Following several teasers and spyshots, the Denza B8 has finally made its much-anticipated Malaysian debut earlier today.
Available in two variants, this luxury off-road PHEV SUV retails from RM458,800 for the Dynamic 7-Seater variant and RM518,800 for the top-spec Premium 6-Seater.
As standard, said prices are inclusive of a 6-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty, a separate 8-year or 160,000 km warranty for the high-voltage battery and electric drive unit, plus seven-time complementary scheduled maintenance services within 6 years.
BYD’s First ICE-Powered Model in Malaysia
The new B8 marks several firsts not only for Denza but also for its parent company BYD, where it not only became BYD’s first DMO-based (dual-mode off-road) model to debut in Malaysia but also its first combustion-powered model too.
The powertrain in question is of course the BYD DMO Super Hybrid system featuring a 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged, longitudinally-mounted petrol engine rated 197 PS and 350 Nm by itself, which is then mated to a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) and two electric motors.
Combined, the whole setup boasts a supercar-rivalling total system output of 612 PS and 760 Nm, enabling this 3-tonne behemoth to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
On the battery half, the B8 gets a sizable 36.8-kWh BYD ‘Blade’ LFP pack that can supply up to 115 km of pure electric range (NEDC). When combined with its ginormous 91-litre fuel tank, the B8 is rated with up to 1,040 km of combined range (NEDC) with a fuel consumption rate of 9.89 litres per 100 km.
Said battery supports both 11 kW AC and 120 kW DC charging methods, and there’s also 6.6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality available at disposal.
DMO Ladder-Frame Platform with DiSus-P Dampers
Beyond its preposterous powertrain setup, the Denza B8 also features some real off-roading bits that set it apart from other Chinese SUVs on the market.
For starters, the DMO Super Hybrid platform it underpins is a proper ladder-frame chassis, which puts it neck-and-neck against the GWM Tank 500 HEV—a fellow semi-electrified, body-on-frame flagship SUV from China.
Said platform is then supplemented with the BYD DiSus-P hydraulic suspension system that grants the B8 an impressive water wading depth of 890 mm, as well as clear approach and departure angles at 34 and 35 degrees, respectively.
And just like cars equipped with an air suspension system, you can adjust the B8’s ride height using the buttons at the back for easier access to its cargo bay. Rounding off the trick dynamic bits for the B8 is the ‘Leopard Turn’ function, which is simply Denza’s lingo for tank turns.
Rugged Exterior, First-Class Interior
Visually, the Denza B8 drops all the obvious Fangchengbao brandings that appear on its Chinese twin and adopts the Denza emblems in return, while retaining the same rugged, boxy SUV design.
Some key exterior highlights include C-shaped LED DRLs on both its rectangular headlights and taillights, a large front grille with horizontal slats, gloss black body cladding, hidden door handles, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel with a reverse camera and parking sensors, 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres (275/55R20), and many more.
Not to forget, buyers can get the B8 in five exterior colourways—Dawn Gold, Eclipse Black, Nebula Silver, Alpine White, and Emerald Green—plus two interior colour options for its Nappa leather upholstery—Jasper Brown and Onyx Black.
Regardless of variants, all Malaysian-spec B8s get a heap amount of tech and comfort amenities, including the large 17.3-inch central touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the smaller 12.3-inch digital metre cluster with a night-vision infrared view and a head-up display (HUD), twin 50-watt wireless charging pads, triple-zone A/C, a built-in fridge that can also act as a heater, powered and ventilated front seats with massage functions, and an 18-speaker Devialet audio system—the first of its kind in any car model sold in Malaysia.
What separates the two variants lies in their names, with the lower-spec Dynamic getting a more conventional 7-seater layout with a 2-3-2 configuration, and all the seats are power-adjustable, while the second-row bench is both heated and ventilated.
The top-spec Premium ups the ante with a six-seater, 2-2-2 seating configuration with two captain-style seats in the second row. And just like the ones on the Denza D9 MPV, these seats are not only heated and ventilated but also feature massage functions and built-in Ottomans for maximum comfort.
Given its three-row configuration, cargo space is quite limited for the B8, measuring only 147 litres as standard. Folding down the third-row seats will grant you 920 litres of space in the seven-seater and 902 litres in the six-seater.
