- BYD has released pricing and initial specifications for the Ti 7 in the UK.
- Undercuts the Defender 110 by £16,320 and offers better performance.
- Seven-seat SUV sports leather, a refrigerator, and 74 miles of electric range.
The Land Rover Defender is a British icon, but it’s about to face some stiff competition in its home market. We’re not talking about the Ineos Grenadier either as the BYD Ti 7 arrives in January.
Looking like the result of a drunken one night stand between a Defender and Hyundai Santa Fe, the Ti 7 has one big thing going for it – price. The model starts at £47,995 ($64,702), which is £16,320 ($22,000) less than the Defender 110.
More: BYD Is Coming For Land Rover’s Defender On Its Own Home Turf
Putting the derivative looks aside, the SUV comes equipped with LED lighting units, privacy glass, and 20-inch alloy wheels. They’re joined by a panoramic glass roof, mirror-mounted puddle lights, an acoustic windshield, and acoustic front side glass.
The UK-spec Ti 7 will be offered exclusively in Excellence AWD guise and this means it will have “a level of equipment that exceeds anything that its rivals can offer at this price point.” They’re not kidding as the seven-seater comes nicely equipped with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. They’re joined by leather seats that offer heating and ventilation in the front two rows.
Buyers will also find a refrigerator, a dual 50W wireless smartphone charger, and a tri-zone climate control system. They’re joined by an 18-speaker audio system and heated cup holders, which will keep your coffee warm. The Ti 7 also has Vehicle to Load technology, which turns it into a big battery bank.
Speaking of which, the model has a DM-p Super Hybrid powertrain that consists of a turbocharged 1.5-liter petrol engine, two electric motors, and a 35.6kWh battery pack. While the company calls it a plug-in hybrid, it seems to operate as a range-extended vehicle as BYD said the engine generates electricity for the battery “for the most part.”
Questionable marketing aside, the powertrain develops 402 hp (300 kW / 408 PS) and enables the Ti 7 to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h). That’s pretty quick and it can also travel around 74 miles (119 km) on electricity alone.
For comparison, the Defender 110 S comes standard with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel developing 250 hp (186 kW / 253 PS). It enables the model to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.9 seconds, before maxing out at 117 mph (188 km/h).
If you want a Defender with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, you’ll need to shell out £71,840 ($96,851). That nets you 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS) and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 7.4 seconds. Buyers will also find a 31.1 mile (50 km) electric-only range.
The BYD Ti 7 is currently available to order in the United Kingdom and the company will match £500 ($674) pre-order deposits.
