The Denza B5 Orion, a muscular plug-in hybrid SUV with serious road presence. Photo: Cars&TechSG

Denza is BYD's luxury arm, and the B5 is where it gets adventurous. Think of it as a tough off-roader that went to finishing school, then picked up a plug-in hybrid powertrain with some serious punch along the way.

Big promises. So we took it out on our usual roads to find out if it lives up to the hype, or if it's just a very handsome brick with a fancy spec sheet.

First impressions? It looks rugged and sleek at the same time, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. The squared-off body screams off-roader, but the clean lines and slim lights stop it from looking like a farm truck.

And it is properly muscular. At 1.92m tall, it towers over the usual crossovers in the car park. If road presence is what you're after, the B5 has bucketloads of it.

A bold grille and chunky rims up front, and a squared-off profile with serious road presence. Photo: Cars&TechSG

A tall, squared-off rear completes the off-roader look. Photo: Cars&TechSG

Open the door and you're greeted by warm, earthy tones that feel classy rather than flashy, the kind of look that should still feel right years from now. Denza calls its design idea "Interlocking": the tough, secure feel of an off-roader mixed with a modern luxury cabin. In plain English, it feels solid, and it feels expensive.

Then there's the fun stuff. The hazard light, drive mode and EV mode switches look like little crystals, and the power button glows red like something out of a sci-fi film. Even the gear lever is retractable, slipping out of sight when you don't need it. It's a little funky, and we love that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Earthy tones, crystal-like switches and a red start button give the cabin real character. Photo: Cars&TechSG

The 15.6-inch infotainment screen is big, bright and takes centre stage. Glance down at the steering wheel and you'll spot buttons just for off-road duty, a good sign that this car isn't only about looking tough.

Music lovers are in for a treat. There's a 16-speaker Devialet system, plus speakers built right into the headrests. Turn it up in a cabin this quiet and it's like having your own private concert.

The big 15.6-inch infotainment screen, and a clean digital display for the driver. Photo: Cars&TechSG

The front seats are wrapped in premium leather and nicely bolstered, so you feel hugged rather than squeezed. They're ventilated too (a must in our weather), and they massage, with 5 programmes and 3 strength levels. After a long day at work, you might just want to sit in the car park for a while.

And yes, there's a built-in fridge and warmer that goes from -6°C to 50°C. Cold drinks for the kids, warm food for the long drive. Road trip sorted.

The back seat is just as welcoming. There's a good amount of legroom and headroom, so even taller adults won't be complaining on longer trips. Rear passengers also get their own air con vents and controls, so nobody in the back is left sweating.

Good legroom for rear passengers, plus their own air con vents and controls. Photo: Cars&TechSG

The boot holds 470 litres with the rear seats up, enough for the weekly grocery run or a couple of big suitcases. Need more? Fold the second row and it opens up to 1,064 litres, so bulky stuff like bikes or flat-pack furniture isn't a problem.

470L with the seats up, and up to 1,064L with the second row folded. Photo: Cars&TechSG

This isn't one of those SUVs that only looks tough for Instagram. You get a couple of off-road modes to play with, and thanks to those dedicated buttons on the steering wheel, you can switch between them without digging through menus.

Underneath, there's double-wishbone suspension at both ends, and it's a big part of why the B5 feels so composed on regular roads. It also gives you the confidence to take it somewhere a little rougher on the weekend.

Up front, a 1.5-litre engine teams up with electric power to serve an amazing 760Nm of torque. In a car this big, 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds genuinely messes with your head.

Our one gripe: there's some lag when you move off from the start line. Step on it at the lights and there's a brief pause before it really gets going. Once it's rolling, though, the pull is strong and overtaking takes no effort at all.

What really won us over is how quiet it is. The cabin is serene, and the B5 drives just like a full premium EV. Most of the time, you'd never guess there's an engine under there.

Quiet as a premium EV, with 760Nm on tap when you want it. Photo: Cars&TechSG

You'd expect a tall, heavy SUV like this to lean and wobble around corners. It doesn't. Body roll is well managed, and the steering feels sturdy and responsive, so you can place the car exactly where you want it.

Comfort is the bigger surprise. Despite its size, the ride is comfortable. It soaks up bumps really well and stays stable over humps, with none of the boat-like bounce some big off-roaders have.

On battery power alone you get about 90km, which covers most daily driving in Singapore with room to spare. For longer trips, the 1.5-litre engine is there to back it up.

Rugged off-roader, luxury SUV and quick plug-in hybrid, all in one. Photo: Cars&TechSG