New BYD Ti7 alternatives: which cars will this Chinese Defender lookalike need to beat?
Car changing is a big deal
The BYD Ti7 is a rugged seven-seater from China which is coming to the UK this year, and it’s got premium brands like Land Rover and BMW in its sights.
This is the new BYD Ti7, and it’s the first seven-seater which the Chinese brand will be bringing to the UK. It’s a plug-in hybrid with impressive performance, and order books will open later this year.
Unlike cars such as the BYD Seal U, which is an alternative to models from mainstream brands such as Kia and Volkswagen, the Ti7 aims to eat into sales from posher brands like Land Rover and BMW. Here’s everything we know about the BYD Ti7 so far, as well as three of its key rivals.
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New BYD Ti7: everything we know so far
Details on the new BYD Ti7 are thin on the ground for the time being. A full reveal is coming in a few weeks time, but here’s everything we know about it right now.
It’s a boxy, rugged-looking SUV which offers seating for seven and a powerful plug-in hybrid engine. Exactly how powerful is to be confirmed, but it has a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, which drive all four wheels and push this massive wagon from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds.
That’s only around 0.2 of a second off the Volkswagen Golf R hot hatch, and the Ti7 can also do up to 79 miles on electric power alone.
The interior hasn’t been revealed yet, but you can expect to see a large central touchscreen and lots of posh-feeling materials. Pricing is also going to be announced soon, but we reckon it’ll cost between £60,000 and £70,000 – putting it in line with its more mainstream alternatives.
But what are those alternatives? Well here are five cars which the BYD Ti7 will be going up against when it goes on sale later this year.
BYD Ti7 alternatives
- Land Rover Defender
- BMW X5
- Volvo XC90
- Audi Q7
- Toyota Land Cruiser
1. Land Rover Defender
The most obvious choice when looking for a posh-yet-rugged seven-seater is the Land Rover Defender. It’s effortlessly cool, and it looks at home both outside Harrod’s or wading through mud in the countryside.
It’s hugely capable off-road, comfortable on it and offers a wide range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines. It’s just a shame that the third row is a bit tight, and there are some question marks over Land Rover’s reliability.
2. BMW X5
It may not be as capable off road as the Defender, but the BMW X5 is fantastic to drive on the tarmac. It feels way more agile than an SUV of this size has any right being, but it’s also a comfortable cruiser.
We also love the high-quality interior, and the infotainment system looks impressive and is easy to use, even if we would prefer some physical buttons for the climate control. We’d also avoid the largest 22-inch alloy wheels, as they make the X5 feel a bit firm over bumps.
3. Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 may have been around for a while now, but a recent update has kept it looking super-cool and modern. That Scandinavian style continues on the inside, with high-quality materials making it feel suitably posh.
It’s really comfortable over bumps thanks to the air suspension, but it’s still not quite as good to drive as the BMW X5. You also won’t be able to go far off the beaten track like you can in the Land Rover Defender, but the Volvo is a spacious family car with an excellent Google-based infotainment system which is a doddle to use.
4. Audi Q7
If you’ve been blessed with lots of children, the Audi Q7 is the posh SUV to buy. It has six ISOFIX anchor points, so you can strap all your offspring in safely, and it’s comfortable enough to waft them all off to sleep on long trips.
The twin touchscreens on the dashboard are a bit fiddly to use, but the interior itself feels super-solid and the layout is neat. We also like the powerful petrol and diesel engines, although the PHEV version is a bit weak with just 29 miles of EV range.
5. Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser may not be the poshest off-roader around, but it’s certainly one of the coolest. It looks like it could take on just about anything you can throw at it, and the style is backed up by plenty of substance.
We’ve put the Land Cruiser through a lot of off-road challenges, and it’s shrugged off pretty much all of them. It’s also hugely spacious inside, but it does feel a bit agricultural to drive on the road thanks to the noisy diesel engine and bouncy suspension.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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