BYD’s luxury Denza brand has confirmed its third model available in Australia is the D9, a premium electric people mover now on sale in local showrooms.
Arriving in two variants, the D9 starts at $85,990 before on-roads for the base front-wheel drive option, and extends to $95,990 before on-roads for the flagship all-wheel drive model. It comfortably undercuts other electric people movers like the Zeekr 009 and Mercedes-Benz EQV, but it’s still more than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
As was the case for the B5 and B8 ladder-frame off-road SUVs that launched locally earlier this month, Denza claims the D9 is intended to offer levels of luxury found in rivals – in this case models like the Lexus LM – but without the hefty price tag.
Denza Australia chief operating officer Mark Harland says the D9 introduces “a new standard of practical luxury”, offering “all occupants first-class comfort, advanced technology, and everyday usability without compromise”.
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The D9 utilises BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, a dedicated modular electric vehicle (EV) architecture that also underpins several Australian-delivered BYD models, including the Dolphin, Seal, and Atto 3.
Denza has confirmed Australian D9 models measure 5250mm long and ride a 3110mm wheelbase. Overseas specifications indicate it’s also 1960mm wide and 1920mm tall, with a kerb weight of 2325kg – one tonne lighter than the B8 SUV – making it slightly larger and heavier than a Kia Carnival.
Its exterior design is said to be inspired by the mathematical symbol π, most evident in its large grille. LED headlights and tail-lights are standard, with Denza describing an astronomical theme with the vehicle’s waistline symbolising “the trajectory path of a celestial object”, and its tail-lights generating “the effect of curved star streaks”.
Additional features include double-layer acoustic glass windows, power sliding doors, soft-close functionality on all doors, and a panoramic glass roof.
Inside, the D9 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 12-inch head-up display, along with four-zone voice assistance and support for over-the-air updates.
The seven-seat D9 has a 2+2+3 configuration, with second-row captain’s chairs featuring heating, ventilation, massage, power leg rests, four-way lumbar support, and position memory. Each chair is also fitted with a 5.5-inch armrest touchscreen for seat adjustment, climate control, and entertainment.
Nappa leather upholstery is standard, as is open-pore ash wood trim and ambient lighting. The flagship AWD grade adds a suede headliner.
Under the centre console is a dual-mode fridge and hotbox, which can be chilled between -6ºC and 6ºC or warmed to 50ºC. Similar cool/hot storage boxes are also fitted to the B5 and B8 SUVs.
Both D9 trims are powered by a 103.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) BYD ‘Blade’ battery, providing WLTP range claims of 520km in the base FWD and 480km in the AWD. This also supports 11kW AC charging and 200kW DC fast-charging, along with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.
The D9 FWD produces up to 230kW of power and 360Nm of torque, while the AWD bumps outputs to 275kW and 470Nm of torque. For context, the flagship Carnival GT-Line Hybrid produces 180kW and 367Nm.
Denza’s people mover is fitted with eight airbags, including what it claims is “one of the world’s longest side curtain airbags”, along with a raft of safety gear like emergency lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert and braking, and traffic sign recognition.
Mr Harland recently told CarExpert that Denza expected the D9 to be a low-volume model, outlining that “the market’s not huge, but there is demand” – at least enough to warrant bringing a luxury people mover to Australia.
Regardless, the D9 is the third model in a string of new Chinese people movers arriving in Australia. The Zeekr 009 EV went on sale locally in late 2024, while the GAC M8 plug-in hybrid arrived in late 2025.
The 009 is much more expensive than the D9, priced at either $115,900 or $135,900 before on-roads, depending on the variant, while the M8 is cheaper at either $76,590 or $83,590 before on-roads. The Kia Carnival, however, is still the segment king and is unlikely to be dethroned by these new arrivals.
2026 Denza D9 pricing:
| Model | Price before on-roads |
|---|---|
| 2026 Denza D9 FWD | $85,990 |
| 2026 Denza D9 AWD | $95,990 |