DENZA D9 2025 Review

The mid-to-high-end pure electric MPV market in Malaysia has been gradually heating up in recent years, with growing demand from family users and business groups for spacious and long-range electric vehicles. The 2025 Denza D9 Advanced FWD, as a new contender in this segment, highlights an official range of 600km, 7-seat configuration, and premium features as its core selling points, attracting significant attention from consumers. This test drive focuses on its daily practicality, performance, and real-world range to provide a reference for potential buyers.

At first glance, the Denza D9 Advanced FWD's overall exterior appearance balances the steadiness of an MPV with the technological elements of a new energy vehicle. The front is equipped with a closed grille design, paired with a through-type LED daytime running light, with the Denza brand logo embedded in the center for high recognition. The side profile exhibits smooth lines, with a 5250mm length and a 3110mm wheelbase ensuring interior space, while the 18-inch alloy wheels feature a clean design that complements the car's proportions. At the rear, the LED taillights also adopt a through-type design, echoing the front styling. The lower bumper has a flat design, projecting a practical and sleek overall style.

Opening the door, the interior primarily features a light color scheme, creating a spacious and bright ambiance. The dashboard layout is simple, with a 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen as the visual focus, offering smooth operation and good resolution, while supporting common functions including Bluetooth and CarPlay. The 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster provides clear displays of real-time information on range, speed, and driving modes. Regarding materials, the seats and the inner door panels are wrapped in soft leather, offering a comfortable touch, and the detailed stitching enhances the interior's premium feel. In terms of configuration, the front seats support 8-way electric adjustment, with both driver and passenger seats featuring heating functions, ensuring long-distance drives are less tiring. The three-zone automatic climate control system allows for independent adjustments for the front and rear rows, with a dedicated control panel for the rear seats to cater to every passenger's needs.

Space performance is one of the core advantages of the Denza D9 Advanced FWD. With the front seats adjusted to a suitable position, a passenger of 175cm tall still has two fists of headroom remaining. As the focal point of an MPV, the second row offers over three fists of legroom, supports 4-way electric adjustment, and can slide forward and backward to adjust its position. Combined with the panoramic sunroof, the seating experience feels spacious and comfortable. While the third-row space is not as ample as the front two rows, it can still comfortably accommodate two adults, with one fist of space for both headroom and legroom, making it suitable for short trips. In terms of storage, the central armrest box offers substantial capacity, the door panel storage compartments can hold water bottles and small items, and the trunk has a standard volume of 410L, which can expand to over 1800L with the third-row seats folded down, meeting the needs of family outings or transporting large items.

In terms of performance, the Denza D9 Advanced FWD is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, delivering a maximum power of 230kW (313PS) and peak torque of 360N·m, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.5 seconds. During daily driving, the power response is quick and initial acceleration is smooth. Even when fully loaded with seven people, the acceleration does not feel strained. Switching to sport mode enhances the throttle sensitivity, ensuring sufficient power reserve for overtaking, and maintaining good high-speed stability. In terms of handling, the steering wheel has moderate weight and precise response. Despite its large body, the turning radius is well-controlled, making U-turns and parking in urban areas relatively easy. The suspension system uses a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent setup, with a comfort-oriented tuning. It effectively filters out vibrations when driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, providing a smooth ride for passengers. While cornering, the body roll is kept within a sensible range, without compromising the overall comfort of the ride.

In the range test session, we drove about 150km each in urban areas and highways, with the air conditioning and music on the entire time, and the driving mode set to standard. After actually driving 302km, the displayed range consumed was 350km, achieving a rate of 86%, which meets expectations. In terms of fast charging, it only takes 30 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%, making it suitable for quick energy replenishment during long trips. Regarding driving comfort, the vehicle performs well in controlling tire and wind noise, and the interior remains quiet even at 120km/h on the highway. The seats offer good wrapping and support, making long-duration seating less likely to cause back pain; the energy recovery system has three adjustable levels, and at the lowest level, it delivers a coasting feel similar to a fuel car without any noticeable drag, making it easy to adapt to.

Overall, the core advantages of the Denza D9 Advanced FWD lie in its spacious 7-seat design, rich features, and reliable range performance. Compared to other pure electric MPVs in the same class, its price is more competitive. At 259,000 Malaysian Ringgit, the vehicle offers features like electrically adjustable seats, tri-zone climate control, and Level 2 assisted driving, highlighting its value. This car is suitable for users who prioritize family practicality, especially those who often travel with a full load or have high range requirements. At the same time, its comfortable seating experience and technological features can also meet business usage scenarios.

In summary, the 2025 Denza D9 Advanced FWD is a well-balanced pure electric MPV that meets the core needs of family users in terms of space, features, and range. With reasonable pricing, it is worth considering as a key option in the mid-to-high-end pure electric MPV market.