Author: CH_陈函
Keywords: Large, luxury, DM-i.
“We are lucky that the first car after the brand’s renovation is an MPV instead of an electric SUV.”
At the welcome dinner of the DENZA D9 media test drive, I heard someone at the next table say this. At that time, the manufacturer’s staff and the media were discussing the changing landscape of competition in the market.
From this sentence, I can perceive two layers of meaning:
The first layer is the apparent meaning of being glad to avoid competition from rival brands.
The second layer is more profound, reflecting the joy of the DENZA electric MPV’s initial success.
The explosive order volume of the DENZA D9 confirms that the initial decision was correct.
On August 23, the DENZA D9 was officially launched with a price range of RMB 329,800 to RMB 459,800. The number of orders reached 10,206 within just one hour of launch. Within 24 hours, this number increased to over 15,000.
What is more surprising is that 28% of these orders were for the top-of-the-line DM-i model, priced at a whopping RMB 4,398,000.
What makes the DENZA D9 so popular with these high-end customers? What is its “trump card?”
Driving the car provides an answer.
Practicality is at the heart of the MPV
MPV stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
Since its inception, practicality has always been the top priority for MPV models.
Whether it is a van for transporting goods or an MPV for transporting people for commercial or personal use, the practicality of the interior space is always the most important criterion.
This is exactly what makes the DENZA D9 so successful.
How large is the DENZA D9?
Officially, it can accommodate 7+7+7 people, which means it can carry 7 passengers who are 1.8 meters tall and still have enough room for 7 20-inch suitcases and 7 backpacks.
In practice, this description is not exaggerated. I am 170cm tall, and when the front seats are adjusted to a normal driving position, the second and third rows still have about 20cm of leg room, and both rows are very comfortable to sit in.The really valuable thing is that the third row of the TANK D9 should be the most comfortable among vehicles of the same size, whether compared with MPVs or SUVs. With only two people sitting in the third row, and sharing space with the second row, I even feel that sitting in the third row of the TANK D9 is more comfortable than on the independent seats in the second row.
This feeling is wonderful. The third row of the TANK D9 is completely a very comfortable three-seater, with sufficient cushion length, adjustable front-to-back position and backrest angle. The side windows are large, with an open view, and the fillings are obviously softer than the first two rows, with a more sofa-like feeling. The middle armrest, side armrest, independent air conditioning outlet, USB interface and other configurations are all available.
Compared with the second-row aviation seats, there are no fixed handrails on both sides in the third row, and you can sit more freely in the third row. You can lie down more easily, and even stretch your legs to the middle aisle between the second row.
In the second row, if you want to lie flat like this, you must encroach on the space of the third row of seats, which is not possible when fully loaded.
With a large body size of 5250×1960×1920 (mm) and a long wheelbase of 3110mm, the TANK D9 can simultaneously consider the passenger space and luggage space. The conventional trunk space can be flexibly adjusted between 410-570L by sliding the third-row seats back and forth.
This data is basically equivalent to the trunk space of many small SUVs, but the trunks of MPVs have more spacious height space, so more stacking is needed to fully utilize the space when loading luggage.
If you need to load more luggage, the trunk volume of the TANK D9 can be expanded to 2310L after the third-row seats are folded down.
However, the third-row seat of the TANK D9 has a high platform after folding, and the seats cannot be hidden under the floor or folded up. It is indeed inconvenient when transporting large items.
In the era of gasoline cars, many people choose MPVs for another reason, which is the low chassis that makes it easy for seniors and children to get on and off the car. However, in the era of electrification, this advantage has been greatly weakened due to the need to place batteries beneath the chassis.
Fortunately, the DENZA D9 has created a fixed step at the threshold position, like a fixed step board for passenger access. Thanks to the sufficient width and height of the car, it is still quite easy to move around in the car cabin. The middle seat of the second row of aviation seats is left with a passage of about 18cm, and it will not be too difficult for an adult to pass through sideways.
In general, in terms of practicality, especially space, the DENZA D9 has reached the top level of mainstream MPVs currently available on the market, which is its strongest competitive advantage.
Luxury is a Must
Of course, as a high-end model with a starting price of over RMB 300,000, luxury is a must.
In terms of creating a luxurious feel, the DENZA D9 has produced a satisfying answer.
The shiny chrome front grille, the stable square car body, the full and smooth body lines, and the unique through-style star feather taillights, these elements on this huge MPV can compete with the Toyota Alphard on a par.
Inside the car, leather wraps can be seen everywhere, the suede-like car roof, the well-proportioned wood trim, the succinct and capable ambient lights, and the Denon-branded sound system, which all emphasize its high-end positioning.
In terms of interior details, the DENZA D9 is well-thought-out, even the handles inside the car are wrapped in leather with real stitching.
If even the small details are so carefully designed, how could the DENZA D9 skimp on the luxurious decoration of the second row, which is the most representative of MPV luxury.The second-row aviation seats of the BYD Tang D9 are standard across the range. The seats in the second row have electric adjustments, air ventilation, heating, and massage functions, a boss button, a refrigeration and heating fridge, and an electric tray, which are all standard across the range. Each seat is equipped with one 50W wireless fast charging and one USB charging port. The high-end models are also equipped with seat memory and two 12.8-inch rear pillow screens.
It is worth mentioning that in the past, the rear screens of many high-end cars were virtually useless either due to limited features or a difficult-to-use system. The BYD Tang D9 does not have this problem at all.
Its rear screen is basically a duplicate of the vehicle unit and feels like using an Android tablet with its rich functions and easy-to-use interface.
Furthermore, BYD has hidden a camera that can be raised and lowered above the rear screen, which can be used by rear passengers to hold meetings, take pictures and videos. Front passengers can also call up this camera from the vehicle unit to see the status of the second-row passengers. This function is particularly useful when taking children out alone.
The “7-screen interconnection” system formed by the central control screen + 2 rear headrest screens + 2 aviation seat control screens + HUD head-up display + LCD instrument fully reflects BYD’s understanding of luxury in the new era.
In the era of automotive intelligence, the technological configuration is not only an important part of reflecting luxury but also a key factor in improving the user experience.
DM-i, “One Trick for All”
As someone who didn’t have high expectations for a medium to large MPV that’s over 5.2 meters long and weighs over 2.6 tons, I was pleasantly surprised after driving the BYD Tang D9.
I can’t say that the BYD Tang D9 is easy and flexible to drive since the size of the vehicle is quite large, which can bring driving pressure in narrow roads, turns or in and out of parking lots. It may take some time to get used to driving a large vehicle, especially if you are not used to it.
However, compared with similarly sized fuel-powered MPVs on the market, the smaller turning radius of the Weltmeister EX5 D9 and the smooth power advantage brought by the DM-i system are obvious.
According to official data, the minimum turning radius of the Weltmeister EX5 D9 is only 5.9 meters, and the total number of turns of the steering wheel is only 3, so there is no feeling of clumsiness when making quick turns or U-turns. Coupled with faster steering response and better steering direction, driving the Weltmeister EX5 D9 will not give the driver a “boat” feeling of direction vagueness.
This time we test-drove the top-of-the-line model of the DM-i plug-in hybrid version, which uses front and rear dual motors to achieve all-time four-wheel drive. The system has a maximum power of 299 kW and a maximum torque of 681 N·m, and the official 0-100 km/h acceleration score is 7.9 seconds.
This power is not considered strong for a new energy vehicle, but it is fully sufficient for an MPV.
More importantly, compared with fuel-powered MPVs, the DM-i system brings a power experience that is closer to an electric vehicle, with faster, smoother, and quieter power response. The driver can drive more comfortably, and passengers can be less disturbed by engine vibrations or gearbox shifting actions.
Moreover, after using the DM-i system, the operating cost is also lower. If there is a charging condition, pure electric driving can be used, and the top-of-the-line model provides a NEDC pure electric cruising range of 150 km. If there is no charging condition, it can be driven as a pure fuel car, and the fuel consumption level will be lower than that of fuel-powered MPVs of the same size and power level, and only 92# gasoline is required.
For reference, the car we test-drove this time has traveled 542 km, and the displayed power consumption is 5.7 kWh/100 km, and the displayed fuel consumption is 8.5 L/100 km. For a media test drive car, this level of energy consumption is not high.
As for the chassis, the top-of-the-line model of the DENZA D9 offers DiSus-C smart damping suspension adjustment, while other models provide FSD variable damping suspension.
According to official data, the DiSus-C intelligent damping suspension system equipped in the test-drive model can automatically match different damping according to different road conditions, effectively suppressing vehicle pitch, roll, and braking nodding and acceleration nodding, and achieving vertical comfort control while taking into account both the overall vehicle handling and comfort performance.
In actual experience, this suspension system does a pretty good job in suppressing acceleration/braking vehicle pitch and handling large bumps and impacts, with good low-speed support and slight floating at high speed. In most cases, it can ensure the stability of the vehicle while driving and the comfort of the ride, unless you drive very fast and aggressively.
However, it still falls a bit short in the filtering of fine vibrations transmitted from the road surface, and the road feel is still quite clear even when the suspension is adjusted to comfort mode. This needs to be further optimized.
As for sound insulation, the DENZA D9 is mostly quiet, with the only noticeable noises being the sound of the engine during rapid acceleration and wind noise from the rear windows when driving over 120km/h.
The DENZA D9 has taken comprehensive considerations for motion sickness, which people are generally concerned about.
To accommodate the character of an MPV, the DENZA D9 offers comfortable acceleration and deceleration options. After opening the options, torque output can be controlled actively to achieve a more gentle acceleration and deceleration experience.
Apart from the sport mode, the power output of the DENZA D9 is generally soft and gradual from the beginning. Drivers can have better control over power output and drive the car more steadily. Even if it is adjusted to the maximum kinetic energy recovery mode, there is very weak deceleration drag after releasing the accelerator, effectively avoiding motion sickness caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration.
As for brakes, the DENZA D9 also offers two modes: standard and comfortable. Under the premise of ensuring absolute brake force, the output of its brake force is also soft and gradual. However, because of its large weight and inertia, it needs to be braked more gently to stop the car，requiring a period of adaptation to gradually stop it smoothly.
Luxury requires more imaginative space
Unfortunately, the car we test drove this time was not in its final production stage. The car system software is not yet perfect and the assisted driving function has not been activated, so we will have to wait for more in-depth experience in these two aspects in the future.
During this test drive, Zhao Changjiang, the general manager of the DENZA Sales Division, announced some order information about the DENZA D9. The data shows:
- 80% of pre-booking users have chosen the DM-i plug-in hybrid version
- 62% are family users
- 50% are BBA users who have upgraded or changed to DENZA
Clearly, the DENZA D9 has gained recognition from some high-end users, and its product power meets the expectations of users, whether it is used for commercial reception or family travel.
However, I still hope to see more features that were not previously available in BYD on the upcoming DENZA models, which can better highlight their premium positioning, such as air suspension, or more advanced intelligent assisted driving, or more luxurious services, and so on.
These may not be necessary for the current DENZA D9, but they are necessary for a high-end brand.
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.