Denza, BYD’s premium marque, plans to add a lower-power sentry mode to the discontinued N7 SUV through an over-the-air update in 2027. The brand says the rollout requires time to develop several technologies and ensure that the feature works alongside other vehicle functions. It has not explained how the new mode will cut energy use, but says the update could also reach other Denza and BYD models.
Sentry mode uses a car’s cameras to monitor its surroundings while parked and can save recorded footage in the vehicle. Keeping the relevant systems active can consume energy and reduce driving range. The article cites reported use of nearly 5 kWh by Nio cars, while Xiaomi says its Skynomad SUVs lose less than 5 km of range after 10 hours in the mode. Denza has not provided a comparable figure or confirmed that its solution uses dedicated hardware.
The N7 went on sale in July 2023 and had a final 2026 retail price of 259,800–289,800 yuan (about US$39,000–43,500). It was offered with rear-wheel drive rated at 230 kW or all-wheel drive at 390 kW, plus a 91.3 kWh battery and a maximum CLTC range of 702 km. China EV DataTracker recorded 18,979 N7 deliveries in China over the model’s four-year run. The article notes that Denza’s N8L and Z9 GT have performed better.