BYD’s Enormous New Ti 7 Plug-in Hybrid 7-Seat SUV Takes aim at the Land Rover Defender
Starting from just £47,995 on-the-road, the all-new BYD Ti7 offers performance, efficiency, refinement, all-wheel drive and technology for a full sized, 7-seat, performance SUV. And there’s £500 off, too!
In fact, at 5,146mm long, 1,995mm wide and 1,865mm tall, it straddles the dimensions of the Land Rover Defender 110 and Defender 130 LWB in size, offering an extremely large SUV at a cut price.
Using BYD’s new DM-p Super Hybrid technology, the powertrain consists of three motors – one at the front and one at the rear and a longitudinally mounted 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Combined, this powertrain produces a huge 408 PS, delivering a Volkswagen Golf R rivalling 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. Top speed for this land barge is limited to 118 MPH, though.
But unlike many of its fast, leviathan brethren, BYD's 35.6kWh Blade Battery ensures ridiculously agreeable efficiency. Just on the battery alone it can cover up to 74 miles on a single charge without touching a drop of that liquid fuel swishing about in the fuel tank.
The Ti 7 will be available only in the flagship Excellence AWD trim, offering the competition a very tough time given it’s modest price. Only paint options will add to that, too.
Styling wise, you can see the Land Rover Defender influence in BYD’s design. It has a chunky, purposeful armour about it, with a near formidable look that will try and steer heads towards it and away from the Hyundai Santa Fe and Land over Defender. It also packs huge 20-inch alloy wheels enhanced by chunky, no-nonsense wheel arch extensions, and some (don’t look at me) privacy glass.
There are six paint options to choose with Starlight Silver being the freebie, while Mountain Green, Obsidian Black, Jade Green and Titanium Grey cost £1,100. If it’s posh paint you’re after, then the Matte Titanium Grey may appeal at an additional £2,000.
Acoustic glass helps to keep the noise firmly outside the cabin and the interior is bathed in light thanks to a panoramic glass roof. Enormous, that must be!
Leather upholstery is standard and available in three colours: black, light grey or brown, but seat heating and ventilation is available for the front seats and the outer seats in the second row, and three-zone climate control leaves no arguments over what the cabin temperature should be. Drinks and snacks can be chilled via the in-car refrigerator, plus there is a drinks warmer between the driver and front passenger.
Up front, there’s a 15.6-inch central touchscreen as standard, and a 10.25-inch drivers display, which keeps things refreshingly simply and not at all like an IMAX cinema upfront, as some manufacturers prefer. The 18-speaker sound system should keep everyone happy with some banging tunes, too.
Way back aft, the rear-most seats can be folded away providing a near barn-like 970 litres, but in seven-seat mode, boot capacity shrinks to a mouse house-like 126 litres. Fold both rear rows of seats and 1830 litres opens up.
Full specs of the Ti 7 will be confirmed soon, and customers can expect first deliveries in January 2027. The Ti 7 is available to pre-order now from all BYD retailers, and customers who want to be among the first to take delivery can place a £500 pre-order which will be matched by a £500 contribution from BYD. Happy Days!
