- BYD’s Ti7 is the brand’s first seven-seat SUV headed overseas.
- Unlike the B5 and B8, the Ti7 rides on a unibody platform.
- Fangchengbao also sells an all-electric version of the Ti7 in China.
There is virtually no segment of the automotive market BYD does not want to dominate, and its latest model, the Ti7, is its first seven-seater outside of China. The new model is going global to take on the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Land Rover Defender 110.
Read: This Chinese SUV Is Part Lexus, Part Land Rover, And A Dash Of G-Class
Unveiled last year in Thailand through the Fangchengbao brand, and since confirmed to be landing in the UK as a BYD-branded model, the Ti7 looks very similar to the B5 and B8 models that Fangchengbao already sells in China. The key difference sits underneath. Those two ride on a ladder frame, while the Ti7 is a unibody, much like the current Land Rover Defender. That trade likely costs it some hardcore off-road credibility against the B5 and B8 but should sharpen its on-road manners.
Bigger Than The Defender 110, Just
The Ti7 stretches 5,146 mm (202.5 inches) long, 1,995 mm (78.5 inches) wide, and 1,865 mm (73.4 inches) tall, riding on a 2,920 mm (114.9-inch) wheelbase. That makes it longer and slightly narrower than a Defender 110, which is the comparison BYD probably wants to put in your head.
When it launches in the UK, it will be the first model from the Chinese brand to feature its DM-p powertrain, comprising a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, a pair of electric motors, and a 35.6 kWh LFP battery. Total power should be above 600 hp, and BYD is quoting a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.8 seconds and an all-electric driving range of 79 miles (127 km).
The Chinese Can Do Rugged
Back home, Fangchengbao also offers the Ti7 as a full EV, though Europe is not yet on the invite list for that one. The Chinese electric version comes either as a 402 hp rear-driver or an all-wheel drive twin-motor with 691 hp. Buyers there can choose between a 92 kWh and a 105.7 kWh battery.
Visually, the Ti7 looks quite nice. The front end includes a pair of narrow split LED headlights, small black air intakes, and a blacked-out bumper. It also includes squared-off wheel arches, chunky wing mirrors and door handles, a panoramic glass roof, and a spare wheel carrier positioned on the tailgate.
The cabin is similar to other models from the BYD family and includes a large central infotainment screen, a digital instrument cluster, and a chunky four-spoke steering wheel. There are also two wireless smartphone chargers, plenty of soft-touch leather materials, and ambient lighting.
