BYD Ti 7 is set to enter the UK market as the automaker’s first seven-seat SUV in the country, combining plug-in hybrid technology with styling that closely resembles the modern Land Rover Defender. The new model is scheduled to arrive in England in January 2027 and will be offered exclusively in top-spec Excellence trim.
BYD Expands Its SUV Lineup in the UK
BYD, the Chinese automaker that sells more new-energy vehicles—electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids—than any other manufacturer, is expanding its UK lineup with the Ti 7. The SUV will join the BYD Shark pickup in showrooms and becomes the company’s first seven-seater available in the country.
While European buyers may be more familiar with models such as the Dolphin and Seal, the Ti 7 adopts a rugged SUV design that bears a strong resemblance to the Land Rover Defender, including a notably similar lower front bumper.
Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain Delivers Strong Performance
Beyond its exterior styling, the BYD Ti 7 distinguishes itself with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The SUV is equipped with a 35.6-kWh BYD Blade Battery that the company says provides up to 102 miles of electric driving range.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing around 147 horsepower. The turbocharged engine spends most of its time generating electricity, while two electric motors combine to produce 402 horsepower.
According to BYD, the Ti 7 accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Interior Features and Cargo Capacity
The BYD Ti 7 offers 65 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. By comparison, a Land Rover Defender 110 provides 80 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Standard equipment includes leather upholstery and a 15.6-inch center touchscreen. Buyers can also get heated and ventilated seats in both the front and second rows, while the front cupholders are capable of warming or cooling beverages.
In the UK, the SUV will be sold only in the top-spec Excellence trim.
Pricing and UK Sales Position
The BYD Ti 7 enters the market at a significantly lower price than the Land Rover Defender 110. A UK-spec Defender 110 starts at £64,315, or about $87,000, while the BYD Ti 7 starts at £47,995, or about $65,000. BYD is also offering an additional £500 discount.
So far this year, BYD ranks 14th among the UK’s best-selling automotive brands, with 37,795 vehicles sold during the first half of the year. The company outsold Land Rover by several thousand vehicles and has nearly doubled its sales compared with the first half of 2025.
Market Arrival
The article notes that BYD has not highlighted the Ti 7’s off-road capability, a feature associated with the Land Rover Defender. The BYD Ti 7 is scheduled to launch in England in January 2027.
