At the Shenzhen Auto Show, one moment cut through the noise and grabbed attention fast. The BYD Leopard 5 rolled forward, aimed at a steep testing ramp, and drove straight up a 45-degree incline without hesitation. The crowd watched as the SUV climbed cleanly and steadily, proving in real time that this new machine was built for more than city streets. The climb was not just a stunt. It was a message.
BYD has already made a name for itself as a major force in mass-market electric vehicles. Now, the company is pushing into tougher territory—off-road performance—an area long dominated by well-known American and Japanese brands. With the Leopard 5, BYD is signaling that it is ready to compete where reputation is earned through sweat, dirt, and real-world performance.
The message behind that climb was clear: “BYD isn’t here to play it safe.”
From the Show Floor to the Slope
The 45-degree hill climb took place as part of a controlled demonstration during the Shenzhen Auto Show, where the Leopard 5 was officially unveiled to the public. This type of incline test is widely respected in the off-road world. It puts a vehicle’s power delivery and traction control under intense pressure. If a drivetrain hesitates or loses grip, it shows immediately.
According to Supercar Blondie, the Leopard 5 made the ascent without hesitation. That alone places it in rare company, especially among Chinese-built electrified vehicles. Few have attempted such a test, and even fewer have passed it in public view.
The demonstration naturally brought up comparisons to past showcase climbs by vehicles like the Ford Raptor and the Tesla Cybertruck. In those cases, steep climb videos helped shape public perception and reinforced brand reputation. For BYD, this was the same type of moment—an introduction to a broader audience that may never have considered the brand for serious off-road use.
For an automaker entering unfamiliar ground, the climb acted as a shortcut to credibility.
Power Built to Back It Up
Image credit: BYD
The Leopard 5 is not just aggressive in looks or advertising. Under the hood and along the axles is a plug-in hybrid setup designed to deliver real muscle.
It uses a 1.5T gasoline engine paired with dual electric motors. Together, they produce a combined 675 horsepower. That kind of output puts the Leopard 5 in performance territory that was once reserved strictly for high-end gas-powered trucks and SUVs.
From a standing start, the Leopard 5 can reach 0–62 mph in 4.8 seconds. Its top speed is rated at 111 mph. While top speed is not what matters most in off-road driving, fast acceleration plays a big role when climbing steep terrain, powering through loose dirt, or navigating deep sand.
The hybrid setup also allows the Leopard 5 to balance raw power with improved efficiency, something most traditional off-road vehicles struggle to deliver.
Seven Drive Modes for Real Terrain
Power alone does not make an off-road vehicle capable. Control matters just as much. BYD addressed that with seven drive modes built into the Leopard 5:
- Normal
- Eco
- Sport
- Rock
- Mud
- Sand
- Mountain
Each mode adjusts how power is distributed, how the throttle responds, and how the traction systems behave. Rock mode focuses on slow, controlled torque. Sand and Mud adjust wheel spin for softer surfaces. Mountain mode is tuned for steep climbs and uneven elevation changes.
This isn’t just about button-clicking convenience. These settings give the driver real control over how the vehicle reacts when conditions change quickly. That kind of flexibility is essential for anyone who takes off-road travel seriously.
A Price That Shakes Up the Segment
Perhaps the most unexpected detail of the Leopard 5 is its starting price. At roughly $32,000, it undercuts many Western-built off-road competitors by a wide margin. Vehicles with similar power and off-road credibility often cost far more.
Price alone will never guarantee long-term success in the off-road world. Tough buyers care about reliability, repairs, resale value, and how a vehicle holds up after years of rough use. Still, the aggressive pricing gives the Leopard 5 a foothold that many new entries never get.
It brings serious performance within reach of buyers who might otherwise be priced out of the segment.
Entering a World Ruled by Legends
The Leopard 5 is stepping into a space shaped by decades of hard-earned trust. Names like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford Raptor are not just popular—they are proven. Their reputations were built over years of real-world punishment, in deserts, mountains, work sites, and back roads.
BYD is fully aware of that history. The company is not simply trying to copy what already exists. Instead, it is trying to reshape expectations by bringing hybrid efficiency into a category that still depends heavily on traditional gas engines.
That move comes with risks. Long-term durability in extreme conditions cannot be proven on a show floor. It takes years of field use to know how a vehicle truly holds up. But every established off-road legend had to start with a first test, a first climb, and a first group of skeptical buyers.
The Leopard 5’s public debut suggests BYD is ready to take that gamble.
More Than a Stunt
Some will write off a single hill climb as a marketing trick. But steep incline tests are respected in the off-road world because they reveal real weaknesses. Traction systems fail. Engines bog down. Transmissions slip. The fact that the Leopard 5 completed the climb cleanly means the core engineering did its job.
More importantly, the test was carefully chosen. It focused on the two areas that matter most in serious off-road driving: power delivery and traction stability. Getting both right is what separates trail-ready machines from street-focused SUVs wearing rugged styling.
The test did not prove everything. But it proved enough to get attention.
A Turning Point for BYD
With the Leopard 5, BYD adds another chapter to its rapid expansion beyond everyday electric cars. The company is no longer content with staying in one lane. It is moving into performance, luxury, and now hardcore off-road capability.
The Leopard 5 stands as a symbol of that strategy. It is bold in design, aggressive in performance, and disruptive in price. Whether it becomes a long-term player in the off-road world will depend on how it performs far from show lights and camera crews.
For now, one thing is certain. A 45-degree climb at the Shenzhen Auto Show turned what could have been just another vehicle launch into a statement. The Leopard 5 did not arrive quietly. It arrived climbing straight up.
And in the off-road world, that kind of entrance tends to get remembered.
