When it comes to 7-seaters in India, Toyota has always sat at the top. Space, comfort and reliability have been the company’s mantra for success, and buyers have trusted it unquestioningly for years. Whether it’s family trips or daily chauffeur duty, Toyota has been the default choice. Moreover, none of the rivals have managed to shake that dominance. Now, though, a new challenger is set to enter the market, and it looks prepared. Let’s get into the details.
New Spacious 7-Seater Launching
The newcomer is the Denza D9, a 7-seater electric MPV from BYD’s Denza brand. Now, it will be more of a luxury product, going up against the Toyota Vellfire in India. Globally, it is sold in both EV and PHEV forms, but India is expected to get only the fully electric version. Built on BYD’s 800V e-Platform 3.0, it is expected to arrive in India as a CBU.
To challenge Toyota’s dominance, the Denza D9 targets its USP: space. Measuring 5,250 mm in length with a 3,110 mm wheelbase, the Denza D9 should offer a roomy cabin.
Now, unlike the Toyota Vellfire, which costs more than a crore, this new Denza D9 MPV might be priced somewhere around Rs. 80 lakh – Rs. 90 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). That said, this new luxury MPV will fill the gap between the M9 and the Vellfire.
What’s In This Luxury 7-Seater?
The EV version of the Denza D9 is offered with a 103.36 kWh battery pack in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. It offers a claimed driving range of 600 kms, as per the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
Inside, this luxury MPV features a 2+2+3 seat layout, offering powered, ventilated, and massaging features for the second-row captain seats. Other notable features include a 12-inch digital driver’s cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, a dedicated armrest touchscreen for second-row passengers, a panoramic sunroof, a 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, and more. Overall, it will be a fully loaded seven-seater MPV for India. It will all come down to how the Chinese automaker prices it.