Ultimate model also comes with a 4.5-litre fridge between the front seats. It is a fun feature, though it replaces some useful central storage.Driving the Denza Bao 5It's powered by a plug-in hybrid system combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors.The petrol engine produces 150PS, while the front electric motor makes 272PS and the rear motor develops 387PS. Combined output is 544PS and 561lb-ft of torque, giving the Bao 5 a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere is plenty of performance available, particularly when accelerating from 30 to 70mph. In this situation, the Bao 5 feels impressively punchy and is certainly capable of keeping pace with considerably more expensive rivals.Denza Bao 5However, it does not always feel as rapid as the numbers suggest. There is a slight hesitation when you initially press the accelerator, while the claimed 4.8-second sprint to 62mph feels optimistic from behind the wheel.The 1.5-litre engine itself is surprisingly refined. It remains quiet and smooth during everyday driving and only becomes noticeably busy when working hard to provide additional power or replenish the battery.Denza Bao 5 range and chargingThe Bao 5 uses a 31.8kWh battery, giving it an official electric-only range of up to 56 miles. Denza claims a total driving range of up to 519 miles when the petrol engine is taken into account.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe battery can accept up to 100kW of DC charging, which is a respectable figure for a plug-in hybrid and faster than some pure-electric cars can manage. Denza also claims up to 68.9mpg, although the official figure should be treated with caution. Once the battery is depleted, economy is expected to fall to around 26mpg.With CO2 emissions of 30g/km, the Bao 5 falls into the 10% Benefit-in-Kind tax band. That puts it in a similar company to plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport.Denza Bao 5 off-road capabilityThe Bao 5 is built on BYD's DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) Super Hybrid Platform, which gives it four-wheel drive, locking differentials and double-wishbone suspension.Ground clearance ranges from 220mm to 310mm, depending on specification, while the optional DiSus-P intelligent hydraulic suspension system increases its wading ability to 790mm. It can also tow up to 2.5 tonnes.Denza Bao 5I've yet to properly test the Bao 5 off-road, as the drive took place at the Goodwood Motor Circuit rather than on a muddy trail. However, the hardware suggests this is more than a lifestyle SUV with a rugged appearance.AdvertisementAdvertisementPerhaps the Bao 5's most unusual feature is its 'tank turn' function. By braking the inside wheels while driving the outside wheels forwards, the system allows the SUV to rotate through 360 degrees on the spot. It could prove genuinely useful on tight off-road trails, although repeatedly performing tank turns is unlikely to do much for your tyres.Denza Bao 5 price and specificationThe £69,500 Elegance comes with 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging and the Devialet sound system.The £78,880 Ultimate tested here adds 20-inch wheels, electronically folding side steps, the 4.5-litre fridge, massaging front seats, ventilated rear seats, a digital rear-view mirror and Denza's DiSus-P hydraulic suspension.The Bao 5 is therefore not a cheap SUV, particularly for a relatively new name in the UK market. However, its generous equipment list and substantial technology content could help it stand out against established premium rivals.Denza Bao 5 verdictIt is too early to say whether the Denza Bao 5 can genuinely take on the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly as I've yet to test its off-road capabilities.AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, this first taste is encouraging. The Bao 5 feels spacious, well-equipped and impressively refined, while its hybrid powertrain delivers strong mid-range performance and a useful electric-only range.Denza Bao 5The ride is less convincing, with the suspension becoming fidgety over potholes and drain covers, and noticeable body roll through corners. The hybrid system also fails to deliver the explosive performance its headline figures promise.Even so, the Denza Bao 5 is an intriguing new entrant to the UK's rugged SUV market. With its bold design, clever technology, serious off-road hardware and unusual tank-turn function, it certainly has enough character to stand apart from the established competition.The real test will come when UK customers can get behind the wheel. Orders are expected to open in autumn, with first deliveries due in late 2026 or early 2027.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis article was originally published on Forbes.com
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