DENZA D9 Grandeur AWD Review

Every school day, without fail, at around 3:00pm, a long line of black and/or white MPVs will be lined up along Lorong Chuan just outside the Australian International School.

I'm fairly sure you can surmise what MPVs those are, and why they are there. When it comes to premium MPVs/minivans that have the primary remit of chauffeuring people around, one shape comes to mind: The Toyota Alphard (and/or Vellfire). Since it was introduced in 2002, the Alphard has basically become the defining archetype in this particular segment - associated with executives, expatriate families, and the higher-SES crowd.  

DENZA, BYD's premium brand, looks to make inroads into the premium MPV segment with its flagship D9

Since then, the model has continued to move upwards in terms of quality, and also price point. In recent years, we've seen many new competitors looking for a bigger piece of the pie, with Lexus even making its own hyper-luxe (and hyper-expensive) LM.

And now, there's yet one more brand that wants in: DENZA, with its new flagship D9.

Distinctive DRLs run downward alongside the big 'grille', but the D9 is otherwise a familiar and what-you-expect boxy MPV

The box formula

Quick recap: DENZA is a Chinese premium brand that is now a subsidiary of BYD (a name Singaporeans will be plenty familiar with now). It was first started as a joint venture with Daimler, but BYD eventually acquired full stake of the brand.

The D9 is the brand's flagship, and it undoubtedly looks the part. As you'd expect, it has the same boxy exterior visual language you'd be familiar with from the Alphard - with the obvious intent to deliver outsized interior space and equipment.

The D9's large overall dimensions mean even with all the seats up, there is still a very decent amount of boot pace, big enough to fit a few large items

Is it fair to criticise its design as being slightly derivative of its Japanese counterpart? Perhaps. But, I also wonder just how much design flexibility there is on boxy MPV/minivan shapes that are pretty clearly defined. There's only so many ways to draw a box, so to speak.

There are, however, a couple of distinct touches to set this car apart, such as the daytime running lights that run vertically along the huge 'grille' up front. The D9 also has a really high shoulder line, which emphasises its overall size.

The D9 features a distinctive rear light signature, what the brand calls 'Time Travel Arrow Tail Lights'

And size, it certainly has. The D9 measures 5,250mm in length and 1,960mm wide, so it's a huge MPV. Luckily, its 1,920mm height means that it will be able to fit into every carpark in Singapore barring a handful.

The 3,110mm wheelbase is generous, and that really accentuates its cabin offering.

With premium materials, ample equipment and good fit-and-finish, the D9's cabin definitely feels premium and up market

Dressed to impress

The D9's cabin immediately expresses premium intent, with high-quality materials all around. On this Grandeur variant, you'll find generous use of Nappa leather, open pore wood, a textured suede ceiling, and definitely delivers a level of opulence you will expect from a model positioned as it is. Fit and finish is hard to fault, and the overall package feels appropriately upmarket.

The driver gets a generous amount of equipment, including a head-up display, digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment display, within which you'll find a ton of functionality, including in-built navigation, as well as a voice assistant.

Is it the most seamless user interface? Probably not. There are immediate temperature controls on the home screen, but fan control has to be done on a second screen. And the fact that the default home screen is roughly 80% wallpaper seems like an inefficient use of digital real estate.

The in-built navigation has charging points organised according to power, which is a handy touch

A smart and useful feature is the 'ventilation' option for the windows - it automatically opens all windows a fraction, something most Singaporean drivers will appreciate (and do) on a hot day

Both front seats are also ventilated and have massage functions, which definitely raise the quality of life up front. And, the digital rear view mirror is helpful - it offers a clear view out the back even with a full load of passengers/luggage on board.

But really, you don't want to be in the driver's seat. The best seats in the house, expectedly, are the second row captain chairs, where you get to enjoy all the luxury, but with none of the driving work. 

The second row captain's chairs are great for working on the move - a USB-C outlet can keep a laptop powered, and there's also a 50W fast charging pocket for your phone

With ventilation, massage, ample adjustability with the ability to lie almost completely flat, a 50W fast charging pocket and a USB-C port with enough output to power a Macbook Pro, it's clearly designed with executives in mind. You also get a touchscreen on the armrest to control a host of functions, including the sunshade for the huge 1.1m² panoramic sunroof.

It even has a hilariously-named 'boss' button, which allows you to quickly adjust the front passenger seat (forward, of course) for maximum legroom. Boss, indeed. 

There's also a rather sizeable 6.9-litre fridge integrated into the centre console (DENZA says it will fit eight 350ml bottles) that goes from -5^oC to 50^oC, which has cooling, heating and "fresh keeping" settings, as well as the ability to set a specific temperature. It really does a good job of keeping drinks cold, and unlike the one tested in the Zeekr X, you don't have to deal with hot exhaust air being channelled into the cabin.

Second row passengers also get creature comforts like massage seats, as well as convenient access to the fridge

While life is best in row two, the third row passengers aren't deeply compromised. Three will fit comfortably here, with the middle seat wide enough to comfortably fit an adult. Legroom is quite good if the second row passengers don't hog it all, and with air-con vents and two more USB-C ports it's pretty comfortably equipped too.

The car also comes equipped with a stellar 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, which sounds excellent especially at higher volumes. Be sure to tune the surround settings appropriately (driver-focused if you are driving alone, or alternatively middle-focused if you are in the captain's seats) for the best aural experience. 

However, peer closely and you can find one or two things that still need added polish. For example, the wiper settings still say things like "Wiper_Auto_4" (I'm guessing that's how it's named in the backend system coding, it definitely looks like a file_name), and the higher regenerative setting is called 'Larger', so there's still some localisation issues to clean up. I also wish that the car would auto off when you park and exit the vehicle (it currently only will auto on when you enter, you have to manually power off before exiting). 

Quiet Comfort

Now, the D9 is all electric, and it's also pretty all-in. Two variants are offered, with this AWD twin-motor one being the big-boy. With 275kW and 470Nm of torque, 0-100km/h takes a frankly surprising 6.9 seconds (this is a huge car that weighs almost 2.9 tonnes dry!). It's quick. Properly quick. Much quicker than it really needs to be, but hey, performance is there for your generous use.

Of course, speed isn't that important in such a car. Comfort is. And to this end, the D9 is generally very good, but with some exceptions. This AWD variant has active suspension, what the brand calls DiSus-C intelligent damping, which on top of adjustable dampers also has something called Comfort Control.

On the move, the DiSus-C intelligent damping system does a good job of mitigating body roll and smoothing out smaller ruts in the tarmac (i strongly recommend to leave Comfort Control on 'strong' throughout)

In most situations, it works well. Body roll is well controlled through bendy roads, and the car is able to soak up ruts and bumps in the road well (turn up the Comfort Control to strong, of course). The system also helps mitigate the nose diving on hard braking, which demonstrates a perceptible increase in overall ride stability considering the car's weight. All in all, it does a good job of managing the car's weight and disguising it's considerable heft.

But, it's not complete magic. There are instances of inescapable vertical body movement, usually when going through what I'd call an 'extended patch of undulation'. I chalk this up to the long wheelbase, and likely the front wheel and rear wheels having to react differently to undulating surfaces. This is still a very big, very heavy MPV, and in some moments that's impossible to fully hide without something more sophisticated like air suspension (which the brand actually has announced the technology for). 

Considering the D9's sheer size, the 360-degree camera is definitely useful, especially the transparency mode

This is nitpicking, I think. For most of my drive I found the car to be highly comfortable and smooth-riding, and should exceed most people's expectations. There are three drive modes and two regenerative settings (the difference isn't that significant), but left in it's most 'normal' settings, the D9 is easy enough to use. 

It's also very quiet, almost eerily so. With music off, there's barely a hint of tyre noise or wind noise at 80km/h, and there isn't even an electric soundtrack playing. The result is a highly serene space, which second row passengers will especially appreciate. There, comfort on the move is great. The captain chairs are plush and cosseting so you can easily grab a quick nap.

I also found the panoramic imaging system useful, especially in tighter spaces. The all-around cameras are also able to composite a 'see-through' view, which helps with parking.

The D9 should comfortable cover over 400km on a full charge, and a suite of assistance systems will make life easier (though the full suite will only be available in Q4 2024)

The D9 also comes with one of the largest capacity batteries you'll find in a car right now, at 103.36kWh. This AWD variant has a quoted range of 480km. In my two days with the D9, I managed 4.2km/kWh, which would translate to about 434km on a full charge. That's a very respectable number considering, again, the car is huge and heavy.

And let's be honest, charging time is probably not going to be a big worry for many potential D9 buyers. Max DC charging is 166kW (decent, but not amazing), but it's likely the driver is being dispatched to charge the car anyway. I doubt many owners are going to be sitting around in their D9 while it charges. 

Keen to make an impression

Price is a big question, obviously. This Grandeur AWD variant is priced at $341,888, whilst the Elite FWD is a rather attractive $296,888 (all prices as of press time). 

The Toyota Alphard is presently listed at $409,888. This D9 certainly undercuts that price point, and by quite a significant amount. And compared to some of the other Chinese full-size MPVs like the MIFA 9 and MG 9, the D9 delivers a lot more quality, equipment and capability, though at an expected price premium.

The D9 delivers a impressive combination of quality and capability at an attractive and highly-competitive price point

Viewed as such, the D9 places itself in a very competitive position (perhaps not at all surprising given the success that BYD has similarly found in its positioning), and I would hazard a guess that the Elite FWD model will be especially compelling. 

Did I approach this car with a certain amount cynical scepticism? I'd be lying if I said I didn't. While I understand these premium MPV offerings, they've never appealed much to me. Too big, too excessive, and just a bit too much for my personal taste.

This DENZA D9 isn't likely to change my opinion. It's big, over-the-top, and certainly too much for my taste. But let's also be very clear of one thing - it's not a car for me, a single, bike-riding, middling-salaried journalist.

Considering its keen positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if executive families turn to the D9 as their premium MPV of choice

The D9 is designed for executive families, if that's even a term. Whether it's getting the head of the house from boardroom to boardroom, or to bring the family out on varied journeys, the D9 fulfils its premium MPV brief to the T. It could use with a bit more polish, but as it is, the value it delivers is hard to deny.

The big question, now, is just how much inroad the D9 can make into the Alphard's well-established territory. Given its price point and offering, I reckon it stands a good chance to do so. I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see a bunch of D9s amongst the sea of MPVs on Lor Chuan at 3:00pm outside the Australian International School. 

Looking for a full-size MPV? Here are other options to consider: 

The Maxus MIFA 9 makes sustainable transportation for large families easy and comfortable, so long as they can find appropriate parking, that is

Humongous, effortless, and uncannily familiar, the MG M9 EV is a luxe-MPV that silently reminds you, with its electric drivetrain, that size does matter

The all-new Toyota Vellfire is even more luxurious and refined than its predecessor