New Delhi: BYD’s premium brand Denza has made its India debut with two models, the D9 MPV and the Z9 GT. The D9 is an all-electric luxury MPV that comes
as a completely built unit (CBU) and is offered in a single, fully equipped variant. Priced at Rs 90 lakh (ex-showroom), the electric MPV has a front-mounted motor producing 462hp and 365Nm of torque.
With that battery pack, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in a claimed 8.5 seconds and offers a claimed NEDC range of 730km. Bookings are now open for a token amount of Rs 10,000. Denza is offering a warranty of six years or 1.5 lakh km, whichever comes first.
Denza D9: Exterior design language
D9 dimensions are meant to provide a lot of space on the inside
The Denza D9 comes with a tall, upright design, a large closed-off front grille featuring vertical chrome detailing. The front lighting configuration consists of conventional headlamps with U-shaped LED daytime running lights, accompanied by slim lighting elements positioned underneath. C-shaped silver accents extend towards the lower bumper, where additional LED strips are integrated.
In profile, the MPV gets a relatively straight roofline and beltline, along with 18-inch alloy wheels. Its powered sliding doors serve both the second and third rows and can be operated using buttons or sensors. At the back, a full-width LED light bar with distinctive arrow-shaped elements connects the tail lamps. The tailgate carries Denza lettering and features an electric opening mechanism with anti-pinch protection and a memory function.
The D9 measures 5,250mm in length, 1,960mm in width and 1,900mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 3,110mm and offers 689 litres of boot space. The MPV has a kerb weight of 2,915kg. Buyers have the option of four exterior colours, which are Whale Sea Blue, Cosmos Black, Starry Night Grey and Arctic White.
Denza D9: Interior and features
Denza D9 cabin
The D9 gets a seven-seat cabin with a 2+2+3 seating configuration. Denza offers three interior themes: Black and Brown, Black and Beige, and an all-Black finish. All three rows feature Nappa leather upholstery. The front seats have an eight-way electric adjustment, massage functionality and four-way powered lumbar support. The driver’s seat also has ventilation, while the front passenger seat comes with a boss mode function.
Second-row occupants get powered captain’s chairs with ottoman support, ventilation and memory settings. The third-row seats are also offered with four-way electric adjustment.
The dashboard features a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a two-spoke steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls. Physical buttons are retained on the centre console, which also houses a 50W wireless charging pad and cupholders.
Passengers at the back also get additional technology and convenience features. The second-row armrests incorporate individual touchscreens to operate seat functions, including massage, ventilation and recline. There are also two more 50W wireless charging pads, while the centre armrest houses a refrigerator.
D9’s interior is luxurious in every way
Other equipment includes a 16-speaker Devialet sound system, ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and a dual-sunroof arrangement. The front passengers get a single-pane sunroof, while the second and third rows are covered by a panoramic glass roof.
In terms of safety, it has nine airbags, an advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) package, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Denza D9 battery, range and performance
Powering the D9 is a 115.07kWh BYD Blade battery pack paired with a single electric motor mounted on the front axle. The front-wheel-drive setup produces 462hp and 365Nm of torque. Denza claims the electric MPV can do the 0-100 kph sprint in 8.5 seconds and travel up to 730km on a single charge under the NEDC testing cycle.
The D9 supports DC fast charging, with the manufacturer claiming that the battery can be charged from 10 to 97 per cent in just nine minutes. It also supports 11kW AC charging. The suspension setup comprises MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. The MPV also gets dual-valve DiSus-C semi-active dampers and ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.
At Rs 90 lakh, the Denza D9 is a premium electric alternative to the MG M9, which is also an all-electric luxury MPV. Plus, it comes as a nice electric alternative to the likes of the Toyota Vellfire and Mercedes-Benz V-Class. As a package, it is promising, with a good number of customers moving towards luxurious MPVs.
