DENZA D9 luxury electric people mover arrives in New Zealand

DENZA has launched the D9 all-electric luxury people mover in New Zealand, with the front-wheel drive model priced from $104,990 and the all-wheel drive variant from $115,990.

The flagship D9 will compete directly with the Zeekr 009, along with commercial-based European options and parallel imported Toyota and Lexus products in the luxury multi-purpose vehicle segment.

DENZA Australia Chief Operating Officer Mark Harland says the D9 represents a new approach to premium family transport.

“We’re introducing a new standard of practical luxury,” Harland says. “The DENZA D9 offers all occupants first-class comfort, advanced technology, and everyday usability without compromise.”

The D9 follows the recent launch of the DENZA B5 and B8 Super Hybrid plug-in electric luxury off-road vehicles as the brand establishes its presence in the New Zealand market.

Battery and performance specifications

The D9 is powered by a 103.3kWh BYD Blade Battery and built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 architecture. The front-wheel drive model produces 230kW and 360Nm, while the all-wheel drive version increases total system power to 275kW and 470Nm.

Driving range is rated at 520km for the front-wheel drive model and 480km for the all-wheel drive variant according to the WLTP combined test cycle.

The vehicle supports 11kW AC charging and 200kW DC fast charging, with vehicle-to-load functionality allowing owners to power external devices from the battery.

Interior and luxury features

The D9’s three-row seating layout accommodates seven passengers in a 2+2+3 configuration. Second-row captain’s chairs include ventilation, massage functionality, power leg rests, four-way lumbar adjustment and position memory.

The vehicle offers more than 900mm of legroom in both second and third rows, with over 1500mm of headroom across all seating positions.

Technology features include a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and 12-inch head-up display. Second-row passengers have access to a 5.5-inch armrest display for controlling seats, climate and entertainment functions.

A dual-mode refrigerator and hotbox can chill items between –6°C and 6°C or warm them to 50°C. The vehicle also features a 14-speaker, 420-watt Dynaudio sound system tuned specifically for the D9’s interior.

Safety and structural design

The D9 incorporates BYD’s Cell-to-Body structure, which integrates the Blade Battery into the vehicle body to enhance torsional rigidity and lower the centre of gravity. High-strength steel comprises 75% of the body construction.

Safety equipment includes eight airbags and a comprehensive active safety suite featuring automatic emergency braking, emergency lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.

The all-wheel drive variant includes BYD’s DiSus-C suspension system with electronically-controlled dampers designed to reduce pitch, roll and lift for improved ride quality.

Despite seating seven passengers, the D9 maintains 410 litres of rear cargo space, expanding to 2310 litres with the rear rows folded.

The D9 measures 5250mm in length with a 3110mm wheelbase and features dual electric sliding doors with soft-close functionality and anti-pinch protection.