BYD has announced its intentions to enter the Vietnamese market in 2023 and establish a local manufacturing facility. When it officially arrives in Vietnam, the company plans to bring along its sub-brands, including Denza, Fang Cheng Bao, and Yangwang.
Of the three, Denza is the most appropriate choice for customers seeking mainstream vehicles (Fang Cheng Bao focuses on off-road vehicles, while Yangwang specializes in luxury cars). Their flagship model is the Denza D9, a recently launched MPV in Europe that blends mainstream and premium MPV characteristics.
Denza D9 is a strong contender for a position in BYD’s future line-up in Vietnam. Photo: LE HOANG
In terms of design, the three-row MPV has a fairly boxy exterior. The large window system creates a spacious feel for passengers inside the cabin. The imposing grille at the front is designed to impress, similar to many other MPVs on the market, such as the Toyota Alphard. The vehicle’s dimensions are 5,250mm in length, 1,960mm in width, and 1,920mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,110mm.
The Denza D9’s interior features high-quality elements, as the vehicle aims to position itself close to the luxury segment. Premium leather upholstery is found on all three rows of seats (2+2+3). The front seats are adjustable and equipped with massage/ventilation functions. In addition to the usual dual screens on the dashboard, the vehicle also has two screens located in the armrest of the second row, allowing passengers to conveniently control various functions within the car.
The Denza D9’s driver-centric cabin revolves around a massive central touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, while the remaining areas are designed with a minimalist approach. Photo: LE HOANG
The rear seat entertainment system adds two more screens, bringing the total number of displays in the vehicle to six. The middle seat in the second row has a mini-fridge, and this seat can also be moved forward or backward to optimize legroom or accommodate passengers in the back. Despite being equipped with sliding doors, the MPV still features handles on the B-pillars to make it easier for passengers to enter and exit.
The second-row seats are configured as two individual seats for optimal comfort, each with a convenient control panel.
Even in the third row, passengers have access to USB charging ports, a central armrest, LED ambient lighting, and dedicated entertainment speakers.
The third row is quite spacious, and the legroom can be further expanded by adjusting the second-row seats forward. Photo: LE HOANG
In terms of powertrain, the Denza D9 comes in both plug-in hybrid and pure electric variants. The plug-in hybrid version has two configurations, both using a 1.5L turbocharged gasoline engine combined with either one or two electric motors. The single-motor version powers the front wheels and has a combined system output of 296 horsepower and 571Nm of torque, while the dual-motor version with all-wheel drive boosts these figures to 401 horsepower and 681 units, respectively.
The pure electric Denza D9 is also available in two configurations with single and dual motors. The standard version uses a front motor with 308 horsepower and 360Nm of torque. The higher-end all-wheel-drive version delivers a total output of 369 horsepower and 470Nm of torque.
One advantage of the Denza D9 over its competitors in the market is that it offers a pure electric version in addition to the hybrid variant. Photo: LE HOANG
The Denza D9’s pure electric variants have a driving range of 600 to 620km according to the Chinese CLTC test standard. The MPV supports fast-charging technology, allowing it to recover 230km of range within 15 minutes of charging.
The base price of the Denza D9 in China is 339,800 NDT, equivalent to 1.19 billion VND.
