The 2026 BYD Leopard 8 standard trim is the affordable entry point into BYD's Fangchengbao off-road PHEV lineup, sitting below the recently launched Flash Charge flagship. Built on the brand's dedicated 2.0T DMO off-road platform, this configuration pairs a turbocharged engine with dual electric motors for a combined 738 hp, a 36.8 kWh Blade LFP battery, and a CLTC-rated 1,200 km combined range. Pricing starts at approximately $53,500 (¥379,800), roughly $8,000 below the 46.7 kWh Flash Charge version that headlines our other coverage of this nameplate. It targets buyers who want the Leopard 8's body-on-frame toughness, three-lock 4x4 hardware, and Huawei-backed driver assistance without paying for the larger battery and 800V charging of the range-topping trim.
Performance & Specs
The Leopard 8 standard trim uses a longitudinally mounted 2.0-liter turbocharged engine working alongside a 200 kW front motor and a 300 kW rear motor for a system total of 550 kW (738 hp) and 760 Nm of torque. BYD quotes a 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds for a body-on-frame SUV weighing well over 2.5 tonnes, and a top speed of around 180 km/h. Four-wheel drive is standard, with front and center differential locks included on this trim; the rear-axle third lock that completes the "three-lock" set is reserved for the range-topping trim. The chassis rides on a full-function DiSus-P hydraulic suspension that varies ride height between 220 mm and 310 mm depending on drive mode, giving the standard trim genuine off-road geometry rather than a cosmetic body kit.
| Powertrain | 2.0T engine + dual-motor PHEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 550 kW (738 hp) |
| Torque | 760 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.8 s |
| Battery | 36.8 kWh |
| Range | 1,200 km combined |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | PHEV (2.0T engine + dual electric motors) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 738 hp (550 kW) |
| ACCELERATION | 4.8 s (0-100 km/h) |
| TOP SPEED | 180 km/h |
| DRIVETRAIN | AWD, front + center differential locks |
| BATTERY | 36.8 kWh Blade LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 125 km (CLTC) |
| COMBINED RANGE | 1,200 km (CLTC) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,195 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,994 mm |
| Height | 1,905 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm |
| Ground clearance | 220–310 mm (adjustable) |
At 5,195 mm long on a 2,920 mm wheelbase, the Leopard 8 is a genuine full-size SUV, and the standard trim reviewed here uses a flexible five-seat layout: the third row folds flat at the touch of a button to open up a large cargo floor, or drops to leave four individual captain-style seats. With the rear seats folded, cargo volume grows to 1,130 liters, and BYD quotes over 1,000 mm of front-to-back headroom in all three rows plus 870 mm of second-row legroom. The demo unit in this walkaround rides on 21-inch wheels, a step up from the 275/55R20 tires some spec sheets list as standard fitment. In back-of-cabin duty the second row gets its own climate and media touch panel, letting rear passengers control airflow and entertainment independently of the front seats.
| LENGTH | 5,195 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,994 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,905 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,920 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 1,130 L (rear seats folded) |
| SEATING | 5 (fold-flat third row, 4-seat mode available) |
Charging & Battery
The standard trim's 36.8 kWh Blade LFP pack is smaller than the 46.7 kWh unit fitted to the Flash Charge flagship, and it does without that trim's 800V flash-charging architecture. On the included 7 kW home charger, a full charge from empty takes roughly 5.6 hours. Away from home, the standard 120 kW DC fast-charging system takes the battery from 30% to 80% in about 16 minutes, enough for a quick top-up on a highway trip. With 125 km of CLTC electric-only range, most daily commuting and school runs can be covered on electricity alone before the 2.0T engine needs to join in for longer hauls, at which point the 1,200 km combined CLTC figure covers several days of typical driving between fuel stops.
| BATTERY | 36.8 kWh Blade LFP |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | 7 kW (about 5.6 h full charge) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 120 kW |
| DC 30-80% TIME | ~16 min |
Design & Interior
The Leopard 8 leans into a boxy, upright off-roader silhouette, with flared wheel arches, a full-width LED light bar out back, and an exposed spare tire mounted on the tailgate, all styling cues borrowed from body-on-frame 4x4 icons rather than mainstream crossovers. The front end carries the brand's diamond-shaped Fangchengbao badge on the grille and steering wheel, flanked by slim LED headlights. Inside, the cabin trades utilitarian off-roader trim for a genuinely upscale feel: the walkaround car wears a tan leather interior with front seat massage and ventilation, a fragrance system, and soft-touch surfaces across the dash and door panels. A panoramic sunroof and roof-mounted grab handles complete the outdoors-ready but comfort-first cabin, and BYD includes a hidden storage compartment with a USB-C port tucked beneath the rear door trim for charging devices out of sight.
Technology & Features
The cockpit runs BYD's DiLink 150 system on a large floating center touchscreen, with a seven-screen interconnect that syncs the driver display, center screen, and rear-seat panel. A dedicated off-road menu lets the driver flip between Auto, Snow, Mud, Mountain, Sand, Rock, Wading, and Beach terrain modes, each paired with a live 3-D chassis animation showing wheel articulation and a 360-degree camera view for tight trail navigation. The infotainment supports local Chinese streaming apps out of the box, voice control, and an 18-speaker premium sound system. A wireless phone charger, multiple USB-C ports, and phone-as-key functionality round out the everyday convenience features.
Safety & ADAS
Every Leopard 8, including this standard trim, comes with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 3.0 driver-assistance suite built around a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor plus a full suite of cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. The system supports highway and urban Navigate-on-Autopilot, automated valet-style parking, and remote parking assist. Off-road-specific safety hardware includes front and center differential locks for controlled low-traction driving, a 900 mm wading depth rating, and the adjustable DiSus-P suspension that can raise ride height for extra obstacle clearance.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (Huawei Qiankun ADS 3.0) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | LiDAR, urban & highway NOA, AEB, ACC, LKA, automated parking, 360° camera |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 5-Seater | 738 hp | 760 Nm | 4.8s | 180 km/h | AWD | 36.8 kWh | 125 km | 1,200 km | $53,500 | ADS 3.0, front + center diff locks, 120 kW DC charging |
| Flash Charge 7-Seater | 738 hp | 760 Nm | 4.8s | 180 km/h | AWD | 46.7 kWh | 150 km | 1,380 km | $61,500 | Huawei ADS 4.1.5, dual LiDAR, DiSus-P Ultra, 800V flash charging |
Pricing & Availability
The Leopard 8 standard trim is priced from ¥379,800 (about $53,500) in China, sitting roughly $8,000 below the 46.7 kWh Flash Charge trim that starts at $61,500 and tops out near $63,000 for the 7-seat flagship layout. Buyers who mainly drive around town and don't need the larger battery's extra electric range or 800V ultra-fast charging get the same 738 hp powertrain, the same 1,200 km combined range, and Huawei's ADS 3.0 driver assistance for meaningfully less money. The Leopard 8 remains a China-market model for now, sold through Fangchengbao's dealer network alongside the smaller Leopard 5.
How It Compares
Against the GWM Tank 500 PHEV, the Leopard 8 standard trim costs about $4,000 more but nearly doubles the power output and adds 410 km of combined range, a clear win for buyers cross-shopping rugged PHEV SUVs around the $50,000 mark. The in-house Denza N9 undercuts the Leopard 8 on price with even more horsepower, but it's a monocoque luxury SUV rather than a body-on-frame off-roader, so the two appeal to different buyers despite the similar price tags. The closest comparison is the Leopard 8's own Flash Charge sibling: for $8,000 more, that trim adds a larger battery, faster 800V charging, dual LiDAR, and the newer ADS 4.1.5 software, but the standard trim reviewed here delivers the same horsepower and the same 1,200 km combined range for meaningfully less money.
- 738 hp and 4.8s 0-100 km/h from a body-on-frame off-roader is genuinely quick
- Same power and combined range as the pricier Flash Charge trim for $8,000 less
- Standard Huawei ADS 3.0 with LiDAR, plus real off-road hardware (diff locks, adjustable suspension, 900 mm wading depth)
- Smaller 36.8 kWh battery and 120 kW charging feel dated next to the Flash Charge trim's 46.7 kWh pack and 800V system
- Rear differential lock is reserved for the top trim, so full three-lock off-road capability isn't included here
The 2026 BYD Leopard 8 standard trim is the value pick in its own lineup: it keeps the 738 hp powertrain, the 1,200 km combined range, and Huawei's ADS 3.0 driver assistance while trimming $8,000 off the price by shipping a smaller battery and skipping the flagship's 800V charging and dual-LiDAR hardware. For buyers who charge at home and don't need ultra-fast highway top-ups, that's an easy trade. It's not the most off-road-capable Leopard 8 you can buy — that rear diff lock omission matters to serious trail drivers — but as a family-friendly, genuinely quick PHEV SUV with real 4x4 hardware underneath, it's a strong buy for the money.
