2026 BYD Leopard 5 Updated: 1,310 km Combined Range PHEV With Huawei ADS 4 LiDAR From $37,800

The 2026 BYD Leopard 5 (Fang Cheng Bao Bao 5) underwent a meaningful mid-cycle refresh on October 20, 2025 with the launch of the new Long-Range Edition, which has since become the dominant volume seller of the model. The key changes vs the original 2024 launch are substantial enough to merit a complete refresh-article treatment: battery jumps from 31.8 kWh to 47.8 kWh (LFP Blade), EV-only CLTC range nearly doubles from 125 km to 210 km, combined CLTC range stretches from 1,200 km to 1,310 km, and the platform graduates to DMO+ with Full-Speed Domain Road Surface Perception Control. The top two trims now ship with Huawei’s newest Qiankun ADS 4 stack (upgraded from ADS 3.0) including a 192-line roof-mounted LiDAR and mapless urban NOA. Pricing spans ¥269,800-¥329,800 ($37,800-$46,200) across four Long-Range trims, with the dual-motor AWD layout producing 505 kW (677 hp) and 760 Nm for a 4.8-second 0-100 km/h sprint.

Performance & Specs

The Leopard 5 Updated uses BYD’s next-generation DMO+ platform — a body-on-frame ladder-chassis architecture purpose-built for off-road PHEVs, with full-speed-domain road-surface perception control that uses front camera + radar input to pre-aim the suspension damping. The drivetrain pairs a 1.5T BYD476ZQF turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 145 kW (194 hp) with dual permanent-magnet synchronous motors (front + rear) and 3 differential locks for AWD. Combined system output is 505 kW (677 hp) with 760 Nm of torque, propelling the near-3,000 kg body-on-frame SUV from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with an electronically governed 180 km/h top speed. The 47.8 kWh Blade LFP battery uses BYD’s CTC 2.0 battery-chassis integration architecture for improved torsional rigidity.

Dimensions & Off-Road Capability

Length	4,890 mm
Width	1,970 mm
Height	1,920 mm
Wheelbase	2,800 mm
Ground clearance	220 mm (+140 mm hydraulic lift)
Approach / Departure	35° / 32°
Wading depth	790 mm

The Leopard 5’s exterior is intentionally rugged: tall vertical greenhouse, squared-off body panels, exposed tailgate-mounted spare wheel housing on side-opening tailgate, and 220 mm of standard ground clearance with up to 140 mm of additional lift available via the Yunnian-P hydraulic suspension on the top trims. Approach angle is 35 degrees, departure 32 degrees, and the upgraded wading depth is now 790 mm (up from 700 mm on the prior model year). The reviewer’s walkaround unit is finished in granite grey with the redesigned 2026 front bumper (stronger-looking sculpting vs the original 2024 launch design) and 18-inch alloys with 265/65 R18 tires on the entry trim, optional 20-inch wheels on Ultra trims. Cargo capacity is 560 liters with the rear seats up and 1,050 liters folded — modest for the 4,890 mm exterior dimensions, reflecting the body-on-frame architecture’s packaging compromises.

Charging & Battery

The 47.8 kWh Blade LFP pack uses BYD’s in-house cell-to-chassis (CTC 2.0) integration for improved torsional rigidity and packaging efficiency. AC charging on the 7 kW onboard charger replenishes the pack in approximately 7 hours overnight. DC fast charging peaks at 100 kW, completing a 30-80% top-up in approximately 16 minutes — not class-leading but competitive for a PHEV at this price band. The 83-liter petrol tank uses 92-octane fuel with extender-mode WLTC fuel economy rated at approximately 7.8 L/100 km after the battery is depleted. Combined CLTC range hits 1,310 km in lab testing; real-world combined range in mixed mountain/highway driving is typically 950-1,050 km depending on terrain and driving style.

Design & Interior

The Leopard 5 Updated exterior carries forward the original boxy Defender-meets-G-Wagen silhouette with refreshed front and rear bumper sculpting. The reviewer specifically calls out the new rear bumper design with side-mounted recovery hooks (both functional) as “completely different and stronger-looking” than the prior model. The full-width LED daytime running light bar remains the front signature, with the central diamond emblem of the Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand visible on both grille and tailgate-mounted spare-wheel cover. Inside, the cabin is a meaningful upgrade vs the original 2024 launch: burgundy/wine-red Nappa leather two-tone on the Ultra+ trim, soft-touch dashboard with leather wrap, ambient lighting across the cabin, and the dramatic 50-inch AR-HUD spans the majority of the windshield’s driver-side glass. Standard equipment includes panoramic glass roof with electric sunshade, integrated rear refrigerator (Ultra trim and above), and the new BYD Smart IoT ecosystem that links to home appliances and smart-watch wearables.

Technology & Features

The Leopard 5 Updated runs BYD’s flagship DiLink cockpit with a triple-screen layout: 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster, 12.3-inch passenger display, plus the 50-inch AR-HUD. The audio system is the segment’s most ambitious at this price: Devialet 24-channel premium audio with up to 18 speakers throughout the cabin including a dedicated subwoofer. The reviewer specifically confirms full English-language UI at launch — export-ready. Standard equipment also includes BYD’s newest Intelligent AC 2.0 climate-control system with anti-fog mode, one-touch “big bed” mode that reclines both front and rear seats into a sleeping configuration, and an anti-motion-sickness mode that adjusts suspension damping and HVAC airflow patterns. Wireless charging is dual-pad up front. The cockpit SoC has not been officially disclosed but is likely Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P based on the trim positioning.

Safety & ADAS

The 2026 Updated Leopard 5 splits the lineup on ADAS hardware. The lower two trims (Tianshen Ultra and Yunnian Tianshen Ultra) use BYD’s God’s Eye C Level 2 system without LiDAR. The upper two trims (Qiankun Ultra and Yunnian Qiankun Ultra+) use Huawei’s newest Qiankun ADS 4 — upgraded from ADS 3.0 on the prior model year — with a 192-line roof-mounted image-grade LiDAR, mapless urban NOA, Parking Space to Parking Space 2.0 (point-to-point automated parking across mapped routes), CAS 4.0 all-dimensional anti-collision, and high-speed tire-blowout assist. The reviewer notes Huawei’s ADS 4 is the same software stack as the AITO M9 flagship — arguably segment-best at this price point.

Available Versions

Pricing & Availability

The 2026 BYD Leopard 5 Long-Range Edition officially launched October 20, 2025 in mainland China, with deliveries underway throughout Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. Pricing spans ¥269,800-¥329,800 ($37,800-$46,200) across four trims. Export markets follow BYD’s broader Fang Cheng Bao distribution policy — the model is being rolled out internationally under the “Denza B5” nameplate for right-hand-drive markets, with European and Australian launches expected in 2026-2027. The reviewer notes BYD’s current export policy on the Leopard 5 is restrictive vs broader Fang Cheng Bao products, with the new BEV-variant Leopard 7 getting export priority.

How It Compares

The Leopard 5 Updated occupies a unique position in BYD’s own Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand: it’s the only model with the combination of 677 hp DMO+ dual-motor AWD + 1,310 km combined range + Huawei ADS 4 with 192-line LiDAR at sub-$50,000. The Leopard 7 PHEV sibling offers a similar Defender-style body at $12,500 cheaper entry but with much less power (268 hp). The Tank 500 Hi-4T from GWM is the closest external rival but costs $4,000+ more and lacks the ADS 4 ADAS option. The FangChengBao 8 / Leopard 8 sibling moves up to roughly $70,000 with more luxury content but similar power and shorter combined range. For buyers prioritizing body-on-frame off-road capability + 1,300+ km combined range + Huawei’s newest LiDAR-equipped ADAS at sub-$50k, the Leopard 5 Updated has zero direct competitors.