Chinese manufacturers have been making significant inroads into the UK market in recent years, with brands such as Jaecoo, BYD, Omoda, and Geely introducing vehicle after vehicle to British consumers. Whilst certain models haven't created much impression, others, like the BYD Seal and Jaecoo 7, most certainly have. Chinese vehicles that in some cases look similar to their European counterparts in some respects, can offer consumers greater range for their money.
One of the most fascinating vehicles set to reach the UK is the Denza B5, a rival to the Land Rover Defender, both of which I had the chance to drive at Goodwood's Media Day earlier this month. It must be noted, firstly, that whilst I had the opportunity to drive both, they were under considerably different circumstances. As the B5 is not yet road legal in the UK, I was confined to the track.
Whilst this enabled me to push it as hard as I dared, it was in stark contrast to the Defender that I took on public roads and could not take on track.
Nevertheless, the B5 was a fascinating proposition. The vehicle itself is a hybrid with a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine combined with an electric motor on each of its two axles and a 31.8kWh battery mounted on a ladder frame chassis. In total, this means the B5 has 677bhp and 561lb ft of torque propelling a car that weighs nearly three tonnes.
Driving the Denza 5
Despite physics working against it, the B5 performed impressively on the circuit. Yes, there was considerable body roll, but what else would you expect from a platform engineered for tackling challenging terrain rather than carving through corners?
Moreover, the hybrid powertrain managed to maintain the B5 at a reasonably swift speed along the straights where, momentarily, you overlooked the substantial mass beneath you. Fortunately, the braking performance was robust, and whilst there wasn't much opportunity to evaluate this thoroughly, it demonstrated acceptable ride quality at lower speeds as well.
Assessing the cabin proves challenging as the interior hasn't been finalised to UK specification yet, with a dashboard displaying three screens and limited physical buttons. It won't be until we sample the UK version that we'll gain a comprehensive understanding and deliver a complete assessment.
Driving the Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender I tested at Goodwood's Media Day was a special edition of the vehicle the Denza B5 will rival in the UK marketplace. Specifically, it was the Land Rover Defender 110 D350 Trophy Edition, with a starting price of £84,815. The vehicle, a mild hybrid, produces 350hp and 700 newton metres of torque (around 516.32lb).
The Defender, traditionally renowned for off-road capability, proved remarkably refined on it. The cabin features the obligatory touchscreen alongside numerous physical switches and various driving modes. Regarding the driving experience, it proved relaxed with the diesel engine humming smoothly and hauling the vehicle effortlessly up gradients and over some of Sussex's deepest potholes.
Having only previously driven someone else's 90 variant from the 2000s, it proved interesting to get behind the wheel of a vehicle I'd been curious about for some time. I returned satisfied that, on tarmac, it demonstrated excellent handling characteristics.
Surprise verdict
The biggest shock came when I questioned myself whether I'd choose it or the Denza if forced to select one to live with for a spell.
To my genuine astonishment, I'd pick the Denza. Perhaps it's because it's the underdog, perhaps it's because its behaviour at the limit had brought a grin to my face.
The vehicle's UK pricing hasn't yet been disclosed, as it still awaits road legal status. If it falls within the Defender's price bracket, it may not match the success of the Jaecoo 7 - a motor that has been aesthetically likened to the Range Rover.
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But I couldn't help wanting to discover and experience more of Denza's Defender rival.
Christopher Sharp currently works in the Trendswatch arm of the Content Hub covering cars, conflict, current affairs, and celebrity culture. He is a multi-award-winning journalist with over 10 years experience working the media. Starting on youth news in 2014 he later launched one of the UK’s first political podcasts whilst studying War Studies at King’s College London. Prior to working in the Content Hub, he wrote for the Daily Express, and has covered a variety of topics including the closing stages of the pandemic, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He also launched the Daily Express Car Reviews team in 2023.
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The Chinese Denza B5 hybrid SUV surprisingly outperformed the Land Rover Defender in a head-to-head test.
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This signals China's growing threat to established premium European SUV manufacturers in the UK market.
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The Denza B5 produces 677bhp compared to the Defender's 350hp, nearly doubling the power output.
