The local large MPV market is heating right up. The past year saw the introduction of the popular Toyota Vellfire Hybrid as well as the Lexus LM, while new all-electric options including the Maxus MIFA 9 and MG M9 have also made their way onto our shores more recently, ahead of the expected arrival of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Zeekr 009.
But today's new entrant into the fray comes from a brand that most here are less likely to be familiar with. It's called the DENZA D9, and it comes with seating for seven, alongside an all-electric drivetrain.
DENZA isn't exactly all-new here in Singapore, however. The firm was founded in May 2010 as a joint venture between the Mercedes-Benz Group and BYD (although the former has transferred its stake in the joint venture to BYD in 2024), and thus customers here can expect to find this new electric MPV at locations including 305 Alexandra Road as well as a new DENZA showroom set to be located at 7 Ubi Close and scheduled to open from 21 October 2024.
All this was announced at an opening ceremony, held at the Shangri-La Singapore, which also hosted the ceremonial dealer agreement signing between BYD and local dealers Harmony Auto and Vantage Automotive Limited.
For those curious, the new DENZA D9 measures in at 5,250mm long and 1,960mm wide, while standing at 1,920mm tall (making it longer and wider but a little shorter than the Toyota Vellfire Hybrid).
It will additionally arrive here in two variants, both powered by a 103kWh battery. The first 'Elite' variant sends all of its 308bhp and 360Nm of torque to its front wheels, allowing it to sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds, and offers a total WLTP range of 520km.
The 'Grandeur' variant, meanwhile, gets a total output of 369bhp alongside a peak torque of 470Nm, allowing it to complete the same sprint in just 6.9 seconds. This more powerful variant will cover a total distance of 480km before its battery goes flat.
Customers will also be able to enjoy features including a 1.1sqm panoramic glass roof and a 14-speaker Dynaudio audio system. But more likely to impress is the fact that the car comes with a 6.8-litre refrigerator that is capable of cooling up to eight 350ml bottles to a temperature as low as -5 degrees Celsius.
Take the second row and they will also get to lounge atop 10-way electrically adjustable seats that both come with their own touch sensitive control panel so they can make adjustments to cabin's ambient lighting or air-conditioning with minimal effort.
And while we are on the topic of passenger comfort, the Denza D9 also comes with a DiSus-C body control system, which is able to adapt vehicle damping effort to different road conditions, allowing the car to offer precise body control on top of a smoother and more comfortable ride.
The DENZA D9 Elite will by offered at $296,888 while the DENZA D9 Grandeur starts from $341,888. If you're interested, there's reason not to hesitate: Both these prices are inclusive of a $8,000 launch discount, and the firm states that it has already received close to 300 sales orders for the car.
But for those who still want to see the car before deciding on a purchase, the electric MPV will be available for the public to view at the level 1 Atrium at ION Orchard from 10 to 19 October 2024, as well as at the Sime Darby DENZA Showroom at 305 Alexandra Road.
Alternatively, you might want to catch our own review of the car here before you head out to test drive it yourself!
| Car Model | Price as of press time (inclusive of COE) |
| DENZA D9 Elite 103.36kWh (A) | $296,888 |
| DENZA D9 Grandeur 103.36kWh (A) | $341,888 |
