Fortunately, I was able to apply for the test drive of the 42 Garage in late November 2020, and had the opportunity to experience the DENZA X PHEV. However, it was regrettable that during the few days of test driving, I only used it for commuting to work because they were basically workdays.
As for commuting, the performance of this car is commendable. A 7-seater SUV has no advantage in commuting to work in a city like Beijing with dense traffic, but fortunately, driving this car does not give the driver any pressure. The configuration of lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and 360-degree surround view makes everything, whether it is driving or parking, simple.
During the test drive, I worked in a studio near Jinzhan in Chaoyang District of Beijing, so I did not take any photos while driving. Most of the photos were taken casually during my leisure time.
The DENZA X is in the same frame as the recently popular Tank 300, and the body sizes of the two cars look quite similar. The Tank 300 is taller, and the DENZA X is slimmer and more technologically advanced in appearance.
The front of the car is full in shape, with dotted-through headlights, and a mixture of luxury and future-oriented design.
The headlight is sharp in shape and connected to the central decoration bar on the front. When the lights are on, the visual effect is quite good.
The side of the car is my favorite, with a length of nearly 4.9 meters, which does not look heavy at all. This test drive car is a sports version, and there are no chrome decorations on the windows, but high-gloss black decorative strips replace them. Unlike most SUVs which use a matte texture for decoration on the wheel arches, it also adopts high-gloss decorative strips, and the details are in place.
The most direct way to emphasize sportiness is the wheel size, which uses 22-inch wheels, which is relatively rare for mid-size SUVs.
The braking specification of DENZA X is also high, with four-piston calipers made by brembo on the front wheels, which are equipped with perforated and ventilated discs. The hardware composition enables each step of braking to have good foot feel during the braking process and gives the driver strong confidence.
The Teos X features a through-type taillight with a futuristic design and high recognition when illuminated at night. The spoiler board behind the C-column is also very eye-catching, highlighting its sporty attributes.
Compared to the exterior, the interior is more surprising, with a sense of hierarchy and luxurious feelings created by the use of various materials. The decorative panel in front of the passenger seat is labeled “Styled by Mercedes-Benz,” outlining that its interior design is under the hands of Benz designers.
Many areas of the interior are similar to those of Benz, such as the shape of the air outlet, seat adjustment buttons, and headlight control switches.
The contrasting color seats are not just visually impressive; they also provide adequate comfort during driving. They are equipped with seat heating and ventilation, which are particularly useful in winter, giving a warm feeling as soon as you get in.
The large screen on the center console is particularly eye-catching and has powerful functionality. Previously, I relied heavily on Carplay for navigation while driving, but with this system, I no longer need to depend on my phone, whether for navigation or listening to music.
However, because of its “excessively powerful” functionality, there may be some distracting features while driving, such as viewing iQiyi or playing Honor of Kings. These types of apps should not be used while driving as they significantly affect driving safety.
The space performance is decent, with comfortable seating in both the front and rear rows. However, the third-row seating area is relatively cramped and can only be understood as an emergency seat, accommodating just about anyone, but with little comfort to offer.
With the third-row seats folded down, the trunk space is tidy and reasonable, with charging equipment stored under the floor mats.
Let’s talk about the driving experience of this car. The biggest feeling is smoothness. When the electric power is on, stepping on the accelerator will bring the speed up directly, which gives confidence for lane changing on the Beijing ring road. The steering wheel is not too heavy, and the feedback force of the steering is moderate. The suspension’s shock absorption and support are also good, giving an overall comfortable feeling. In addition, there is a slight sense of drag when releasing the accelerator pedal, but it is not very noticeable, and people can adapt quickly.
I think the DENZA X is a more sincere product. Although it bears the brand of Mercedes-Benz, it has almost no brand premium. Compared to the BYD Tang, it is slightly more expensive, but gives a more luxurious interior atmosphere and more complete configuration.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.