Denza D9 Elite FWD Review: You Won't Feel Like You're Missing Out

What we like:

Fundamentally similar to drive as the more expensive Grandeur

2nd and 3rd row passengers won't feel much of a difference

What we dislike:

Self-drive buyers would prefer the Grandeur

As you would already know, the Denza D9 is our Car Of The Year for 2024. At the time of COTY testing, only the Grandeur version was available, and it was also the one that won us over. However, with a price tag of $336k, it is the Elite version that sits just under the psychological $300k mark ($291k to be precise) which made many headlines especially when compared with its competitors.

With one less electric motor to the rear wheels and less bells and whistles, is the Elite version of the D9 still Car Of The Year worthy?

I’m happy to report that it is an emphatic yes. Much of what makes the D9 so appealing is also found in the Elite version. The incredible noise insulation and the pillowy ride comfort remains; the latter is a bit of a surprise given the Elite does without the DiSus-C intelligent damping. Yes, the Grandeur does feel more composed and confident at speed, but it is not a night-and-day scenario. Only 101 kg sets them apart, which might explain at least partially why the D9 in general rides pretty well - almost 2.8 tons will pretty much steamroll any imperfections on the road. There’s also MacPherson struts up front and multi-links at the rear - premium stuff.

The Elite version also feels plenty quick enough despite a 9.5 second 0-100 km/h acceleration time on paper, a whole 2.6 seconds slower than the Grandeur. In fact, it feels quicker than the on-paper figure would suggest, giving plenty of overtaking power when you need it. The only difference you would feel is when you really floor it; the AWD Grandeur will rocket off the get-go, while the Elite will simply overwhelm and chirp its front tyres. Honestly, you don’t really drive a D9 that manner very often, if at all.

The Elite uses the same 103.36 kWh battery as the Grandeur, so you can expect even better range than the latter. During the test, I achieved an electric consumption figure of 20.5 kWh/100km, which yields a real-world range of about 500 km (official: 520 km). I found the D9 more efficient than the majority of EVs I have tried, even those that are smaller and lighter. Not too shabby indeed.

It is in the interior where the Elite misses out on some nice-to-have features. Instead of Nappa leather, you get ‘premium’ leather which still feels good. The headliner is finished in knitted fabric instead of suede. There’s no heads-up display. Front passengers will have to pass on massaging seats, and there’s no memory function; these are probably the features that will be missed the most if the car is primarily self-driven. If the car is used for chauffeuring, the Elite would suit quite well.

That said, the Elite does come with a lot as standard too, like tables for the 2nd row, 2nd row captain seats, a 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, a refrigerator, a panoramic sunroof and suction doors. It is still a proper full-fledged luxurious experience, one that affirms our choice for Car Of The Year. Whether you choose the Elite or Grandeur D9, you’re getting the best of the best.

Photos by Ng Chin Hui

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