Denza B5 and B8 Luxury PHEV Off-Roaders Conquer Beer O’Clock Hill

BYD and Denza Australia have completed rigorous off-road technical testing of the Denza B5 and B8 luxury SUVs at Beer O’Clock Hill in Queensland.

The evaluations took place at The Springs 4X4 Park as part of a programme to refine vehicle performance for unique Australian conditions.

Beer O’Clock Hill has become an infamous benchmark for off-roaders, with the 2025 Kia Tasman X-Pro, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, and GWM Tank 300 Diesel recently completing the climb.

The Denza B5 and B8 now join this expanding list as the heaviest vehicles to have ever tackled the incline, weighing in at approximately three and 3.3 tonnes, respectively.

Denza Australia intends to use the collected data to inform future over-the-air (OTA) software updates for its local customer base.

“Beer O’Clock Hill is one of the toughest tests in the country, and we are delighted that both the DENZA B5 and DENZA B8 conquered it with authority," said DENZA Australia Chief Operating Officer, Mark Harland.

The Denza B8 and the B5 Leopard utilised their standard factory-fitted DiSus-P intelligent hydraulic suspension systems during the trial.

Modifications for the test included the installation of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss All-Terrain 275/55 R20 tyres and adjusted software for traction control and throttle calibrations.

The B5 Leopard was also equipped with prototype aluminium frontal protection and roof accessories currently being developed for the Australian market.

The flagship B8 weighs 3.3 tonnes and is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and dual electric motors producing a combined 425kW and 760Nm.

The technical course featured a 100-metre climb with a maximum gradient of 142.8 per cent at its steepest point.

Both vehicles navigated the ascent and descent using front and rear mechanical differential locks with low-range gearing engaged.

Manufacturer reports indicate the vehicles maintained momentum through the track's rocky mogul sections using Mountain and Crawl modes.

The testing addressed previous observations of software-related alerts that occasionally occur when the vehicles are operated in extreme off-road settings.

The Denza B8 is priced between $91,000 and $97,990 plus on-road costs, positioning it as a luxury competitor in the large SUV segment.

The vehicle includes a 36.8kWh Blade battery and supports 6.6kW vehicle-to-load functionality for powering external equipment at campsites.

BYD Australia states that the recent Queensland testing is part of a commitment to improving the durability and capability of its off-road fleet.

Validation of the test data is currently underway with research and development teams in China to ensure the SUVs meet local expectations.