Officially my first international launch and I kicked things off with DENZA over in South Australia. A luxury sub-brand of BYD, DENZA is entering our market with a focus on the premium off-roader segment, offering aspirational yet still attainable vehicles. The first duo of cars to land on our shores has already been announced (B5 & B8) and so this launch was as much about the brand as it was about driving the pair.
First, a brief history lesson is in order. The DENZA brand can trace its roots back to 2010 when it was founded as a joint venture between BYD and Daimler AG at the time, now Mercedes-Benz. Merc would go on to gradually sell off its stake in the company back to BYD who became full owners of DENZA in 2024, although investment in the brand really started to ramp up from 2021. And if you’re a stickler for good grammar like myself then you would have noticed that I’ve only referred to DENZA in upper case letters thus far. There’s a very good reason for that because DENZA of course is an acronym, standing for diverse, elegant, novel, zenith and aspirational but more on those values later
Back to the launch, the debut of the DENZA brand and that of its B5 & B8 SUVs in Australia/New Zealand was set to be a two day affair across South Australia, the purpose of which was to demonstrate both the on and off-road capabilities of these vehicles to us. And what better setting than one of Australia’s most beautiful but also one of its most rugged states as a setting!
For us New Zealanders, there was a generous travel day built in on either side, a chance to help us get used to the time zone, two and a half hours behind NZDT for those curious. A smooth flight through to Adelaide would see us touch down and check in to the Atura Airport Hotel for the night. My room’s decor was an interesting mix of South Australian aviation nostalgia mixed with bright yellow highlights, did you know the colour is scientifically proven to make you happier?!
The following morning, I was also treated to a view of the DENZA fleet being prepared for the two day event ahead and as the last of the cars were being parked in place, there was my nudge to get going!
Day One: On-Road
As I mentioned in the introduction, the agenda for the event was to give us a demonstration of the two DENZAs’ capabilities both on and off-road. An excursion that would see us head northbound from Adelaide into the fabled Flinders Ranges where we could then leave the tarmac behind!
First though, we had to drive there and so ahead of us lay a decent drive of five/six hours. Our day started off with a briefing about the general direction we were heading in as well as a snippet about the two cars that were up for grabs and once paired up, we were off. The route at least seemed fairly simple, leave Adelaide and then follow the same road through to the Ranges. As it turns out, leaving Adelaide is not quite as simple as it sounds so I’m glad that I was riding shotgun for the first leg because as many of you already know, I can get lost driving home.
On long convoy drives like these, it’s always fun to see the local residents’ reaction to a fleet of cars from the same brand passing long and there was a fleet indeed, encompassing both the DENZA B5 and B8. There was only one base model B5, the rest were top-spec ‘Leopard’ models whilst the B8s were also all highly equipped. To add a little spice to the mix, there was one pre-production model also travelling with us and if selecting it was a game of roulette, ours was the winning number it seemed. The giveaway was in its adaptive cruise control which didn’t seem to be quite so comfortable on the Aussie roads, my co-driver also noticed that the language used for safety warnings didn’t really work, grammatically speaking. After trying out the other cars, it turned out that this was certainly the pre-production model because those features have indeed been adapted for the local market.
Although temperatures were on the sweatier side of 30 degrees, DENZA’s big focus is on the luxury market and so we had brilliant air con and ventilated seats to keep us comfortable. The cars even have a fridge under the central armrest which can store your drinks at a chilling minus four degrees! While as cosseted as can be, there’s nothing quite like the humble cup of tea and a biscuit to refresh the soul which was exactly what was on offer at our first stop at the Sir James Fergusson Pub in Yalumba.
Swapping over in Yalumba, it was my turn to pilot the DENZA B5 to our next stop, lunch in the town of Clare where we would then car swap and jump behind the wheel of the larger B8. As we moved further away from Adelaide and the coast, the changing landscape of Australia became apparent. I’ve only ever been to Sydney previously and from there, my furthest inland trip was to the motoring Mecca of Bathurst so this was entirely new territory for me.
Being from New Zealand, you’re never too far away from the ocean and the country is so full of mountainous terrain that long straights are seldom found. Different story here as we followed RM Williams Way from Clare, the road is a series of long straight roads with intentional curves to keep the driver awake, admittedly, I can see a situation where the driver attention monitor actually becomes useful. Although it’s still quite chirpy in these products so that was turned off rather quickly once I was behind the wheel.
Since I love a good story and have mentioned the name in the previous paragraph, I’ll make a quick detour to talk about RM Williams. The famous name didn’t just inspire a high fashion brand for finance bros, instead the bushman is something of a local legend. The iconic boot was the product of a camping trip in the Flinders Ranges and to this day, RM Williams manufactures its boots in South Australia so its only befitting that the long road into the mountains bears the iconic name, this leg of the journey felt like a homecoming of sorts for my footwear.
Whilst still on RM Williams Way, we made a brief stop in the historic town of Carrieton but not because the cars needed a break, more so for the drivers. Thus far, I had spent a good amount of time behind the wheel of both the B5 and B8. The two luxury SUVs may contrast in size and design to some extent but they share their underpinnings, namely the DMO system also found in the BYD Shark. Funnily enough, the idea to integrate a BYD Blade battery into a ladder frame was originally implemented in the DENZA range but because the brand had yet to make its way to us, the Shark was the first to introduce this technology to our great southern lands.
Whilst sitting on a ladder frame chassis meant that there was some generous body roll during the tighter corners, it would pay its dividends the following day. Unlike any other ladder frame chassis vehicle, the inclusion of the battery in the frame meant that these two DENZA could achieve sub 10/11 L/100km figures on average during our trip, particularly impressive on the larger B8 which is weighs in above 3500kg when fully laden! Ladder frame vehicles can ride quite harshly over rougher roads particularly but the ‘Leopard’ trim B5 and B8 come with the brand’s hydraulically adjustable ‘DiSus-P‘ suspension which can alter its height and firmness depending on the selected mode. Making sure you were in the right setting provided a noticeable difference in the ride quality.
Thus far, the B5 is proving to be quite the package, particularly in the higher level ‘Leopard’ trim which offers ‘DiSus-P’ hydraulic suspension as well as all the bells and whistles imaginable, this whilst being considerably lighter and more agile than the larger B8. Crucially though, the littler B5 is solely a five seater in all configurations whilst the B8 can be had with either six or seven seats.
The drive from Carrieton would lead us to Wilpena Pound, in the heart of the Flinders Ranges which is where the driving component of our day would come to a close.
Our accommodation for the night was here, at the Wilpena Pound Resort which incorporates a mixture of residences with the above glamping tent being mine for the night. Having only been tenting about once in my life previously, I was rather looking forward to staying in these structures. With air conditioning and running water on tap, this was my kind of tent! I would highly recommend booking these if you are planning to stay in the Ranges as it’s not just an experience in itself but really does connect you with nature. I stayed up later than the rest to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the night sky and woke up earlier to enjoy the sunrise, both of which were well worth the sleep deprivation.
However, there was still a lot to ground to cover before I could even think of hitting the bed. After checking in and dropping off our bags, dinner and a presentation was next on the agenda. Our meal was to be had at Rawnsley Park Woolshed. My three courses consisted of corn ribs, roast chicken and a panna cotta were accompanied with a locally made gin, despite being remote, we were certainly not slumming it out!
Our dinner would be paired with presentations from Mark Harland, MD of DENZA Australia and Sajid Hasan, Chief Product Officer of BYD/DENZA Australia. Mark went first, introducing us to the brand’s values as well as its goal of being a first premium luxury SUV for those upwardly mobile members of the population, “quiet determination” is how he described the ethos of both the brand and its customers. In fact, Harland used the word community rather than customers to describe those who purchase into the DENZA brand, with the dealerships to be called a “House of DENZA”, providing a space for its community to host everything from birthdays to yoga classes! It may sound like dreamland stuff but DENZA are all business about their future plan, aiming for 20 Australian dealerships by the end of this year, with 4/5 more being in New Zealand. It’s no secret that the brand fall under the BYD family whose inroads will be leveraged to aid DENZA’s growth as confirmed by Harland. Mark went on to say that DENZA have their sights firmly set on five legacy premium brands, proudly stating that the Chinese newcomer is already boasting a 50% conversion rate from its first batch of test drives!
Impressed with the brand’s goals, it was time for DENZA CPO, Sajid Hasan to step up to the mic and tell us about the B5 & B8 duo that we had been driving. Incorporating BYD Group’s “new energy” philosophy, the two DMO powered SUVs boasted noteworthy performance figures on the road. The smaller B5 outputs 400kW of power and 760Nm of torque, a 0-100 time of 4.8s is claimed as well as an NEDC fuel economy figure of 9.49L/100km! The larger B8 on the other hand also achieves the same 0-100 sprint time with 425kW and 760Nm on tap, towing is rated at 3.5 tonnes too, claimed efficiency of 9.89L/100km. If all of that didn’t raise your eyebrows, the two also boast impressive approach/departure angles, six terrain specific drive modes, IP67/68 water resistance ratings for the engine, low range gearboxes and twin locking differentials, how’s that for off-road capability! It’s not all go though, there’s plenty for those who enjoy the show, nappa leather interiors, crystal buttons, a fridge and 16/18 speaker Devialet audio systems add to the extensive list of luxuries. Have I mentioned the 5-star ANCAP safety ratings yet?! Whilst the B5 does sit under $100k, the B8 crosses this threshold but as visible above, offers plenty of kit for the money.
As if we weren’t dazzled enough already, DENZA had something else in store for us before we turned in for the night. A movie under the stars in the Flinders Ranges, with freshly made popcorn and drinks, entirely powered by the vehicles, how’s that for an original experience!
Day Two: Off-Road
Our drive time in the DENZAs was briefly interrupted by some sleep, a movie and some breakfast but before we knew it, we were back in the hot seat or should I say cool as the ventilators were going. A brief stint on tarmac would see us depart from Wilpena Pound and head into Willow Springs, not the Californian raceway but the name of a Station where we would be spending our day.
Now that we had left the tarmac far behind, things were starting to get red, thanks to the emergence of the red dust above. Although I was reliably informed by the Aussies that this was not even close to what you might see near Ayers Rock/Uluru, guess I’ll have to take their word for it.
I’ve previously talked about the difference in landscapes between rural New Zealand and that of Australia but it become even more apparent than before, the red dirt stretching for miles around with only drying shrubbery breaking up the landscape, a remarkable sight for one whose home country is largely green. Of course, it wasn’t a proper Australian outback excursion until a kangaroo had appeared and while there were a few curious onlookers on the day, they stayed well away from the DENZAs. The same can’t be said for the drive home from last night’s dinner as a few cheeky “roos” scampered across the cars but travelling at low speeds meant no damage was done to either party.
As visible above, there wasn’t so much as a track so guide us to our destination so with all of our trust in the DENZA team and convoy rules obeyed, we carved through the mountains. Although on road tyres, the B5 and B8 conquered the rocky, sandy terrain with ease. The initial part of the drive was not entirely challenging and completed without much fuss. Being in a mountain range, we would eventually have to climb something to get to our ultimate destination and indeed we did.
Staring up a hill full of loose dirt and sharp rocks, it now became apparent as to why there was a spare tyre laden Shark following us around all morning, remember that we were still on road tyres. This newly presented terrain would serve as a challenge to any car, the lack of grip from the loose surface tormenting the rubber whilst the jagged rocks contorted the chassis. Doing as instructed, I flicked the car into its rock mode, feeling that more suitable than the sand option, then locking both the front and rear differentials, engaging low range in the process. It’s amazing that the DENZAs can also lock/unlock the diffs with each, without having to turn the gearbox to neutral or rock the vehicle back and forth.
Climbing the rocky track was a task and a half, my prior experience and the voice on the radio telling me that the most important thing was not to lose momentum. There were slips at times but thanks to all the off-road functions being engaged correctly, the B5 soldiered on. It was a steep climb and would have certainly proved a major challenge for lesser luxury off-roaders but the DENZAs proved their mettle out here. As if once wasn’t enough, the team turned us around, sent us down the same track and up again. Whichever way the nose was facing, the very capable B5 did a stellar job of navigating the terrain. Only one vehicle suffered a puncture but given these were road tyres on a rocky surface, that was almost an inevitability!
It was about time for lunch at this point and I’m sure the cars were looking forward to the break as much as we were. The aforementioned drive gave us a valid demonstration of all the off-road technologies in action as well as the hydraulic based ‘DiSus-P’ suspension set-up.
After a well earned lunch break and some camera time, we packed away into a DENZA vehicle for the last time on this trip, saddling up in a B8 on the way to Hawker Airport where a different form of transportation awaited us. Yet another novel experience on this trip, the plane pictured above would take us on a hour long journey back to Adelaide airport, providing a chance to experience this harsh terrain from high above. An opportunity to appreciate how capable these DENZAs were with the city lights left far behind, both the B5 and B8 able to complete nearly 1,000kms on a full tank of petrol, an important consideration given the conditions out here.
The Verdict
Over the course of two days in South Australia, DENZA demonstrated to us that their B5 and B8 luxury off-roaders mean serious business, whether on tarmac or off it. The two SUVs, proved their well rounded abilities when it came to navigating the city of a tricky rock filled hill ascent, keeping the driver and occupants comfortable in both scenarios. With two impressive products and an ability to supercharge their rollout thanks to the BYD network, it won’t be long before the ‘DENZA community’ starts to grow, particularly when the brand are providing aspiration at an arguably attainable price tag.
My pick of the bunch would have to be the B5 Leopard, every bit as capable off-road and even more so on road than its bigger sibling, the 5-seater SUV also boasts the same luxury features in its top trim, just with a smaller footprint, lighter tow rating and lesser seats but will still do the job for most prospective buyers.
Thanks for reading! For more DENZA news and reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
Thanks to BYD & DENZA Australia/New Zealand for the invite and hospitality, thanks also to Thrive PR.
Words and photos by Matthew D’Souza
