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BYD’s new sub-$40K Toyota Prado rival: 2026 FangChengbao Tai 7 priced for China with up to 1300km total range
By Jack Quick · 10 Sep 2025
BYD’s Fangchengbao premium off-roader brand has detailed its latest SUV for China, the Tai 7, as deliveries commence.
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BYD's takedown plan: New Toyota LandCruiser rival, Ford Everest beater, Hyundai Kona competitor and more models the growing Chinese car brand needs | Analysis  
By Laura Berry · 06 Sep 2025
Three years ago almost nobody in Australia had even heard of BYD, but now the Chinese manufacturer is a top-five brand here, outselling big names Aussies used to flock to like Honda, Nissan and Subaru. All that now stands in its way is Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai. And all BYD has to do is add four new models to its range and it could leave those holdouts in its dust. But not just any models - these models.Rapid just doesn’t describe well enough just how fast BYD has grown in Australia. To go from zero sales in 2021 before it had arrived to selling 32,839 cars so far just in the first eight months of this year is overwhelming. Well, it has been for brands such as Nissan, Honda and Subaru, who haven’t sold more than 30,000. Even the big Europeans like Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW and Audi haven’t sold more than 20,000 this year. Hyundai doesn’t exactly have a comfortable lead either with 51,957 sales year to date, and neither does Kia with 55,554. Mazda might think it's safe with 63,208, but really only Toyota doesn’t have to panic yet with 163,491 until the start of September.Three or possibly four new models for BYD will easily reach 60,000 sales for the same period, catching Kia and Hyundai and possibly overtaking Mazda, too. But not just any models will do this, only the right ones will, but it's easy to see what they are from the sales data.Looking at the latest sales data from the first eight months of the year, it is clear what models BYD needs and it’s not more mid-sized SUVs, the brand has this covered with the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7, with the possibility of the Sealion 5 coming, too. BYD also has the big-selling Shark 6 4x4 ute. Having popular mid-sized SUVs and a ute are key ingredients for success in Australia as these are the largest-selling segments. Toyota is the king of this recipe with its HiLux ute and RAV4 SUV, and it’s why Kia has just launched its Tasman pick-up to help the Sportage SUV with the heavy lifting. But Toyota and Kia don’t just rely on these cars to succeed. BYD has such momentum and the attention of Australians now that if it places a model to rival Toyota and Kia in other key segments, it will gain ground. And it can absolutely do this - not only is the company financially secure, it has an excellent supply chain and production process, plus it has the models already made. First, and everybody can see this, BYD needs a large, off-road SUV, something that will rival the Toyota Prado. If BYD is able to make that happen, it could gain up to 20,000 sales a year. These are all very conservative numbers too, the potential for much bigger sales is there.After all, have you seen how many BYD Shark 6 utes are getting around with canopies? Stylish ones that make this hybrid 4x4 pick-up look like an SUV, similar to a Ford Everest or Toyota MU-X. Can you see where we’re going here? Yep, it’s going to happen. BYD’s answer to the Prado is its Denza B5. The B5 is a ladder-on-frame, large, off-road SUV that’s also a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and two electric motors producing a combined 505kW and 760Nm. That’s slated to arrive late this year or early 2026, albeit marketed under a separate Denza brand that is owned by BYD.Next is a small SUV. BYD has the Atto 3 but at 4.5m long, it's almost classed as a 'small' mid-sized SUV. So something smaller to rival the Hyundai Kona or Mazda CX-30 is needed. We won’t have to wait long because by the end of this year the BYD Atto 2 electric SUV will launch in Australia. At 4.3m long, the Atto 2 is the size of a Kona. A smaller SUV like this could bring in 15,000 extra sales for BYD each year.Finally, BYD needs to bring a light SUV here the size of Toyota's Yaris Cross - but fully electric like Hyundai’s Inster. Again, BYD already has this - it’s the Atto 1. BYD doesn’t plan to bring the tiny SUV here. If it does, it could pick up another 5000 sales a year.Essentially, though, BYD needs the large, off-road Prado rival and the small Kona rival to start really worrying the brands currently ahead of it in the sales charts, and these models - the Denza B5 and Atto 2 are coming. It’ll be interesting to see what BYD’s year-to-date sales are this time in 2026 - 50,000? Very likely, at least, this by the looks of it. 
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BYD’s Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser hybrid rival hits the road in Australia ahead of expected local launch in 2026
By Jack Quick · 29 Aug 2025
China’s BYD has been spied testing a right-hand drive version of the premium Denza B8 in Australia ahead of an expected local launch.Photos and short videos of this camouflaged prototype were uploaded to the BYD Denza B5 & B8 Australia Facebook group. It was parked on the side of the Pacific Highway in Brooklyn, New South Wales.A vehicle registration search confirms this car is a black Denza B8 “evaluation vehicle”.As previously reported, BYD is launching its Denza premium off-shoot brand in Australia before the end of 2025.The first Denza model to be offered locally is the B5 plug-in hybrid SUV, which is smaller than the three-row B8. It’s around the size of a Toyota Prado.At this stage the company hasn’t confirmed whether the B8 will join Denza’s Australian model line-up, but it’s believed there is a strong chance it’ll head our way.The B8, along with the B5, were also confirmed for a launch in Africa and the Middle East from the third quarter of 2025.Known in China as the Leopard 8 under the Fengchengbao off-road brand from BYD, the Denza B8 has a slightly different front grille design, along with Denza badging all around.CarsGuide got a chance to drive a left-hand drive Fengchengbao version earlier this year in China.Measuring in at 5195mm long, 1994mm wide and 1905mm tall with a 2920mm wheelbase, the B8 is a large three-row SUV that’s larger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and more on par with the likes of the Land Rover Defender 130.Power comes from a PHEV powertrain that includes a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors for total system outputs of 550kW and 760Nm. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds despite a kerb weight of 3.3 tonnes.The two electric motors are fed by a 36.8kWh ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that’s claimed to offer 100km of electric range, according to WLTP testing.All up there’s a claimed range 1200km, according to lenient CLTC testing.The Denza B8 is built on a body-on-frame chassis with double wishbone independent suspension that also features ‘DiSus-P’ air suspension.Ground clearance is 220mm in normal mode and increases to 310mm when lifted up. The B8 has a wading depth of up to 890mm, approach and departure angles of 34 and 35 degrees, respectively, as well as a low-speed four-wheel drive mode, three automatic diff locks and a long list of off-road modes.
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BYD’s new Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol smashing 4WD going global, as 2026 Denza B8 confirmed for export markets
By Jack Quick · 06 Aug 2025
China’s BYD has revealed its next luxurious SUV that will be offered in global markets outside of China.As reported by Car News China, the Denza B8 large plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV will be offered in Africa and the Middle East from the third quarter of 2025.It’ll be offered there alongside the Toyota Prado-rivalling Denza B5 PHEV SUV.Known domestically as the Leopard 8 under the Fengchengbao off-road brand from BYD, the Denza B8 has a slightly different front grille design, along with Denza badging all around.The Denza brand, which is a premium off-shoot from BYD, will launch locally by the end of 2025 with the B5.At this stage the company hasn’t confirmed whether the B8 will join Denza’s Australian model line-up, but it is believed there is a strong chance it'll head out way.CarsGuide got a chance to drive a left-hand drive Fengchengbao version earlier this year in China.Measuring in at 5195mm long, 1994mm wide and 1905mm tall with a 2920mm wheelbase, the B8 is a large three-row SUV that’s larger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and more on par with the likes of the Land Rover Defender 130.Power comes from a PHEV powertrain that includes a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors for total system outputs of 550kW and 760Nm. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds despite a kerb weight of 3.3 tonnes.The two electric motors are fed by a 36.8kWh ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that’s claimed to offer 100km of electric range, according to WLTP testing.All up there’s a claimed range 1200km, according to lenient CLTC testing.The Denza B8 is built on a body-on-frame chassis with double wishbone independent suspension that also features ‘DiSus-P’ air suspension.Ground clearance is 220mm in normal mode and increases to 310mm when lifted up. The B8 has a wading depth of up to 890mm, approach and departure angles of 34 and 35 degrees, respectively, as well as a low-speed four-wheel drive mode, three automatic diff locks and a long list of off-road modes.
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BYD's latest plug-in hybrid SUV firms as Toyota LandCruiser Prado rival with specs revealed ahead of Denza luxury brand's Australian launch
By Laura Berry · 23 Jun 2025
BYD’s luxury division Denza has revealed specifications for its new, large Ti7 plug-in hybrid SUV which will likely come to Australia when the brand launches here later this year.
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How much will Australians pay for a Chinese luxury car? BYD's premium brand is coming soon with its sights set on the Genesis GV70 or Lexus GX rival
By Tim Nicholson · 20 Jun 2025
As BYD prepares to roll out its Denza luxury brand, will Australian buyers be open to paying a premium for a high-end Chinese car?
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Like a modern-day Toyota FJ Cruiser: Why the iconic 2025 Mahindra Thar has been barred from Australia to take on the BYD Denza B5, Toyota LandCruiser Prado, Nissan Patrol and Jeep Wrangler
By Byron Mathioudakis · 15 Jun 2025
Mahindra has confirmed that the long-awaited Thar will not be sold in Australia in its current form. The rugged, body-on-frame wagon was expected to arrive sometime this year in traditional three-door and extended-body five-door wagon guises.
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BYD's latest off-road weapon revealed: New family friendly off-road capable SUV to join the 2026 Denza B5 in China as an alternative to GWM Tank 300 or Chery's Jetour range
By Dom Tripolone · 13 Jun 2025
BYD is on an absolute tear, revealing new models at break-neck speed. The latest vehicle is from its FangChengBao (FCB) range, which will be branded Denza in Australia.
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