At the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, we got a chance to spend some time with the Yangwang U8L. The SUV comes in 4- and 6-seat versions, and is now BYD’s biggest and most luxurious SUV anywhere in the world.
Does it live up to its positioning, and more importantly, how does it hold up against British and German luxury? Here’s our experience.
Design
The Yangwang U8L keeps the U8’s imposing, upright design but introduces details that distinguish the longer six-seat model. The most striking is a new black-and-gold two-tone exterior finish, complemented by darker treatment for elements such as the front bumper and D-pillars.
At the rear, Yangwang has removed the externally mounted spare wheel seen on the U8, giving the U8L a more formal appearance.
The U8L measures 5,400 mm long and has a 3,250 mm wheelbase, making it a substantial full-size SUV. As we learned during our time with the vehicle, the extended proportions help create more cabin space and improve access to the second and third rows of its six-seat interior.
Interior
The U8L featured here uses a six-seat 2+2+2 layout. Nappa leather upholstery is standard, along with a suede headlining and natural wool floor mats. Both front seats offer heating, ventilation, massage and powered leg rests, while the two second-row executive seats add powered backrest and leg-rest adjustment. The right-hand captain’s chair also includes a heated powered footrest.
Technology is simply extravagant. There is a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, 23.6-inch displays for the driver and front passenger, a 21.4-inch powered roof-mounted rear entertainment screen and two 5.98-inch second-row armrest displays.
Other highlights include five-zone climate control, an onboard fridge, four 50W wireless charging pads and a 32-speaker Dynaudio audio system.
Experience in the U8L six-seater
I spent time in the BYD Yangwang U8L, and getting into this large SUV requires some effort. The doors open wide, almost Range Rover-like, but the electrically deployable side step is essential. There is also a B-pillar grab handle for rear access.
Once inside, the front seat felt very comfortable. Back support was very good, head and neck support were good, and the side bolsters felt just right. Under-thigh support was also strong, helped by extendable seat-base cushions.
The pedal box was well designed, with a generously sized dead pedal. With the seat in my usual driving position, I had about 10 cm of headroom to the roof liner.
Visibility was good overall despite the relatively shallow windscreen and thick A-pillars. I liked the grippy steering wheel, burgundy interior, large digital instrument cluster, vertical centre screen and passenger display.
The graphics and transitions felt almost video game-like, but the screens were very responsive. The waterfall-style centre console and dashboard grab handles also give the cabin plenty of character.
There are two 50-watt wireless phone chargers, and the piano-style physical controls for the differential locks are welcome. However, most climate functions are digital, and I would have preferred a proper bank of physical HVAC controls.
The second-row captain’s chairs are even more impressive. I had around 18-20 cm of headroom, my shoes slid under the front seat, and the flat floor makes moving across the cabin easy.
Back support and under-thigh support were very good, with extending leg supports adding further comfort. The armrests are comfortable, and seat functions are controlled through a display on the armrest.
Rear passengers also get roof-mounted air vents, additional individual vents, phone slots, aircraft-style tray tables, a large glass roof and boss-mode controls to move the front passenger seat forward.
The window switches and buttons felt particularly high quality. The walkway between the captain’s chairs is useful, although the fold-out cupholders can partially get in the way. The rear-most seats appeared better suited to shorter passengers.
Specifications
The Yangwang U8L combines a high-output 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with BYD’s e4 four-motor system. Each motor develops up to 220 kW, giving the vehicle a combined 880 kW and 1,520 Nm of torque. Yangwang claims 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a 200 km/h top speed.
A 56.58 kWh second-generation Blade battery provides a 230 km CLTC electric range, while the combined CLTC range is 1,205 km. DC charging peaks at 574 kW, allowing a 10-97% recharge in a claimed 9 minutes 28 seconds.
The DiSus-P+ hydraulic body-control system can vary the ride height by 150 mm, increasing ground clearance from 205 mm to 285 mm. Rear-wheel steering of up to six degrees helps reduce the turning radius to 5.45 metres.
The U8L also has carbon-ceramic brakes, and 386 litres of boot space, expanding to 1,115 litres with the rear seats folded.
Price & Release Date
Yangwang launched the U8L Dingshi Edition in China in September 2025, and the 2026 model remains on sale there.
While BYD displayed the U8L at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, it has not announced the model for UK sale, and there is no British pricing or release date yet. The six-seat model launched in China at CNY 1.28 million (GBP 140,457), positioning it in ultra-luxury SUV territory.
Trained as an automobile engineer, I’ve been following the global car market since 2005. Over the past 17 years, I’ve been involved in online automotive analysis and publishing, traveling the world to drive, evaluate, and experience new cars and technologies.
