After a week of driving the B5, I must say it put me in my place. I shouldn’t have snubbed it because it has its own merits aside from the Leopard Turn. It reminds me of Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, a gentle giant that can slug it out with Ronan the Accuser’s goons.

Let’s start with its aesthetic that looks like a counterfeit Japanese SUV. It didn’t follow the trend of being neo-retro or futuristic, and instead, looked just one generation behind. You will definitely not look back at it once you leave it in a parking lot. It’s a weird call from a brand that created such sleek and good-looking modern vehicles. But for those who like that era when SUVs still look macho and don't have single-line headlights, they’ll definitely like the aesthetic of the B5 especially with that boxy silhouette and tire carrier at the back.

Fortunately, the cabin had a different story to tell. No one can say it’s ugly. Straight lines and corner curves dominate the front section that’s reminiscent of the trend from the Brits. It’s minimalist but there are still physical buttons that they smartly gathered in one area—the shifter. And that shifter is neat too in that it tucks away once you turn the vehicle off. My favorite though is the legit mini-ref under the center console armrest. This tiny box can fit 4 regular bottles and can cool them by -6 degrees Celsius or warm them up to 50 Celsius.

Denza has fitted the B5 so well that there’s nothing more to look for in the front section. It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s a wireless charger (unless you want two wireless chargers), ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, huge screens for the gauge cluster and the center touchscreen, 18-speaker Devialet sound system which is surprisingly good, and powered front seats with memory for the driver.

Space, as expected, is abundant here. A wide boy like me can go out with fellow wide boys and we won’t feel cramped here. And as for height, it can accommodate multiple 6-footers easily.

Now, in case you’re wondering, the B5 is a full-fledged SUV. It has a ladder frame, double wishbone suspension, good approach and departure angles, and I reckon the break angle is good too. Denza says it’s capable of towing 2.5 tons and has a 600 kilograms payload capacity. That’s up to you to discover. As for me, I just rode it out and I was impressed.

I didn’t put it through hardcore off-road tracks, just enough corruption remnants in Bulacan to use some of the drive modes. It made light work of dirt, mud, and the bad roads despite not having adaptive suspension. I’d like to take back being a snob to the B5 because it rides well. The best part about it is it didn’t mind the ruts of EDSA, C5 truck lane, and is more than ready to sprint out of those cracks.

The biggest draw for me of the B5 is how efficient it is. SUVs like these are powerful, but you expect them to burn a hole in your pocket aside from their retail price. The 100 kilometers of EV range and 975 kilometers of combined range may not be much in your head, but it’s more than enough for city driving and even sufficient for me who goes back and forth between Bulacan and Metro Manila.

I charged it every night with its 2 kW charger and I’ll wake up to it having 80 percent (limited for battery health), then it’s ready once again for a long drive to Metro Manila. If I didn’t take it to Tagaytay for a day trip (325 kilometers), I wouldn’t have consumed even a quarter of its fuel. It’s so frugal even if you play around with its 578 horsepower and 760 Nm of pull, or always driving at the speed limit. BYD and Denza’s hybrid technology is just top tier.

You’ll also appreciate its ergonomics no matter where you sit. This thing didn’t give me any fatigue even after that long Tagaytay drive. I drove the whole way because my wife is a passenger princess and my body didn’t ask for a break in any way. For comparison, I always take a break in the gas stations along NLEX when driving my personal car from Bulacan to Metro Manila and back. This is why I’m surprised that my body, especially my legs and bum, are alright after that long drive.

The duality of the Denza B5 is very reminiscent of Groot. It looks like a brute, but is very gentle unless you want it gnarly—and it can be! It undercuts its Japanese rivals by a million with its price of P 3,798,000 and it comes with more flair. It walks on two paths perfectly with its off-road capability while having city car fuel efficiency. If you can look past the badge and its origins, it’s easy to fall for the Denza B5.