The UK market for large SUVs just got a new contender—one that looks strikingly like a Land Rover Defender but costs less than half as much.
BYD has officially opened preorders for its Ti 7, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV priced at £47,995. That undercuts the cheapest seven-seat Defender 110 by more than £20,000, a gap that widens further when options are factored in.
The Ti 7’s pitch: Defender styling at a fraction of the price
The Ti 7’s design leaves little to the imagination. BYD describes its “unapologetically boxy profile” as delivering the “imposing, chunky design” that SUV buyers favor, while still maintaining a “contemporary look.” The resemblance to the Defender is undeniable, though BYD stops short of calling it an homage.
Standard equipment includes a panoramic roof, 20-inch wheels, LED lighting, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen. Inside, buyers get heated and ventilated leather seats, dual wireless phone chargers, and an in-car fridge. An 18-speaker sound system and 1,830 liters of cargo space with the rear seats folded round out the package.
Power comes from a plug-in hybrid system combining a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 35.6 kWh battery and dual electric motors. The setup produces 402 bhp, enough for a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a claimed 74 miles of electric-only range.
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How it stacks up against the Defender
A seven-seat Defender 110 starts at £68,465, and that’s before any options. The plug-in hybrid version, the P400e, is even more limited—it only comes in a six-seat layout with two rows and a small jump seat up front.
The Ti 7’s pricing isn’t just competitive; it’s disruptive. The same strategy worked for Jaecoo’s J7, which has already gained traction in the UK despite its “Temu Range Rover” nickname. If the Ti 7 follows a similar path, expect to see it everywhere from school runs to supermarket parking lots by early 2027.
Deliveries are set to begin in January of that year. For now, BYD is betting that buyers will prioritize value over brand prestige—especially when the two look nearly identical from a distance.
It wouldn’t be the first time a Chinese automaker has undercut a legacy brand on price while mimicking its design. The question isn’t whether the Ti 7 will sell, but how much it will force Land Rover to rethink its own pricing strategy.
For now, the Defender remains the premium choice. But with a £20,000 gap and nearly identical styling, the Ti 7 might just convince buyers that the badge isn’t worth the extra cost.
