BYD’s Denza Z9 GT driven
This luxurious and shockingly quick machine has incredibly ambitious goals – and it’s coming to Australia.
If BYD has its way, the Denza Z9 GT will be tempting buyers out of BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and Audis.
The Z9 GT is the newest model from the BYD-owned Denza sub-brand that plans to launch in Australia in 2025 to provide “attainable luxury” to new car buyers.
Think of it as BYD’s answer to Lexus, although the price tags are likely to get more than a casting glance from the luxury establishment.
The Z9 is a sleek five-door with a wagonette body. Squint and it looks as though it may have been inspired by the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
Except the Z9 is likely to be a whole lot more affordable.
In China it sells for around half the price of the entry-level Taycan, which suggests something like $80,000 in Australia.
For that you get a lot of car. It’s almost 5.2 metres long and two metres wide. And it’s laced with luxury.
The cabin feels plush and up-market, the unknown badge the only thing out of place on the otherwise classy spread.
Granted, that’s a big one in a market segment that’s dominated by big name brands.
But whereas newcomers such as Genesis and Cadillac are trying to offer a bit more for a bit less money, Denza looks like it could seriously undercut everything else in the high-performance luxury market.
Plus it has the sort of talking points that could appeal to the TikTok brigade.
Slide behind the wheel and press the brake pedal and the power-operated front door glides shut.
That’s the sort of feature normally reserved for a Rolls-Royce, although a Roller doesn’t allow you to use voice recognition to tell the car to shut the door.
Also like a Rolls-Royce the Z9 also keeps the centre caps of its wheels upright when driving.
There’s lots going on beneath the skin, too.
The Z9 is available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or pure battery electric vehicle.
In each case there are three electric motors: two on the rear wheels, one for the front.
Power ranges between 640kW for the PHEV – with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo helping keep the electricity flowing – and 710kW, which is more than most supercars.
Predictably there’s no shortage of thrust.
The Z9 GT launches with intent and maintains its enthusiasm as speed builds.
We drove the plug-in hybrid version, which predominantly uses its electric motors to get things moving, but the petrol engine revs away creating more electricity and adding drive to the wheels at higher speeds.
Our very brief taste test was limited to a smooth airfield where the Z9 didn’t have an opportunity to settle into a rhythm.
Cross drilled brakes halt proceedings quickly, although the real test for a car like this will be on the open road.
While it nails the going fast bit, the Z9 isn’t as convincing through corners, where its heavy body makes itself known.
And it is heavy, at almost 2.9 tonnes. That makes it almost 300kg heavier than a Toyota LandCruiser.
Slide into a corner, then, and you can almost feel the pain shrieking from the Continental rubber.
The tighter the corner, the more they protest.
The Z9 feels like it’ll be more at home settling into a flowing sweeper than darting between switchbacks.
And while it’s brisk, clearly the emphasis is on comfortable and effortless cruising.
Oh, and there’s the occasional party trick, too.
Some of the Z9’s best work is done when stationary.
It has a mode that allows the rear wheels to turn slowly in opposite directions, allowing the tail to pivot gracefully – and somewhat spectacularly.
Exactly how and where you’d use it – other than as a neat party trick that leaves a black circle of shredded rubber on the road – is not quite clear, although it does allow you to do a U-turn in a ludicrously tight space.
Yep, the Z9 isn’t necessarily about sensibilities.
It’s a car designed to tickle the senses, surprise with its tech and trinkets and put China on the luxury map.
It does that by piling on the gadgets and loading up on very big numbers.
Svelte and subtle? Hardly, but at the right price it could make a super-sized luxury impact for those less fazed by a badge.
Dena Z9 GT plug-in hybrid
Price: From about $80,000 (estimated)
Power: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo and three electric motors, 640kW
Range: Up to 605km
Spare: Repair kit
Boot: 460L (boot) 25L (frunk)
Verdict: What it lacks in luxury heritage it makes up for with a big, heavy body and ludicrously powerful hybrid system designed to frighten the luxury establishment
Star rating: 3.5
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