BYD has confirmed that its first seven-seat car for the UK will be the Ti7, a large plug-in hybrid SUV with Land Rover firmly in its sights.

On paper, the Ti7 looks like a rival for the Land Rover Discovery, thanks to its three rows of seats, big family-friendly body and promise of plenty of room inside. But just look at it and the target becomes even clearer. With its bluff nose, upright stance, chunky wheel arches and square-shouldered shape, this feels more like BYD’s answer to the newer, bigger-selling Land Rover Defender.

It is a bold move from a brand that has been growing fast in Britain. BYD already sells a broad mix of electric and plug-in hybrid cars here, but the Ti7 takes it into a very different part of the market: big, tough-looking family SUVs for people who need space, seats and a bit of presence on the driveway.

The Ti7 is a version of the Fangchengbao Ti7 sold in China, with Fangchengbao being one of BYD’s other brands. It is also already available in some other markets, including Kuwait, where the BYD Alghanim website lists the Ti7 from 11,899 Kuwaiti Dinar. At current exchange rates, that’s roughly £28,800, although UK pricing will almost certainly be much higher once taxes, specification and market positioning are taken into account.

The UK car will be BYD’s largest model here so far. It measures 5,146mm long, 1,995mm wide and 1,865mm tall, which makes it longer than both a Land Rover Defender 110 and a Land Rover Discovery. BYD says the Ti7 will have three rows of seats and a generous load area, making it a proper seven-seat SUV for larger families and anyone who spends half their life loading bags, bikes, dogs and children into the back of a car.

The styling is suitably full-on. At the front, there is a prominent lower bumper section in a contrasting titanium-coloured finish, sitting below a dual-layer LED light design. The sides get chunky wheelarch extensions and a strong shoulder line, while the rear has a near-vertical finish to help give it a square, sturdy look.

Inside, BYD says the Ti7 mixes rugged exterior design with a more upmarket cabin. The company has not yet confirmed full UK interior details, but the overseas model is shown with a modern, minimal cabin and what BYD describes as a premium “smart cockpit” feel.

Power comes from BYD’s DM-p plug-in hybrid system. The UK version uses two electric motors, one at each axle to give four-wheel drive, plus a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. BYD says it will cover up to 79 miles on electric power alone and accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds.

BYD has not yet confirmed UK prices, trim levels, battery size, charging speeds, towing capacity or boot space, so there are still some big questions to answer. Those details will follow in the coming weeks.

But the direction of travel is clear enough. BYD is no longer just nudging into the UK market with smaller electric cars and sensible family SUVs. With the Ti7, it is going after one of Britain’s most established SUV heartlands: big, practical, rugged-looking seven-seaters.