BYD's luxury brand Denza is definitely coming to New Zealand, but exactly when is still uncertain. However, that didn't stop us sampling the Denza range on a recent trip to China with BYD, with the Fangchengbao Bao 5 and Bao 8 (that will likely be seen here as the Denza D5 and D8), Denza N9 large SUV, Denza D9 people mover and Denza Z9 GT all up for a good thrashing. However...
The Denza drive experience was around the same car park circuit as our BYD Seagull drive, and needless to say the experience in a large SUV, an even larger people mover and a seriously fast performance sedan was somewhat different.
The D9 and N9 are similar in terms of size and passenger-swallowing abilities, but quite different in terms of appearance, with the N9 being a sharp-looking large six-seater SUV that gives off Ford Flex/Lincoln Aviator vibes, while the D9 is pure seven-seater JDM-style people mover, massive chrome grille and all.
Both were superbly luxurious and packed with tech, and boasted a second row of two “captain’s chairs” as well as extensive rear seat entertainment options - the D9’s seats were larger and more luxurious, while the N9 featured a massive 17.1-inch drop down screen for rear seat passengers.
And, as you might have expected, both were entirely unsuited to a tight car park slalom, yet both were hilariously fun, with masses of body roll. To be fair, both also handled the undignified treatment with aplomb, thanks to remarkably well controlled body roll and very predictable handling.
As you also might have expected the N9 handled things better, with more responsive turn-in that saw the nose track more faithfully through corners, where the big D9 just lumbered its way majestically though, tyres howling in protest, but always (somehow) maintaining its dignity.
While the level of luxury and technology in both was impressive, and the handling surprisingly capable, the straight line performance was also mind-blowing - after all, the N9 packs a 152kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine with a 47kWh Blade battery and three electric motors (one up front and two at the rear) bumping combined outputs up to a colossal 680kW of power and 1035Nm of torque.
This enormous power figure will propel the N9 to 100km/h from a standing start in a frankly insane 3.9 seconds, with the D9 doing the same in a more sane 7.9 seconds thanks to its 1.5-litre/dual electric motor set up that endowed it with a combined output of 299kW and 681Nm.
The D9 and N9 would likely offer absolutely top-class luxury transport at remarkably sharp prices.Niche offerings, to be sure, but deeply convincing ones.
While these might seem to be totally unnecessary power outputs for large family haulers, both are also fairly hefty boys, with the D9 weighing in at 2325kg, while the N9 is closer (or even over, depending on the variant) the 3 tonne mark.
Both are also available with fully-electric powertrains in China, with even more power, but even more weight as well.
While we have no indication of pricing - or even if they will actually make it here - based on BYD’s current pricing, both the D9 and N9 would likely offer absolutely top-class luxury transport at remarkably sharp prices (still big numbers, just nowhere near as big as the numbers would be for similar Euro vehicles). Niche offerings, to be sure, but deeply convincing ones.
One car that wasn’t quite so convincing, however, was the stunning looking Denza Z9 GT. This was one of the cars I was genuinely excited about driving on our trip, but it sadly turned out to be the biggest disappointment.
To be fair to the big luxury performance sedan though, it was largely due to the setting and the fact that its much taller and heavier MPV and SUV siblings coped surprisingly well with the tight car park circuit.
Powered by the same powertrain as the N9 (but with 640kW/1035Nm), the Z9 GT will rocket to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
The Z9 GT took everything about those siblings to another level again, with a stunningly high-quality cabin and truly ferocious performance.
Powered by the same powertrain as the N9 (but with 640kW/1035Nm), but weighing slightly less (2700kg), the Z9 GT will rocket to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds, but belts off the line considerably more aggressively than the SUV.
However, corners are its weak spot, with a ponderous, nose-heavy attitude spoiling the momentum the feral powertrain so effortlessly builds up. This means the Z9 is the very definition of “slow in, fast out” but not in a particularly enjoyable way.
I imagine it would be spectacular blasting across continents, devouring wide, sweeping corners at high speed, but on a tight and twisty circuit in a car park it was entirely out of its depth.
This was probably made more of a disappointment by the fact that the Z9 GT was a total Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo clone, right down to its impossibly sexy shooting brake silhouette - a Taycan would have been genuine fun around the tight circuit. The Z9 simply wasn’t.
Still, it is a stunningly luxurious, seriously fast performance car that would likely be a joy to live with as a daily driver. While it was a disappointment at the car park, I would love to try it on local roads, where I suspect it might redeem itself rather nicely.
Will I get the chance? It is still too early to say at this stage, with the plans for Denza here still in their earliest stages. Whether that will stretch to a high-end luxury GT remains to be seen, but I would personally put money on the two Fangchengbao off-roaders, the N9 and possibly even the D9 to turn up here sooner or later.
