A massive plug-in hybrid that rewrites what Denza is selling
After fifteen months of offering Malaysian buyers a single model, Denza has arrived at a crossroads of ambition with the B8 — a body-on-frame plug-in hybrid SUV that borrows its bones from BYD's off-road sub-brand and arrives wearing flagship intentions. Priced between RM458,800 and RM518,800, it enters a market where luxury and capability have long been the domain of established names, carrying with it a 612-horsepower hybrid system, a claimed range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, and the quiet confidence of a brand still writing its story in Southeast Asia.
- A brand that existed in Malaysia as a single MPV for over a year has suddenly doubled its identity with a vehicle that outmeasures a Land Cruiser 300 in both length and width.
- The B8's 612 PS hybrid powertrain and 4.8-second century sprint create real tension against established luxury SUVs that have owned this price bracket for decades.
- Off-road credibility is not merely claimed but engineered in — adjustable hydraulic suspension, locking differentials on the Premium, and a wading depth of 890 mm give the numbers somewhere to go.
- A 91-liter fuel tank paired with a 36.8 kWh battery pushes combined range past 1,000 km under NEDC testing, reframing the anxiety around long-distance travel in a plug-in vehicle.
- The two variants split the market deliberately — the Dynamic courts families with seven seats and practicality, while the Premium pursues luxury buyers with night vision, Nappa leather, and captain's chairs with ottomans.
- Denza is betting that a six-year warranty, eight-year battery coverage, and a Devialet audio system making its Malaysian debut can close the trust gap against rivals with longer local histories.
For fifteen months, Denza's presence in Malaysia amounted to a single model — the D9 MPV. That chapter closed this week with the launch of the B8, a large body-on-frame plug-in hybrid SUV that redefines what the brand is reaching for in this market. Two variants are on offer: the seven-seat Dynamic at RM458,800 and the six-seat Premium at RM518,800, with on-the-road costs nudging each figure slightly higher.
The B8 is a rebadged Bao 8, originally built by BYD's off-road sub-brand Fangchengbao for Chinese buyers. At 5,195 mm long and 1,994 mm wide, it surpasses both the GWM Tank 500 and the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 in footprint. Its powertrain — BYD's Dual Mode Off-road Super Hybrid system — combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with two electric motors and a 36.8 kWh Blade battery, producing a combined 612 PS and 760 Nm. The result is a 3,290-kilogram vehicle that reaches 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Electric-only range sits at around 100 km on WLTP, while a 91-litre fuel tank extends total claimed range to nearly 900 km on the same cycle, or 1,040 km under NEDC. DC fast charging at 120 kW brings the battery from 30 to 80 percent in 16 minutes.
Off-road capability is built into the hardware rather than the branding. A DiSus-P hydraulic suspension system offers 140 mm of ride height adjustment, pushing wading depth to 890 mm at full extension. The Premium variant adds front and rear locking differentials and infrared night vision; the Dynamic receives only a rear locker. Both support a tank-turn manoeuvre Denza calls the leopard turn.
Inside, the cabin is generously equipped across both trims — 17.3-inch touchscreen, four soft-close doors, tri-zone climate, an 18-speaker Devialet audio system, and dual 50-watt wireless chargers are standard. The Premium steps up with Nappa leather, captain's chairs with ottomans and massage in the second row, a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and dynamic seat bolsters. Boot space reaches 920 litres in the seven-seater with all rows raised.
Denza supports the B8 with a six-year, 150,000 km vehicle warranty, eight-year battery and drive unit coverage, seven complimentary services over six years, and a V2L adapter. Five exterior colours and two interior options are available at launch. The message is clear: Denza is no longer content to occupy a single corner of the Malaysian market.
For fifteen months, Malaysia's Denza owners had exactly one choice: the D9, a three-row family hauler that stood alone in the brand's local lineup. That changed this week with the arrival of something altogether different—the B8, a massive plug-in hybrid SUV that rewrites what Denza is selling in this market. It's a statement of ambition, and the numbers back it up.
The B8 is a rebadged version of the Bao 8, which BYD's off-road focused sub-brand Fangchengbao builds for Chinese buyers. It's a body-on-frame four-wheel-drive that dwarfs most competitors. At 5,195 millimeters long and 1,994 millimeters wide, it outmeasures the GWM Tank 500 in length and width, and it's even longer and wider than a Toyota Land Cruiser 300. Two variants arrive in Malaysia: a seven-seat Dynamic priced at RM458,800 and a six-seat Premium at RM518,800. Once you factor in on-the-road costs, those figures climb to RM459,939 and RM519,939 respectively.
What makes the B8 genuinely interesting is its powertrain. This is a PHEV built around BYD's Dual Mode Off-road Super Hybrid system—a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower and 350 newton-meters, paired with a dedicated hybrid transmission, a 36.8-kilowatt-hour Blade LFP battery, and two electric motors. The front motor delivers 272 horsepower and 360 newton-meters; the rear motor produces 408 horsepower and 400 newton-meters. Combined, the system generates 612 horsepower and 760 newton-meters of torque. That's enough to push this 3,290-kilogram vehicle from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.8 seconds. The battery alone provides roughly 100 kilometers of pure electric range on the WLTP cycle, though Denza quotes 115 kilometers under the more generous NEDC standard.
The hybrid strategy follows the Chinese playbook: the car runs on battery power until the state of charge drops to around 25 percent, at which point the engine engages to maintain that threshold. The system transitions seamlessly between pure electric, series hybrid, and parallel hybrid modes. A 91-liter fuel tank—larger than the Tank 500's 75 liters—combines with the battery to deliver a claimed combined range of nearly 900 kilometers on the WLTP cycle, or 1,040 kilometers under NEDC testing. Denza claims fuel consumption as low as 9.89 liters per 100 kilometers in NEDC conditions. Charging the battery at 120 kilowatts DC takes just 16 minutes to go from 30 to 80 percent capacity. The car also supports 11-kilowatt AC charging and includes 6.6-kilowatt vehicle-to-load capability.
The suspension is where the off-road credentials become tangible. A DiSus-P hydraulic system allows 140 millimeters of ride height adjustment, raising the wading depth from 800 millimeters to 890 millimeters and improving approach and departure angles from 30 and 29 degrees to 34 and 35 degrees. You can adjust the suspension from the boot, though the side-opening tailgate—which houses the spare tire—must be opened manually. A parking sensor mounted on the spare tire cover detects obstacles at height. The B8 also features what Denza calls "leopard turn," essentially a tank-turn capability for tight maneuvering.
Inside, both variants offer a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 17.3-inch touchscreen, though the Chinese market version includes an additional 12.3-inch passenger display that Malaysia doesn't receive. Standard equipment spans four soft-close doors, twin 50-watt wireless chargers, heated and cooled armrest storage, tri-zone climate control, powered front seats with heating, ventilation and massage, and an 18-speaker Devialet audio system—the first time this French audio brand appears in a Malaysian production car. A rising gear selector activates when the engine starts. Rear passengers can control windows and sunroof blinds on the opposite side via multi-function switches, and a one-touch recline function pushes the front passenger seat forward for extra legroom. Both the second and third rows fold and raise electrically.
The variants diverge in meaningful ways. The seven-seater Dynamic uses a 2-3-2 seating layout with a power-reclining, heated and ventilated middle-row bench. The six-seater Premium adopts a 2-2-2 configuration with captain's chairs in the middle row, complete with massage, ventilation, and ottomans, plus Nappa leather throughout. Maximum boot space reaches 920 liters in the seven-seater and 902 liters in the six-seater; with all seats raised, both offer 147 liters. The Premium variant gains infrared night vision, front and rear locking differentials, a digital rear-view mirror, a head-up display, power-extendable front seat thighs, dynamic side bolsters, and second-row ambient lighting. The Dynamic gets only a rear locking differential. Both come with nine airbags, including a front-center unit, and comprehensive driver assistance systems including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Denza backs the vehicle with a six-year, 150,000-kilometer warranty, extends the battery and drive unit coverage to eight years and 160,000 kilometers, includes seven free maintenance services over six years valued at RM10,000, and throws in a V2L adapter worth RM700. The B8 arrives in five colors—Alpine White, Emerald Green, Nebula Blue, Dawn Gold, and Eclipse Black—with interior choices of Jasper Brown or Onyx Black regardless of exterior finish. It's a comprehensive package, and it signals that Denza is serious about competing in Malaysia's premium SUV segment.
Notable Quotes
The Premium is pretty much the highest spec available outside China, which is the only market that gets LiDAR.— Denza Malaysia specifications
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Malaysia get this particular vehicle now, after the D9 had the market to itself for so long?
Denza needed to broaden its appeal. The D9 is a family MPV—practical, but it doesn't speak to buyers who want the presence and capability of a large SUV. The B8 fills that gap, and it's a statement that they're not just a one-model brand anymore.
The specs are genuinely impressive—612 horsepower, 4.8 seconds to 100. Is this actually practical, or is it marketing?
It's both. The power comes from the dual electric motors working with the engine, which is how modern PHEVs achieve these numbers. In real driving, you'll rarely use all of it, but it's there when you need it. What matters more is the range—nearly 900 kilometers—and the fact that you can charge it quickly.
The suspension can adjust its height by 140 millimeters. Who actually needs that?
Anyone serious about off-roading, or anyone who wants the option. It's not just about wading depth, though 890 millimeters is genuinely capable. It's about approach and departure angles—the ability to climb steep terrain without scraping the bumpers. That's real engineering, not theater.
Why two variants? Why not just one well-equipped version?
Price sensitivity and use case. The seven-seater Dynamic is the entry point—still luxurious, still capable, but RM60,000 cheaper. The six-seater Premium is for buyers who want night vision, locking diffs, and the massage seats. It's the highest spec available outside China, which tells you something about how seriously Denza is taking this market.
Devialet speakers—that's an interesting choice. Why that brand?
Devialet is French, premium, and relatively rare in cars. It signals that Denza isn't just copying other Chinese brands. They're curating the experience, choosing partners that elevate the product. It's a small detail, but it matters in how buyers perceive the brand.
What's the real competition here?
The GWM Tank 500, obviously, but also luxury SUVs from established brands. The B8 undercuts many of them on price while matching or exceeding their capability. The question is whether Malaysian buyers trust a Denza badge enough to choose it over a Toyota or a BMW.