BYD reveals tough-looking new electric family SUV: Should the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tuscon and Mazda CX-5 be worried?

BYD’s off-road sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao has revealed its second Toyota-rivalling electric family SUV. 

Dubbed the Titanium 3, the car will headline a new product series for the brand called “Tai” (literally translating to Titanium) after the ‘Bao’ lineup. 

Plans for outside the Chinese market are unclear at this stage, although we know the brand is officially under consideration for Australia after BYD trademarked the “Bao” moniker earlier this year.

The larger Bao 5 plug-in hybrid is expected to launch in Australia next year, but will likely be called the BYD Leopard 5.

A BYD representative has been approached for further comment on if and when we might expect an Australian release for the Bao 3 Titanium.

For now, though, we know the Titanium 3 will launch in China in the first half of 2025 at 4605mm long, 1900mm wide, 1702mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2745mm.  

That’s roughly the same size in all directions as popular family SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5, which all compete in Australia’s competitive medium SUV market. 

Unlike those models the Titanium 3 eschews hybrid power for a fully-electric all-wheel drive set-up, with power derived from BYD’s flagship Blade battery, as is utilised on the BYD Seal, Atto 3 and Dolphin models.

Range and total power outputs are yet to be revealed, but for now we know that the dual-motor setup includes a front-axle rear motor with 110kW of power and a rear-axle motor that delivers an additional 200kW. 

According to Chinese homologation filings, approach/departure angles are listed at 25-degrees and 28-degrees, while two curb weights of 2170kg and 2265kg were listed. 

That means it will be considerably heavier than its rivals due to a larger battery pack, although departure angles are much stronger than a Toyota RAV4's, which is 17.5-degrees and 20-degrees for approach/departure. 

Interior details are yet to be revealed, though we do know what the Titanium 3’s exterior will look like, with boxy styling and hard-wearing off-road trims.

Two key design standouts are the rooftop and tailgate cargo areas, the latter of which gives the impression of a classic 4WD rear tyre mount. 

Pricing in China will reportedly commence from 200,000 yuan ($43,198), according to CarNewsChina.