2026 Denza Z9 GT Reviews

Denza is a premium sub-brand of BYD and the Denza B5 is best thought of as the BYD Shark 6’s posher, tougher cousin.Where the Shark 6 is a thoroughly competent all-wheel drive ute, well suited to tackling light to moderate off-roading, the B5 is a 4WD wagon with a low-range gear-set on the rear axle and diff locks front and rear.Those stark mechanical differences, as well as a sharply-calibrated off-road traction control system, set the two apart in terms of efficacy in off-road scenarios.But that doesn’t mean the Shark 6 is woeful off-road – it’s not – it’s simply that the B5 is much better.As mentioned, the Denza B5 is a luxury 4WD wagon with 16 drive modes, a low-range gear-set, and twin lockers.The B5 shares the same DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) body-on-frame platform as the Shark 6 and the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system paired with dual electric motors, but the B5 is more powerful (425kW/760Nm) compared to the Shark 6 (321kW/650Nm). Note: The updated Shark 6 will have a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and dual electric motors, claimed to deliver total outputs of 350kW and 700Nm.Those aforementioned mechanical differences – low-range gearing and diff locks (front and rear) on the B5 – make a world of difference when it comes to off-roading and that’s where the B5 has it well and truly over the Shark 6.The Shark 6 doesn’t have 4WD, high- or low-range gearing, or diff-locks. It doesn’t even have a driveshaft connecting the rear wheels.Core differences between the Denza B5 and the BYD Shark 6?The Shark is essentially an all-wheel drive SUV whose off-road performance hinges on electronic traction control. It does not have low- or high-range 4WD and it does not have any locking differentials.It has a single-speed reduction gear/dedicated hybrid transmission (which enables electric-only driving and hybrid operation, switching between modes based on throttle demand and battery level).It also has an all-wheel drive system (split between the front and rear) and Drive modes include Eco, Normal and Sport) and Terrain modes include Sand, Snow, Mud and Mountain.In theory, single-speed reduction gears and off-road traction control systems should be able to somewhat replicate the efficacy of high- and low-range 4WD systems in light to moderate off-roading. In the real world that’s often not the case at all. A single-speed reduction gear approach in a 4WD is mechanically constrained in how much it can do and off-road traction control systems can be slow to act, clunky in application, and not up to the challenges asked of it.But the Shark 6 is effective off-road, as long as it’s driven within the parameters of its capabilities: light to moderate off-road conditions — that is, well-maintained dirt tracks in dry weather; do not take on any ‘4WD/high ground clearance only' tracks, prolonged sand-driving or rock-crawling.The Denza B5 Leopard has a low-range gear-set on its rear axle, and front and rear diff locks. It also has electronic torque vectoring at the front, and well-calibrated off-road traction control.This plug-in hybrid optimises a combination of driver-assist technology – including 16 drive modes with many of those designed for off-road scenarios – and with nicely dialled-in off-road traction control and mechanical diff locks on-board it is formidable in most off-road situations.In action, all of those modes adjust vehicle systems, throttle, and engine output to give the driver the best chance possible of getting safely through every off-road challenge.The Denza is better suited to challenging 4WDing than the Shark 6.Significant flaws in the first-phase Shark 6’s adventure potential include its lack of 4WD gearing and diff locks, and its below-par 2500kg towing capacity.The updated Shark 6 should be getting, at the least, a suspension upgrade and a full-blown software update — that delivers an off-road traction control system capable of replicating as closely as possible the workings of low-range gearing and diff locks.Alas, it’s not getting those things.However, it will get a gutsier 2.0-litre engine (with outputs of 350kW/700Nm, compared to the current 1.5-litre engine, with outputs of 321kW/650Nm) and a towing upgrade to 3500kg.So, that’s something.The Shark 6 was the best-selling PHEV in 2025, and it continues to sell well. Its core market is likely those who don’t want a hard-core 4WD but rather a vehicle that, as standard, is very effective in light to moderate off-roading and works as a comfortable (for a ute) daily driver.And, if that’s the case, it excels.And it can be easily improved.If you already own a BYD Shark 6 and you want to improve its off-road performance, replace the standard tyres – Continental CrossContact All Terrain (265/65R18) – with a set of more aggressive all-terrains. Hey, bloody presto! You’ve instantly made this light-duty AWD better.Ultimately, the Denza B5 is the better option if challenging off-road adventures are your goal – it’s premium-plush, sure, but it’s also capable of much more in the dirt than the BYD Shark 6.The extra cash you’ll spend buying a B5 ($74,990*, excluding on-road costs, for the base-spec variant) rather than a Shark ($57,990*, excluding on-road costs) equates to greater peace of mind if you’re heading out bush or along a (legally drivable) beach. (* Price correct at time of writing.)

The chairman and founder of BYD, Wang Chufu, has reportedly told Chinese media battery supply at the surging automaker has become “tight” as it rolls out several new models and initiatives.As reported by Chinese outlet IT Home, Chufu told media at a YangWang business research conference that battery supply is currently “tight” as the company releases several new models across its range of brands.This is particularly due to the company releasing a range of ultra-fast-charging newcomers in China using the company’s 'flash charging' technology. These models have proven popular with buyers and are attracting massive pre-order lists.The company’s incoming Great Tang flagship SUV with flash charging tech, for example, attracted 100,000 orders in the Chinese domestic market during its recent pre-sale phase, adding to demand for the next-generation Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) and just-updated Denza N9 with flash charging. As a result, Chinese media is reporting deliveries of some new cars will be delayed as pre-orders exceed BYD’s capabilities to produce the second-generation version of its signature ‘Blade’ battery.On top of demand for the cars themselves, BYD is also needing to supply batteries for the roll-out of its new-generation flash charging pylons, which sidestep the limitations of the power grid by using a buffer battery with ultra fast output capabilities.The pylons charge the ultra-fast battery, which can then output the massive speeds required to meet BYD’s flash charging claims.The Great Tang, for example, can charge from 10 - 80 per cent in as fast as nine minutes despite wielding an enormous 130.15kWh battery pack granting it up to 950km of range according to the more lenient CLTC measuring standard in rear-wheel drive form.Chinese media is estimating BYD has booked 140,000 orders for models equipped with flash charging tech. It has rolled out nearly 6000 flash charging stations, and plans to have 20,000 online before the end of the year, according to CarNewsChina, each with its own buffer battery.Speaking to CarsGuide though, BYD Australia spokesperson Paul Ellis said the brand wasn’t anticipating any waitlists or delays on locally-delivered vehicles.“Quite the opposite. We’ve got 30,000 cars coming in Q2,” he said, adding the usual average wait times for other brands weren’t acceptable for the Chinese upstart.“Anything up to 12 weeks is acceptable, but for us that’s too late, we’re talking a handful of weeks, single digits,” Ellis said.The brand just added a dedicated ship for delivering new cars to Australia the BYD Zhengzhou which in its first voyage will carry nearly 5000 new BYD and Denza cars to our market.However, Australia is yet to receive any cars with the particularly supply constrained second-generation Blate battery tech.The first model to get that will be the Z9 GT arriving in the third quarter of 2026. Ellis told CarsGuide there will be ample supply of the niche sports GT when it arrives.BYD also plans to enter the charging infrastructure game with the aforementioned flash charging stations before the end of the year. The first will arrive in Q4 in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Denza dealerships, with a view to expand to stand-alone sites in the future like those operated by Tesla.The news comes as BYD continues to leap up the sales charts, not just in Australia, but in other export markets around the world.Thus far in 2026, BYD has more than doubled its sales (up 110.8 per cent year-on-year), amassing 25,243 registrations locally, ranking second ahead of Kia and Hyundai and behind only Toyota for the month of April. Year-to-date, the Chinese challenger brand is now fifth in the Australian market, as it forges toward its goal of being top-three in our market before the end of 2026. It is only a few hundred sales from eclipsing Ford, but has several thousand to go to challenge Kia or Mazda in third and second place, respectively.

BYD is about to deploy the ace up its sleeve.The Chinese behemoth recently confirmed it would be building its own Flash charging network in Australia, with the first sites at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide ready to go at the end of the year.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of juice to electric cars and replenishing batteries from 0 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.That’s almost four times the power of the most powerful electric charger in Australia, with the first of Ampcharge’s 400kW pylons recently installed at Sydney’s Eastern Creek and Evie's 400kW chargers also being installed in Sutton Forest between Sydney and Canberra.BYD said it would be building the network in major cities, not rural areas.Now BYD — and its Denza sub-brand vehicles — are rolling out flash charging compatible versions of popular models in China.The latest to break cover overseas is flash charging compatible versions of the Denza B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid 4WDs. These models are known as the Fangchengbao B5 and B8 in China.This would give the Chinese brand a big advantage over conventional 4WDs such as the Toyota LandCruiser, incoming Nissan Y63 Patrol and new Mitsubishi Pajero.The plan is for BYD and Denza branded models to all get flash charging capabilities when they are available for Australia. Denza Australia wouldn't confirm when that would be for the B5 and B8.These updated models also come with bigger batteries, according to Chinese reports.The pair gain a new circa-46kWh battery that can help deliver a total driving range of close to 1400km when the battery and fuel tank are drained.More powerful electric motors, one front and one rear, boost combined power to 505kW/760Nkm for the B5 and 550kW/760Nm for the B8.Styling remains the same, with the rugged boxy shape staying put. Chinese models gain a range of Lidar tech that will assist autonomous driving, but this upgrade is unlikely for Australia where the tech isn’t as desirable.The rollout of ultra fast charging vehicles would remove the final hurdle for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in Australia.The ability to quickly charge makes travelling around this vast nation less of a mental barrier for many motorists considering making the switch. 

Denza, BYD's premium sub-brand, has brought its plush B5 PHEV to Australia. The top-spec B5 Leopard is a luxury body-on-frame 4WD wagon with five seats, 16 drive modes, a low-range gear-set on the rear axle, and front and rear diff locks. It has a packed standard features list, a premium-style interior, about 100km of electric-only driving range, and real off-road adventure potential.

BYD's tough looking family SUV could be destined for Australia.The Titanium 7 or Ti7 is a similar size to the Toyota Prado, but its fully-electric set-up means it sits in a largely untapped space of the market. It is from BYD's FangChengBao sub-brand, which is sold wearing Denza badges locally, and spawned the B5 and B8 4WDs.There are also plug-in hybrid versions of the Ti7, which have a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with either single or dual electric motors.This would be a more conventional rival to GWM Tank 300, which has been a popular choice in the Aussie market. The Tank 300 features a more rugged ladder frame chassis as opposed to the lifestyle-focused monocoque chassis on BYD’s example. It is expected this car would appear under the Denza sub-brand in Australia, following the launch of its B5 and B8 off-roaders recently.The Ti7 sits in between the B5 and the B8 in size, measuring at 4999mm long, 1995mm wide and 1865mm tall. Its wheelbase is 2920mm.Adding further fuel to the fire is the fact BYD has trademarked ‘Ti7’ Down Under, but there is no official news yet on its arrival. BYD Australia said the car is not currently on the brand's radar.The Ti7 comes in two variants which are a single electric motor rear-wheel drive, producing 300kW and a dual electric motor all-wheel drive, producing 515kW.Both models are fitted with a 106kWh battery, with the RWD offering 755km of driving range, while the AWD has 675km, both according to more generous CLTC testing standards. On the inside, there is a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver display, along with a head-up display spanning 26.0-inches along the windscreen. It has a starting price of 220,000 yuan, which is roughly $45,000, but expect a bump on that figure if it ever makes its way to Australia. 

BYD's off-roader and SUV brand FangChengBao, whose vehicles are badged Denza in Australia, has broken its own ‘off-roaders and SUVs’ mould with the unveiling of a collection of striking new models on the opening day of this year’s Beijing motor show.The Formula X Coupe, a low-set, carbon-tubbed, aero-influenced sports car with strong hints of Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren around its exterior.The minimalist cockpit-style interior seats two with scissor doors a tip of the hat to Lamborghini. Production launch is scheduled for 2027.Alongside the X Coupe, the performance-focused Formula Jaguar S is offered in sedan and GT shooting brake, while the larger SL sedan leans more into a luxury specification. All three measure more than 5.0 metres end-to-end with a wheelbase in excess of 3.0m.Provisional timing for the Formula Jaguar S’s Chinese domestic market launch is the third quarter of this year.And then, the Formula Leopard S is a sleek, fastback-style sedan featuring partially-concealed door handles and dramatic 21-inch rims.Also at the show is the Denza Z, a sleek pure-electric 2+2 GT to be offered in hardtop, convertible and ‘track’ form.With combined output exceeding 745kW (1000hp) and claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in under two seconds it is scheduled to make its dynamic debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed this July.With design development led by former Alfa, Audi and Lamborghini styling guru Wolfgang Egger, the Denza Z features steer-by-wire, magnetic adaptive suspension and all-wheel drive.In launching the car, Denza has pledged a Nürburgring lap record campaign with a time possibly already recorded given prototypes were spotted testing at the famous German circuit regularly in 2025.

There’s a huge Chinese carmaker cage fight going on right now between 22 different brands in Australia and not all will survive, but knowing what we know here’s five we think will beat the others to become Aussie favourites for a long time.Before we start, let's have a few ground rules — Chinese brands such as MG, GWM and LDV aren’t included in this because they are already established brands with large dealer networks and their future in Australia is almost certainly assured.The brands we’re really focussing on here are the more recent arrivals who have made massive inroads in a relatively short period of time.Here’s the big five in no particular order.Chinese superstar brand BYD knew its way into Aussie hearts when it arrived in 2022 quickly winning us over with electric SUVs such as the small Atto 3 and mid-size Sealon 7, and the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute.BYD has gone from battery maker to world’s biggest electric car producer and continues to impress by offering outstanding EVs at low prices.March saw BYD entering the top 3 best-selling car brands in Australia and is now a major threat to established car makers such as Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan.There is no doubt that as BYD's lineup grows and its presence solidifies here, the company will be around in Australia for a long time to come.Geely is a giant — it makes three million cars a year globally — and it brought that enormous manufacturing firepower to Australia in 2025 and launched its EX5 mid-sized SUV.Slow to arrive, Geely appears to be taking its time, but has since launched the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV and has the small electric EX2 SUV coming soon.Geely may be gigantic but it needs to hurry up, because rival Chinese brands appear to be throwing everything they have into our market.  Speaking of throwing everything it has into our market, Chery has made the comeback of all comebacks launching five models since returning to Australia in 2023 after an eight-year hiatus.The Tiggo 4 small hybrid SUV is Chery's biggest selling model but the brand will soon launch its off-road diesel hybrid ute soon, which could become the brand's most successful vehicle and potentially beating the Ford Ranger at its own game.The most impressive part of Chery’s comeback has been the multitude of sub-brands it’s in the process of bringing here such as Jaecoo, Jetour, Lepas and now Freelander.Zeekr is owned by Geely, but we’re singling it out here because it’s seriously outperforming its parent company in Australia.Zeekr arrived here in 2025 with its little X SUV and then the 009 people mover, but it wasn’t until it launched the mid-size 7X SUV that the brand took off. The 7X is now the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Australia.Coming soon from Zeekr will be the 8X and 9X plug-in hybrid SUVs. Watch this space, we're expecting big things. Denza is BYD’s high-performance and luxury sub-brand and despite only setting up shop here in 2025 has launched strongly with the B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid off road SUVs.Denza isn’t just doing off-road luxury vehicles it also has the D9 people mover and the upcoming Z9 GT - an electric wagon with a range of 1000km and monstrous power and speed.Denza may not outsell BYD but it will offer a more premium and sporty alternative for buyers also in the market for a Zeekr.  

Denza says its incoming EV tech and charging infrastructure is so good, they will perform as well, if not better, than the brand's DM-i plug-in hybrid technology.In fact, Denza's local Chief Operating Officer, Mark Harland, says charging speeds and total range offered has them thinking twice about importing both PHEV and EV versions of certain models, given the latter delivers similar real-world range and refuelling, and much better performance.Speaking about the brand's incoming Z9 GT, which is offered as both a pure EV and a plug-in hybrid internationally, but will only be offered in electric guise in Australia, Mr Harland said that the brand's fast-charging EVs did the same job as a PHEV."The reason that we're not bringing the DM (PHEV) right now is, if we can offer flash charging and 800 kilometres of range, you're really getting to the point where it's the same kind of range as a DM, and then you're just running a pure EV system," he says."So I can charge it in nine minutes and go over 800 kilometres. It starts to lessen the impact of having a DM. But we're gonna watch, yeah, and if the demand is there, what I know is I can make a call, and I can get supply here pretty damn quick."What Mr Harland is referring to is the brand's 'flash charging', which is now confirmed to begin rolling out in Australia by the end of the year. The technology threatens to change the EV game in our market, effectively tripling the maximum charging speeds currently offered here.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of DC charging – enough to take a big battery from empty to effectively full in nine minutes.In the Z9 GT, that means adding 500km of range in about five minutes, and almost fully replenishing its 820km range in less than 10 minutes.The network is expected to be small at first, focusing on metropolitan areas. Central to the idea is to install a big enough central battery to deliver the charge, so that vehicles are not drawing off the grid."It’s something we think can be a real game-changer to the industry, when someone can go for 400 or 500kms in the same time you would fill up at a bowser. They're doing the testing in China to understand the impact on the grid, but they want to back it with a battery, so you’re not drawing off the grid," Mr Harland has previously told CarsGuide. 

A tsunami of electric cars is headed our way.General Manager BYD Asia Pacific Mr Liu Xueliang said 30,000 BYD and Denza vehicles are on the way to our shores in May and June to feed rampaging sales.That’s more than half the vehicles BYD sold in 2025 and almost double what they have sold in the first three months of this year.The Chinese brand is looking to capitalise on the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, which is driving Aussies in increasing numbers to buy an EV or plug-in hybrid — two vehicles types BYD has in big numbers.Liu said it was important that the company meets the growing demand and is able to get customers as soon as they place an order.If BYD manages to move those vehicles in the next few months it would have beat its sales for 2025, and it would be the second biggest selling brand in Australia and nipping at the heels of the previously-thought-untouchable Toyota.Mr Liu also said the company is aware fuel rationing might be happening in the future. It would be prioritising getting vehicles to essential workers such as doctors, firefighters and others in the coming months.BYD now has the model range to host those kind of sales figures with the brand launching seven new models in the past six months.These include the BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 small electric cars alongside the plug-in hybrid Sealion 5 compact SUV, Sealion 8 seven-seat SUV, Seal 6 mid-size sedan and wagon and Denza B5 and B8 4WDs.Early signs of Aussies clambering for BYD and Denzas in 2026 was evident in the March sales figures.The Chinese automaker sold 7217 vehicles in the past month as Australians scrambled to get their hands on plug-in hybrids and electric cars as fuel prices soared.That is a mammoth one month total which beat Ford (7149), Mazda (7156) and Hyundai (6979). Only Toyota (16,574) and Kia (7320) did better than BYD.BYD sales increased by 50 per cent compared to March last year and are up 100 per cent for the year.For the full year, BYD's sales were already up 156 per cent by the end of 2025.

This Chinese brand’s latest announcement is a game-changer.BYD’s luxury arm, Denza, has just announced it would be building its own Flash charging network in Australia, with the first sites at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide ready to go at the end of the year.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of juice to electric cars and replenishing batteries from 0 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.That’s almost four times the power of the most powerful electric charger in Australia, with the first of Ampcharger’s 400kW pylons recently installed at Sydney’s Eastern Creek.The writing was on the wall for the ultra fast charging network coming to Australia with Denza’s local boss Mark Harland previously telling CarsGuide the brand was very interested in bringing it here.The company had also trademarked the Flash branding in Australia.BYD said it would be building the network in major cities, not rural areas.Denza’s coming Z9 GT performance car will be the first vehicle to use the full capacity of the chargers.Denza Australia claims the Z9 GT has a driving range of about 820km — according to the more lenient CLTC testing regime — so the charger could add about 400km of driving range in five minutes.There are a growing number of BYD products in China that can take advantage of these chargers, which should trickle into Australia as the network comes online in the future.Ultra fast charging is the new battleground for Chinese electric carmakers, with Geely also preparing to roll out megawatt charging in China.Geely’s sub-brand Zeekr revealed its new charger recently, with peak charging power registered at 1100kW and maintaining more than 500kW after reaching 80 per cent charge.The brand’s official testing data reveals it can charge a vehicle from 10 to 97 per cent in under nine minutes. Charging from 10-80 per cent takes a little over five minutes, while 10-70 per cent charges are under five minutes.That makes it slightly faster than the BYD Flash chargers, but there is no word on if they will come to Australia in the near future.For now BYD and Denza are the charging kings of Oz.