BYD Leopard 8: The Luxury Off-Road SUV

The BYD Leopard 8 is a full-size luxury plug-in hybrid off-road SUV from Fang Cheng Bao, BYD's dedicated off-road sub-brand whose name translates as "Formula Leopard." Also known as the Bao 8, it is sold as the Denza B8 in export markets like Australia. It pairs a 2.0-litre turbo plug-in hybrid system producing up to 550 kW with serious off-road hardware, 310 mm of ground clearance, and a tech-laden luxury cabin. In China it starts from around 379,800 yuan (about US$52,500); in Australia, as the Denza B8, from $91,000.

BYD Leopard 8 at a Glance

Measurement	Specification
Type	Full-size luxury PHEV off-road SUV
Brand	Fang Cheng Bao (BYD off-road sub-brand)
Export name	Denza B8 (Australia, Europe)
Power	Up to 550 kW (China) / 425 kW (export)
Engine	2.0L turbo PHEV on the DMO platform
Battery	36.8 kWh, up to 46.7 kWh on the Flash Charging Edition
Electric range	100-150 km (WLTC)
Combined range	Up to 1,040 km (NEDC)
Ground clearance	310 mm
Length	5,195 mm
Seats	5, 6, or 7

What Is the BYD Leopard 8?

The Leopard 8 is the flagship model of Fang Cheng Bao, the off-road sub-brand BYD launched in 2023. The brand name translates to "Formula Leopard," which is why its vehicles carry the Leopard name in English.

It launched in China in November 2024 as the second Fang Cheng Bao model, following the smaller Leopard 5. The naming can be confusing, so here is the key:

• Leopard 8: The English translation of the model name
• Bao 8: The Chinese pinyin name, where Bao means leopard
• Denza B8: The badge it wears in export markets like Australia and Europe

So if you are reading about the Bao 8, the Leopard 8, or the Denza B8, they are all the same vehicle.

Powertrain: 2.0T PHEV and Up to 550 kW

The Leopard 8 is built on BYD's DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) platform, a body-on-frame architecture shared with the BYD Shark 6 ute. It combines a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with electric motors driving each axle.

• China output: Up to 550 kW (around 737 hp)
• Export output: 425 kW and 760 Nm in the Australian Denza B8
• Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive with an E-CVT
• Engine role: The petrol engine acts mainly as a generator but can drive the wheels when needed

The DMO platform is the same hardware that underpins the BYD Shark 6. Our breakdown of every BYD Shark 6 specification covers that shared foundation in detail.

Battery and Range

The Leopard 8 uses BYD's LFP Blade Battery, with capacity depending on the version:

• Standard: A 36.8 kWh Blade battery, good for up to 100 km of electric-only range (WLTC)
• Flash Charging Edition (launched May 2026): A larger 46.7 kWh battery for up to 150 km of electric range, with BYD's flash charging technology
• Combined range: Up to 1,040 km on the NEDC cycle
• DC charging: 120 kW on the standard version, much faster on the Flash Charging Edition

That combination of useful electric range for daily driving and long combined range for touring is the core appeal of BYD's plug-in hybrid off-roaders. For more on the battery itself, see our explainer on how the BYD Blade Battery works.

Off-Road Capability

This is a genuine off-roader, not a soft luxury SUV. The Leopard 8 brings serious hardware to the segment:

• Ground clearance: 310 mm, comfortably above most rivals
• Body-on-frame: A rugged ladder-frame chassis built for tough terrain
• Intelligent suspension: The DiSus-P hydraulic body control system, paired with LiDAR and dual cameras, proactively adjusts damping to the road ahead
• Dual-motor traction: Independent electric motors allow precise torque control off-road

The result is a large SUV that can genuinely venture beyond the bitumen while keeping its occupants comfortable.

Luxury and Technology Inside

The Leopard 8's cabin is where its premium ambitions show clearest. It is packed with technology:

• Triple screens: A 12.3-inch instrument display, a large central touchscreen, and a dedicated front passenger screen
• Augmented reality head-up display: A 50-inch AR HUD projects navigation and driving data
• Huawei integration: In China it features Huawei's ADS 3.0 intelligent driving system, plus a UWB phone key and app transfer from Huawei phones
• Safety: 14 airbags and a comprehensive driver-assistance suite
• Comfort: Premium leather, multiple seating layouts, and three-row versatility

Price and Availability

Pricing varies sharply by market, as is typical for Chinese vehicles exported to Western countries:

• China: From around 379,800 yuan (about US$52,500), rising to 407,800 yuan across four variants
• Australia (as Denza B8): From $91,000 for the seven-seat version, up to $97,990 for the six-seat variant
• Seating: Five, six, and seven-seat layouts are offered

In Australia, the Leopard 8 sells under the Denza badge. For how it is performing locally, our tracker on Denza's Australian sales figures covers the B8's reception in the market.

Taking On the Defender and Land Cruiser

The Leopard 8 is squarely aimed at the premium large off-road SUV set. Its rivals include the Land Rover Defender, the Toyota LandCruiser, and within China, the Tank 700.

• Against the Defender: The Leopard 8 offers plug-in hybrid efficiency and more standard tech, often at a lower price
• Against the LandCruiser: It counters decades of reputation with electric range, performance, and a far more digital cabin
• The trade-off: It lacks the established service network and proven long-term durability of those rivals, being a far newer entrant

Where many off-roaders focus purely on toughness, the Leopard 8 aims to balance rugged capability with luxury and intelligent technology.

Common Questions

• What is the BYD Leopard 8? A full-size luxury plug-in hybrid off-road SUV from Fang Cheng Bao, BYD's off-road brand, sold as the Denza B8 in export markets.
• How much is the BYD Leopard 8? From around 379,800 yuan (US$52,500) in China, or from $91,000 in Australia as the Denza B8.
• Is the Leopard 8 the same as the Bao 8? Yes. Bao 8 is the Chinese name, Leopard 8 the English translation, and Denza B8 the export badge.
• What is its electric range? Up to 100 km on the standard version, or 150 km on the Flash Charging Edition.
• What does it rival? The Land Rover Defender, Toyota LandCruiser, and Tank 700.