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BYD builds its own Defender with Ti7 PHEV

BYD builds its own Defender with Ti7 PHEV

BYD reveals a boxy unibody 7-seater PHEV with the Ti7

Auto News
05/20/2026

BYD has been filling out almost every high-riding vehicle segment there is, and they don’t seem to have run out of ideas just yet.

The Chinese new energy vehicle giant has unveiled the BYD Ti7 to the global market as a new boxy SUV with 7 seats, and is powered by a dual-motor, plug-in hybrid powertrain.

It’s the first time the SUV is marketed under the BYD name, as the Ti7 was first shown in China last year under the Fangchengbao brand. While it does have some similarities to the Denza B5 and B8 in terms of its boxy styling, the Ti7 looks to be on the more refined than rugged side with its unibody construction instead of a ladder frame platform.

The UK market sees this as a competitor to the Land Rover Defender, considering its styling, platform, and all-wheel-drive system. But locally, the Ti7 could compete against the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe HEV and the Rox 01. In the UK, the Ti7 measures 5,146mm long, 1,995mm wide, and 1,865mm tall, but other markets have a shorter 5-seater version.

Inside, the Ti7 comes with a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 26-inch head-up display. Other features include leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, as well as a full suite of active safety and driver assist technology under BYD’s DiPilot.

The Ti7 uses BYD’s performance DM-p powertrain, which consists of a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine, two electric motors, and a 35.6 kWh Blade battery. The UK version has an electric range of 127 km, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.

While BYD is yet to confirm prices of the Ti7 in the UK, it’s already on sale in the UAE, starting at AED 156,900 (PHP 2.64 million). With the Denza SUVs starting at PHP 3.5 million for the B5, should it fill in the gaps and offer the Ti7 here in the country? Let us know in the comments.

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