Denza’s Bao 5 has landed in the UK, and it’s aimed squarely at Land Rover Defender buyers. The rugged SUV, already sold in China under the Fangchengbao name, starts at £69,500 ($93,200) for the Elegance trim and £78,880 ($105,800) for the Ultimate. That puts it right on top of the Defender 110 plug-in hybrid, which opens at £72,000. For a badge most UK buyers have never heard of, it’s a gamble.
Chinese brands typically crack new markets by undercutting everyone.
Denza is asking Defender money. The Bao 5 also lines up against the Toyota Land Cruiser, Ineos Grenadier, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLE. It rides on a body-on-frame platform shared with the BYD Shark 6 and the larger Denza 8.
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Both trims use the same plug-in hybrid setup.
A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder sits longitudinally, which Denza claims is a first for any plug-in hybrid. That engine makes 148 hp and 177 lb-ft. Two electric motors handle the heavy lifting: the front axle delivers 268 hp and 266 lb-ft, while the rear motor puts down 383 hp and 295 lb-ft. Combined system output is 536 hp and 561 lb-ft. The Elegance version hits 62 mph in 4.8 seconds; the Ultimate takes 5.0 seconds. A 31.8 kWh battery pack gives 56 miles of all-electric range, and combined range with the combustion engine reaches 537 miles. Top speed is capped at 112 mph. DC charging tops out at 100 kW, going from 30 to 80 percent in 16 minutes. AC charging at 11 kW takes a little over three hours for a full fill.
Proper Off-Road Kit
The off-roader comes with front and rear electronic locking differentials, plus a locking center diff. A double-wishbone suspension sits at both ends, and the DiSus-P body-control system adjusts damping continuously, offering up to 5.5 inches of ride-height adjustment. Denza says the central torque distribution reacts 30 times faster than a mechanical arrangement. With the suspension raised, ground clearance climbs to 310 mm — nearly 20 mm more than a Land Rover Defender. Approach and departure angles sharpen to 39 and 34 degrees.
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Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, and an optional screen for the front passenger. Ultimate versions get heated and ventilated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, and a cooled and heated storage compartment. That compartment, on the center console next to an electrically adjustable cup holder, holds eight soda bottles. It chills to between -6°C and 15°C or warms contents to 35 to 50°C, keeps a power-off memory, and can be triggered through the Denza app. The app also shares a digital key for locking, unlocking, and starting. An NFC key works without a phone signal and even when the handset is nearly dead.
The SUV is a lot of hardware for the money, but brand recognition is a real hurdle. Denza is betting that buyers who value genuine off-road capability and premium tech will overlook the unfamiliar badge — at least enough to take a test drive. If the numbers hold up in real-world driving, the Defender’s edge might be narrower than its reputation suggests.
Promising new EVs and plug-in hybrids from China are already proving popular in the UK, and the Bao 5 looks like it could follow that trend.