Denza, a sub-brand of Shenzhen BYD New Energy, is another potential Chinese car maker set to enter Malaysia with the recent sighting of the Denza D9. Note that the right-hand drive (RHD) version of the D9 was launched in Hong Kong on June 11 this year.
The D9, first launched in China in August 2022 is currently being offered in fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions. The EV version comes with three variants which are the 620 Premium, 600 4WD Premium, and 600 4WD Flagship, priced from 379,800 Yuan (approx. RM234k).
The base 620 Premium variant has a front-mounted electric motor rated at 313 hp (metric) and 360 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 9.5 seconds and a maximum range of 620 km following the CLTC standard. Both the 4WD variants feature two electric motors, powering all four wheels boosting a combined power output to 374 hp (metric) and torque to 470 Nm. This all-wheel drive configuration enables an acceleration time of 6.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. However, the addition of the electric motor results in a slightly reduced electric range of 600 km (CLTC).
In terms of charging, the Denza D9 gets charging inlets on both sides of the vehicle. On the right is a Type 2 port for AC charging and DC charging, the latter is also featured on the left side of the vehicle. This enables the D9 to be charged from two charging points at once if there is a second nearby unit available. In terms of size, the D9 measures 5,250 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, 1,920 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3,110 mm. That makes it larger than the Toyota Alphard and very comparable to the Zeekr 009.
The only officially available EV MPV in Malaysia is the Maxus Mifa 9. The Maxus Mifa 9 is priced from RM269,888 to RM289,888. Could we see the Denza D9 being its direct competitor?
