The Denza D9 is updated in China. According to reports from CarNewsChina, the luxury MPV continues to offer two powertrain options: a battery-electric (BEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the latter of which remains unavailable in the Malaysian market.
Visual updates for this refreshed MPV include a revised front fascia. The faux front grille now sports a complex three-dimensional pattern, a departure from the “waterfall” design found on the Denza D9 currently sold in Malaysia.
The most significant upgrade, however, lies beneath the skin. Both BEV and PHEV variants are now equipped with BYD’s new Short Blade 2.0 battery of an undisclosed capacity. The new battery features “flash-charging”, reportedly capable of a 10-70% recharge in five minutes, or 10-97% in roughly nine minutes.
While perhaps less relevant to the tropical Malaysian climate, the new battery also proves itself in the extreme cold, where at -30 degrees Celsius, the new D9 can manage a 20-97% recharge in 12 minutes.
This new battery will reportedly power a more potent powertrain. The BEV Denza D9 now consists of a 462 hp (340 kW) front electric motor paired with a 95 hp (70 kW) electric motor on the rear axle. This setup enables a combined output of 557 hp (410 kW) on all-wheel-drive (AWD) variants. Reportedly, these new BEV variants boast a range of up to 800 km, presumably according to the lenient CLTC test cycle.
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The PHEV variants feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 156 hp, paired with two electric motors consisting of a 272 hp (200 kW) front motor and a 61 hp (45 kW) rear motor. Pure EV range for the new D9 PHEV is reportedly rated at over 400 km.
Compared to the pre-update Denza D9 currently sold in Malaysia, the new model is much more powerful than local units, which produce 313 hp (230 kW) on the front-wheel drive (FWD) variant and a combined 374 hp (275 kW) for the AWD variant. Both variants are equipped with a 103.36 kWh battery, enabling a range of 520 km (WLTP) for the FWD variant and 480 km (WLTP) for the AWD variant.
Beyond the power bump, the 2026 update introduces the latest iteration of BYD’s “God’s Eye” 5.0 ADAS system to the Denza D9. The MPV is now equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR and an array of sensors, enabling more advanced autonomous driving and intelligent parking features than the current model, though this advanced ADAS suite is not available on the Denza D9 sold locally.
Inside, the updated Denza D9 in China features second-row rear entertainment screens, an option currently omitted from the Malaysian-spec Denza D9. However, the overall cabin layout is expected to remain similar to the units sold locally.
In Malaysia, the D9 is configured as a three-row, seven-seater MPV with second-row captain seats featuring heating, ventilation, and 10-point massage functions. It also includes a 6.8-litre fridge behind the centre console with an operating range of -6 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Currently, the Denza D9 is available in Malaysia in two fully imported (CBU) variants: the Advanced front-wheel-drive and the Premium all-wheel-drive. Following the end of EV tax exemptions, 2026 prices now start at RM299,000 and RM355,000, respectively. While it remains to be seen if or when this updated D9 will reach our shores, Malaysians can at least look forward to the flagship Denza Z9 GT shooting brake, which is already confirmed for a local launch as early as Q2 2026.
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