Yangwang U8 Review

To clarify, the Yangwang U8 is a full-size SUV - but it's not fully electric like the Kia EV9, Mercedes EQG and Hummer rivals. Instead, this 5.40 metre show-off gets a 2.0-litre petrol engine, plus an electric motor at each wheel and an enormous (by plug-in hybrid standards) 49kWh battery that's claimed to be good for a range of around 112 miles officially. That's despite a 3.5 tonne kerbweight, an advanced four-weel drive and torque vectoring system and combined power output of 1184bhp and 1280 Nm, all of which combines to fire the Yangwang U8 up the road to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. It's also got rapid charging of 100kW, which will get you an 80% charge in around 20-to 30 minutes, while plugging in at a 7kW home wallbox will get a full charge in around eight hours. 

Currently BYD hasn't officially confirmed that the U8 will come to the UK, but it has been showing if off in Europe at the Geneva motor show, and rumour has it that the Yangwang brand is likely to join BYD's European offensive in the near future. If that doesn't work out, we will see the brand - and some of the U8's technology - on smaller models.

The U8 isn't just a poser, either - it's got some serious adventure chops if you want to go exploring. Six drive modes allow it to be tailored to just about any surface, and the air suspension allows the car to be jacked up by an additional 15 centimetres for better ground clearance - and it'll even keep the car driving on three wheels if you get a blow-out on a tyre. If that's not impressive enough, the U8 is sealed in such a way that it will even float on water... Yup, you read that right. If the wheels lose contact with the ground in water of more than one metre deep, it will float on top for up to half an hour, while the 22-inch wheels will spin to keep it moving at up to 1.8mph. 

Clearly, BYD also recognises that cars like the Yangwang U8 are more likely to be seen on the boulevard than in the desert. That's why, on an open road, it impresses with acceleration that almost makes you feel sick if you bury the throttle from a standstill. And just when you've caught your breath, it swirls the occupants' insides once again if you've got the heavy, one-pedal brake recuperation activated. For the ultimate about-town trickery, the U8 can actually turn on the spot - accompanied only by the squealing and sometimes even smoking of the tyres - or slide sideways into a parking space (accompanied by the distant sound of tyre manufacturers cheering). 

The sheer power of the four motors can overcome the inertia of 3.4 tonnes effectively to accelerate, and they also do their best to keep the U8 moving on the intended line through a corner. Sensors check where they think you should be going and use a combination of brakes and torque to pull you through. Meanwhile, the suspension is keeping the body flat so it all feels a little unnatural. 

What the electronics cant fix are the laws of physics and the restrictions of current tyre technology, so the Yangwang is certainly able to keep you out of trouble if you get it a little bit wrong and misjudge the sharpness of a bend, but it doesn't feel like an agile sportscar. 

While the U8 looks pithy on the outside and rather brazenly copies styling cues of the Land Rover Defender, especially in profile, the interior is as classy as a Maybach and - well - perhaps not as tasteful. Every square centimetre of the cabin is lined with thick leather in bold and daring colours, there's imitation crystal glass on the switches and various perfumes wafting their scent from under the centre console. Of course, there are huge screens aplenty and, above all, loads of space. The U8 is currently a five-seater with an extravagance of legroom in the second row (no surprise given the 3.05 metre wheelbase). A seven-seater version is also planned for the future. 

With an equivalent base price of £123,000 in China, the U8 is one of the most expensive cars on sale in BYD's domestic market. However, this does not appear to have dampened its success. There are reportedly already 30,000 pre-orders and 1,500 cars are being delivered every month.

For BYD, this is a nice confirmation that the strategy with the new luxury brand is working, and also an incentive to finish developing the U9 supercar, which is an all-electric Ferrari fighter.

Verdict

The Yangwang U8 is neither sustainable nor sensible - let's be honest. But that's the same with its big role models from Europe, and compared to the Defender and G-Class, the U8 has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Plus it's already in production and being sold in China, unlike its European rivals. It won't be to everyone's taste but, given the European and British appetite for brazenly attention-seeking prestige SUVs, BYD would be foolish to not get the Yangwang U8 on sale over here as soon as possible.