First impressions: Denza D9 Premium AWD drive review - A silent private jet on wheels

KUALA LUMPUR:  A 340+ km journey from Old Klang Road to Desaru in an electric MPV doesn’t sound like the most exciting assignment on paper.

But the fully electric Denza D9 Premium AWD MPV turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable drives we’ve done this year — and not because it’s fast (though it is), or futuristic (also true), but because it completely rethinks what a premium MPV in Malaysia can be.

Also Read: Denza expands in Malaysia with four new dealerships

Old Klang Road, start your engines, or motors for this instance

Our day began at Denza’s swanky showroom in Old Klang Road — a bright, clean space that felt more boutique than typical car dealership. Outside, a convoy of Denza D9 Premium AWD units gleamed under the morning sun, lined up like a fleet of silent Jumbo jets ready for takeoff.

Interestingly, Denza chose to put every single one of us in the AWD variant — not the FWD Long Range model with the most claimed mileage. And honestly, that caught us by surprise.

After all, the AWD’s official range is slightly lower, and Desaru isn’t exactly just around the corner. But Denza clearly had no doubt in the car’s ability to reach Desaru, located at the southern end of the country— and that quiet confidence spoke volumes before we even hit the road.

BYD Brains, Premium Execution Denza is part of BYD, a brand that’s become increasingly serious about electrification across every segment.

While the D9’s styling and cabin execution hint at familiar MPV that we all know, this machine is a homegrown effort — designed and engineered to showcase what a Chinese luxury EV can feel like. This Denza D9 review proves it’s not just about looking good — it’s about feeling right.

As mentioned before, the variant for the day was the Premium AWD model, which brings dual motors, 374 PS, and a hefty 470 Nm of torque. That’s enough to get this seven-seater from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds — not bad for something that could double as a mobile lounge or a luxury family EV.

Priced at RM309,000, the MPV comes with a six year vehicle, eight years battery and eight years drive motor and motor controller warranty - so pretty much peace of mind for nearly a decade.

Inside: The real show

The inside is basically a lounge, and that best sums it up. As the automatic sliding door opened with a soft electronic whirr, we were greeted by what looked more like the interior of a private business jet than a car.

Captain seats in the middle row — massage, legrest, heated and ventilated — instantly stole the spotlight. Each came with its own cabin control touch screen system and tray table — this is definitely a MPV with massage seats that sets new standards.

Now here’s the funny bit: although not said out loud, I felt like none of the journos actually wanted to be the driver and that was the same for me.

Everyone instinctively beelined for the back seats — and honestly, who could blame them? For once, the media fleet felt less like a test drive and more like a five-star test nap. And truthfully, that’s where future owners will spend most of their time too.

Up front, the 15.6" central display dominated the dashboard, supported by a crisp 10.25” digital cluster and soft-touch surfaces all around. Wireless charging pads, USB-C ports, and all sorts of buttons to control functions to give you the best on board experience.

Leaving the City

The route? From the heart of Kuala Lumpur, down the PLUS Highway, past sleepy towns and palm oil estates, ending at Desaru on the southern coast — over 340 km all-in. It was a perfect blend of traffic, open road, and twisty bits to assess the D9’s capabilities during this EV road trip.

In town, the Denza’s ADAS suite made light work of congestion. With five millimetre wave radars, eight ultrasonic sensors, four 360-degree cameras and driver monitoring, it was as if the car was always watching out back.

However, while the lane keep assist worked seamlessly, the adaptive cruise control was a bit jittery. Yes it was dependable, but it just felt like it was working hard to keep a constant speed — perhaps, KL’s legendary jam makes a good vehicle feel nervous. We’re not sure what it was, because no other journalist mentioned it.

Cruising South Once on the highway, the D9 showed its true strength. At a steady 110 km/h, the cabin was remarkably quiet. You could whisper across rows and still be heard.

There was barely a whisper of wind or tyre noise. The only thing breaking the silence was the Spotify’s playlist and some jokes between us journalists. We learned later that all of the glass in the D9 was double glazed, so no wonder it was so quiet.

Power delivery was linear and smooth. You could put it into Sport mode for a more urgent throttle response, but honestly, Comfort was more than enough. The AWD electric car system worked invisibly in the background, offering just the right grip without drama. It’s not a driver’s car for sure — but it’s an excellent passenger’s car.

It’s probably thanks to the two-stage DiSus-C electronically controlled intelligent suspension, which by the way you can fine-tune through the infotainment system to customise the ride exactly to your preference.

EV efficiency and regen braking

Denza claims over 500 km of range for the D9 AWD, and after nearly four hours on the road — with three adults onboard, AC running, massage seats in action, and plenty of testing going on — we saw an average consumption of around 27 kWh/100 km.

That’s a little higher than average, but hey, we’re journalists… testing acceleration, switching drive modes, filming rolling shots — it’s hardly hypermiling.

That said, if driven more efficiently, we believe it could dip closer to 21–23 kWh/100 km. Personally, I turned the regenerative braking almost completely off because I prefer that natural coasting feel — but if you kept it on, especially in higher settings, you’d likely see improved efficiency.

The regen system itself is adjustable through multiple levels — from near-freewheeling to a proper one-pedal driving experience. Everyone in the group had a different favourite, but it’s nice that the car lets you dial it in exactly how you like it.

the D9 held its ground and never made us nervous about the next charging stop.

Practical and pampering

What really stood out beyond the drive was how well-equipped and thought-out the D9 was. Need to cool your drinks? There's a built-in cooler box. Charging options? Wireless and USB-C everywhere — check, check, and check for charging and convenience.

The Denza’s second-row captain seats come equipped with their own touchscreen control panel, giving passengers full command over the cabin environment.

From adjusting the air-conditioning and sunshades for the panoramic roof to setting seat positions, activating the massage function, controlling the music, and even opening or closing the built-in fridge — it’s all just a tap away.

The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, but for added convenience, Denza has also included physical shortcut buttons beside the screen specifically for seat adjustments, so you don’t always have to rely on the touchscreen to get comfortable quickly.

We even spent some time in the third row — and to our surprise, it was genuinely impressive. There's plenty of space, and the comfort level is far better than expected. In fact, an adult can sit back there without feeling shortchanged or wishing they were in the second-row captain seats. It’s that good.

The boot had good amounts of space. We loaded in tripods, duffels, gear bags — and still had space to spare. And with powered doors and a flat load floor, it was just easy to live with.

When we pulled into Desaru, nobody looked drained. No slouched shoulders, no rubbing temples. Just a relaxed bunch of journos who had clearly enjoyed the ride — and that says a lot.

Charging stops and real-world range

With a claim of more than 500 km of range onboard, we could’ve technically made it all the way to Desaru without needing to plug in — at least on paper. But between our “journalist-style” driving, constant mode switching, and full-throttle curiosity, the range took a fair hit.

No problem, though. We stopped for a quick top-up in Melaka while having lunch, and that was more than enough to get us going to our final destination in Desaru. The Denza D9 supports up to 166 kW of fast DC charging, making it a truly fast charging MPV.

Officially, the D9 is rated to charge from 30% to 80% in just a little over 20 minutes, which is impressive for a vehicle of this size. With more DC chargers popping up along highways and R&Rs, quick pit stops like this are becoming part of the norm — making long EV road trips more convenient than ever.

The Business-Class MPV The real magic of the Denza D9 lies in how it transforms what used to be a workhorse segment into something genuinely aspirational. You’re no longer choosing an MPV because you have to — but because you want to.

Rear passengers have everything they need: comfort, privacy (pull-up sunshades integrated into the door cards) and convenience. And the driver? Well, they’ll be just as relaxed thanks to the silent powertrain, smooth ride, and quiet cabin.

Warranty and Peace of Mind For buyers, Denza offers a lot of reassurance: a free wallbox, six years of service, and an eight-year battery warranty.

And here’s the clincher — it’s cross-border. If you drive to Singapore or Thailand, your warranty follows. That kind of aftersales confidence is rare in the EV space and a massive plus point.

Final thoughts

More Than Just a Van Let’s face it — the MPV isn’t the sexiest vehicle segment, it’s usually for corporate and family use. But the Denza D9 Premium AWD makes a compelling case for why MPVs might not need to have engines underneath the hood. It’s fast, quiet, luxurious, and refreshingly different.

It doesn’t pretend to be sporty, and it doesn’t lean on badges to justify its value. What it does instead is deliver an authentic, futuristic experience that’s actually attainable.

Whether you're a business owner looking to upgrade your family mover or an executive who prefers to be driven in comfort, the D9 is a serious option. It’s not here to follow trends — it’s here to set a new standard.

And after spending a couple of days cocooned in its calm, tech-rich cabin — we’re completely on board. If this is the direction MPVs are heading… then yeah, family barges with EV powertrains can be considered.

Also Read: DENZA D9 launches in Malaysia: EV luxury MPV from RM260k