The BYD Ti7 is not the sort of car that sneaks quietly into a car park. It is big, boxy, square-shouldered and very clearly has Land Rover somewhere in its sights.
On paper, it looks like a rival for the Land Rover Discovery – and at just under five meters long, it’s pretty much the same size. It will have seven seats for the UK market, four-wheel drive, a big family-friendly body and enough space to make it feel like a proper large SUV rather than something pretending to be one. But just look at it and the target becomes a bit more obvious. With its bluff nose, upright stance, chunky wheel arches and side-opening rear door, the Ti7 looks more like BYD’s answer to the newer, bigger-selling Land Rover Defender.
The car I drove was a Chinese-spec FangChengBao Ti7 on a short and controlled drive around BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. FangChengBao is one of BYD’s brands in China, but the car coming to Britain will be sold as the BYD Ti7, pronounced Tie-seven. There are likely to be specification changes before it reaches UK customers, so this is not a full final UK road test. Think of it more as an early taste of a car that could become one of BYD’s most interesting British arrivals yet.
And there is plenty to be interested in. BYD is already growing fast in the UK, but the Ti7 takes it into a different part of the market. This is not a small electric hatchback, a sensible family SUV or a slightly left-field plug-in hybrid estate. It is a big, tough-looking seven-seat SUV with an expected price under £50,000, which would put it well below the cars it appears to be chasing and more aligned with the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
The Ti7 is already a big deal in China, too. BYD says it’s the best-selling full-size Chinese SUV, with around 15,000 sold per month. That’s a serious number for a car of this size and type, and it suggests BYD has struck a useful balance between family practicality, rugged styling, high equipment levels, plug-in hybrid efficiency – and, of course, price.
The early signs are promising. The quality is seriously impressive inside and out, the technology is easy to use, the performance is strong and there is loads of space in the back. There are caveats, of course. The drive was limited, UK specification is not locked down and there are still some details to confirm. But as a first taste, the Ti7 feels like a car worth taking seriously.
How I tested
My first experience of the BYD Ti7 was a limited drive of a Chinese-spec FangChengBao Ti7 around the roads of BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. I still managed to get it up to a good speed, though, and test its ride and handling as well as more practical aspects like the visibility for ease of parking and how manoeuvrable the car is. Plus I spent a long time assessing the practicality and technology, as well as checking on what spec we know now, ahead of the final UK specification being announced.
Independent rating: 8/10
- Pros: Impressive interior quality, loads of space, strong performance, easy-to-use touchscreen, expected sub-£50,000 price, 79-mile EV range
- Cons: UK specification not yet confirmed, slight powertrain hesitation, some cheap-ish plastics, high boot floor
- Price from: £49,000 (est)
- Battery size: 35.6kWh
- Maximum EV range: 79 miles
- Maximum charging rate: 30–80 per cent DC rapid charging in claimed 17.5 minutes
Battery, range, charging, performance and drive
The BYD Ti7 heading to the UK uses BYD’s DM-p plug-in hybrid system. That means a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, electric motors at the front and rear, and four-wheel drive as standard for Britain.
The headline numbers are strong. BYD says the Ti7 can travel up to 79 miles on electric power alone, which is enough for a lot of daily driving without the petrol engine needing to wake up at all. The 35.6kWh battery can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in 17.5 minutes on a DC rapid charger, while the full hybrid system gives the Ti7 the long-distance flexibility that still appeals to plenty of family SUV buyers.
Performance is good, too. The combined system produces 483bhp and gives a 0–62mph time of 4.8 seconds, which is quick by any normal family SUV standard and even more notable in something this big and bluff. The Ti7 does not feel like a sports SUV, and nor should it, but it has plenty of shove both from a standstill and when you are already rolling and ask for more.
There was a slight hesitation at times, as the drivetrain switched between power sources, but nothing that felt worrying on this short drive. It was more of a brief pause while the car decided exactly how it wanted to deliver the power I requested, rather than anything that made the car feel rough or poorly calibrated.
There are four main drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. Normal will be absolutely fine for most people most of the time. Eco relaxes things a little for maximum efficiency, while Sport seems mostly to add a touch more weight to the steering rather than suddenly turning the Ti7 into something more aggressive. There are also terrain settings in the touchscreen, including Snow, Mud, Sand and Mountain, along with Sport+ mode.
For such a big car, the Ti7 feels impressively easy to place and the turning circle is particularly good for something around five metres long. That makes a difference in tight spaces, especially in a vehicle with this much car park presence.
It also felt stable during faster lane changes, despite its bulk. Big SUVs can sometimes feel like they are taking a deep breath before changing direction, but the Ti7 stayed composed and predictable. The ride seemed about on par for the big SUV course, especially given what it’s expected to cost. Over the few bumps we found around BYD’s Shenzhen HQ, it seemed okay, although a proper UK road test will be needed before making any firm judgement on how it deals with broken British tarmac.
Interior, practicality and boot space
This is where the BYD Ti7 makes its strongest first impression. The interior quality is seriously impressive, and not just in the “good for a Chinese car” way. It feels genuinely plush in the places you see and touch most often.
There is a smart blend of brushed aluminium-style trim and premium-feeling materials, and the whole cabin has a clean, wide, horizontal layout. The recessed shelf and chunky vents in front of the passenger give it a slightly Land Rover-like feel, while the door handles are also nicely chunky and feel properly solid.
There are cheaper plastics lower down at leg height and below, but everything else feels so nice and premium that they are easy to forgive. In most cars at this expected price point, there has to be a saving somewhere, and BYD has been smart enough to make sure most of the cabin you actually interact with feels expensive. Overall it feels way more plush than a Hyundai Santa Fe and not far away from the Discovery.
The steering wheel is as smart and as high quality as the rest of the interior, with simple buttons that are easy to use. The gear selector sits on the right-hand side of the steering column, which frees up space on the centre console and helps the front of the cabin feel open and uncluttered.
Storage is very good. There are twin 50W cooled wireless phone chargers, decent space underneath the wireless charging area, cup holders and a refrigerated and heated box in the centre console with its own temperature controller. That is exactly the sort of feature that sounds a bit gimmicky until you remember how useful it could be on a school run, airport trip or long family holiday.
There is loads of space in the back. Rear passengers get their own small touchscreen for heating and ventilation controls, USB sockets and device mounts on the backs of the front seats. The rear seats are electrically adjustable, too, which is a lovely touch in a big family SUV.
My test car had an opening panoramic sunroof, which help made the cabin feel even bigger and brighter. Visibility is good as well, thanks to big, square door mirrors, a decent view out and cameras to help when manoeuvring.
Unlike the five-seater I drove, the UK car will be a seven-seater, put it directly into Discovery territory for buyers who need proper family flexibility. The Chinese-spec car driven in Shenzhen may differ from the UK version, so final boot space and third-row details still need to be confirmed. What I can say is that the Ti7 feels properly roomy and very much like a car designed around family use.
At the back, there is a side-opening rear door, like a Land Rover Defender. The boot is big and square, and although the floor is quite high, there’s some extra space underneath for stowing charge cables. The spare wheel-style cover on the rear door hides additional storage, which is a neat practical touch as well as a big part of the rugged look.
Technology, stereo and infotainment
BYD does touchscreens better than many car makers, and the Ti7 is another good example of that. The usability is impressive and, on this early evidence, easily among the best of the Chinese car makers now heading into the UK.
The central screen is large, clear and quick to respond, but the real strength is the way BYD lays things out. There is a row of heating and ventilation controls along the bottom of the screen, which makes a huge difference to everyday use. You also get quick-access controls for settings, navigation, lights and the home screen, so you are not constantly diving through layers of menus just to do something simple.
Big family SUVs are often driven in busy, messy, real-life situations, where people are asking for temperature changes, directions, music, seat heating, cameras and phone charging all at the same time, so a good touchscreen is not just one that looks pretty in a showroom. It has to be easy to use when life is happening around it and the Ti7’s system seems to understand that better than most.
There are also useful physical controls. Under the central vents and ahead of the wireless chargers, there is a rocker for the drive modes, buttons for parking assistance, stop-start, EV or HEV modes and front de-mist, plus a proper volume controller. That mix of screen and physical shortcuts works well.
The driver display is crisp and nicely integrated into the dashboard, although the screen appears to have quite a large black bezel. You can change the layouts, including one with a big central speedo, and there is also a big, bright and colourful head-up display. When used with the navigation, it can show augmented reality direction arrows, which adds a bit of useful theatre without feeling too distracting.
The indicator stalk is nicely damped and operates with a decent electronic sound, which sounds like a small thing until you drive a car where the indicators feel cheap or sound irritating. The Ti7 avoids that.
The sound system also made a strong impression. There is a 3D sound mode with headrest speakers and an impressive breadth to the audio quality. It has decent punch and clarity, and feels much more in keeping with the premium feel of the cabin than the systems of some other Chinese cars.
The usual ambient light settings are present, while driver assistance includes the expected level two adaptive cruise functions. As with all these systems, it remains assistance rather than anything approaching self-driving, but the hardware and interface feel suitably modern.
Prices and running costs
The UK price hasn’t been announced yet, but is expected to start under £50,000. If that happens, it could be one of the most appealing large SUVs on sale in Britain.
That price would place it well below many of the cars it visually and practically seems to be targeting. A Land Rover Defender (starting at over £67,000) or Discovery (around £65,000) can quickly become very expensive, especially once you add the sort of equipment most family buyers actually want. The Ti7 is not pretending to be a Land Rover, and it will have to prove itself in the UK on ride comfort, refinement, dealer support, residual values and long-term ownership. But if BYD can land it at the right price, it will have a strong value story to tell.
The plug-in hybrid system should also help running costs, especially for buyers who can charge at home. With up to 79 miles of electric range, many daily journeys could be done without using petrol at all. That is the big appeal of modern plug-in hybrids when used properly. Charge it regularly and it can behave like an EV for commuting, school runs and local trips, while still having the petrol engine for longer journeys.
The 35.6kWh battery is large for a plug-in hybrid, and the 17.5-minute 30 to 80 per cent DC rapid charging time is useful. Some plug-in hybrids feel like they have been designed mainly for overnight charging, with slow public charging speeds that make longer electric running less practical. The Ti7’s faster charging ability should make it easier to keep topped up on the move.
Final UK equipment levels have not been confirmed, but the Chinese-spec car I drove had plenty of kit. Highlights included the large central touchscreen, digital driver display, head-up display with augmented navigation, panoramic sunroof, twin cooled 50W wireless phone chargers, refrigerated and heated centre console box, rear climate touchscreen, phone/tablet mounts for rear passengers, electrically adjustable rear seats, cameras, level two driver assistance and a strong sound system with headrest speakers.
Running costs will ultimately depend on final UK efficiency figures, insurance grouping, servicing plans and warranty details. But as a large plug-in hybrid SUV with proper electric range and an expected price under £50,000, the Ti7 has the potential to be far cheaper to run day-to-day than a similarly-sized petrol SUV, provided owners keep it charged – and ideally do so on a cheap overnight tariff at home.
The verdict: BYD Ti7
The BYD Ti7 is one of the most appealing cars BYD has lined up for the UK.
It is big, bold and very clearly aimed at a part of the market where British buyers already understand the appeal of a tough-looking, spacious, premium-feeling family SUV. On paper, it is a Land Rover Discovery rival thanks to its seven-seat layout, size and practicality. In the metal, it looks much more like a challenge to the Defender.
The cabin is the biggest surprise. Quality is seriously impressive inside, with a mix of materials, design and technology that makes the Ti7 feel much more expensive than its expected sub-£50,000 price.
It is practical, too. There is loads of rear space, a big square boot, clever storage, an opening panoramic sunroof, rear climate controls, USB sockets, device mounts and electrically adjustable rear seats. UK cars will have seven seats, although the final packaging and boot space still need to be confirmed.
The driving experience also made a decent first impression. Performance is strong, both from a standstill and when accelerating on the move, and the car felt stable during faster lane changes despite its size. The turning circle is impressive for such a large SUV, and the ride seemed acceptable over the limited roads available around BYD’s Shenzhen HQ.
But as an early taste, the Ti7 feels like a serious car. It has presence, space, performance, technology and a cabin that could surprise a lot of people. If BYD can keep the price under £50,000 and bring the right specification to Britain, the Ti7 could become a very tempting alternative to more expensive large SUVs.
BYD Ti7 rivals:
FAQs
How long does it take to charge?
The BYD Ti7 offers up to 79 miles of electric range from its 35.6kWh battery. BYD says the battery can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in 17.5 minutes using a DC rapid charger.
How much does it cost – is it worth it?
UK prices have not yet been confirmed, but the BYD Ti7 is expected to cost from under £50,000. If that is correct, it should significantly undercut many large premium seven-seat SUVs while offering strong performance, plug-in hybrid efficiency and a high level of equipment.
Does BYD replace batteries for free?
BYD has not yet confirmed the final UK warranty details for the Ti7. Current BYD UK models usually come with a six-year vehicle warranty and an eight-year battery warranty, but the exact cover for the Ti7 will need to be confirmed when full UK specifications are announced.
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With more than 30 years of experience, Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automative journalists. Steve has interviewed key industry figures, from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley, and is a judge for both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards, as well as being a director of World Car of the Year. When it comes to electric vehicles, Steve reviews all the latest models for The Independent as they launch, from Abarth to Zeekr, and he uses his expert knowledge of car buyers’ needs to provide a comprehensive verdict.
