First Drive: BYD guns for Porsche with new Denza Z9GT

What is it?

Not content with just launching its own name in Europe and subsequently disrupting the new car market, BYD now has visions of mixing with the posh brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.

Meet Denza, BYD Group’s premium sub-brand, which will be arriving in the UK later this year with a pair of upmarket offerings – a Lexus LM-rivalling luxury people-carrier, and, as tested here for the first time, a shooting brake-styled four-door grand tourer that comes with hybrid and pure-EV power.

What’s new?

Creating a more aspirational premium brand that brings in bigger profits and a more affluent customer base is one of the oldest tricks in the book for any carmaker. But history is littered with posh marques that have arrived in Britain and failed to make an impact.

BYD bosses feel Denza will succeed though, mostly because of what it calls ‘wow technology’. So, the Z9GT wades into Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT territory sporting a tri-motor powertrain (in the EV version) and stupendously clever parking gizmos. It can be plugged into BYD’s new and industry-leading ‘Flash Charging’ technology, which sees road-side chargers giving 1,500kW of juice, allowing for a 10-to-70-per-cent charge in just five minutes, and a 20 to 97 per cent charge taking nine minutes.

What’s under the bonnet?

Let’s take a look at that tri-motor powertrain in a little more detail. So, there’s one motor at the front and two at the rear, which, combined, gives a whopping 1,140bhp and 1,210Nm of torque. These get their power from one of BYD’s new second-generation ‘Blade’ batteries’. Rated at 122.4kWh, you might think it has a colossal range, but just 372 miles is claimed. That’s pretty ordinary, but remember that charging tech – BYD says there will be 300 Flash Charging sites in the UK by the end of 2026.

The Z9GT also comes in plug-in hybrid ‘DM-i’ guise, which sees a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a chunky 63.82kWh battery to give 765bhp and a 497-mile range. A single motor version of the EV is expected, too, potentially offering a longer range but at a lower price.

What’s it like to drive?

With power figures that better a Bugatti Veyron from two decades ago, you might imagine the main event would be the speed. To a certain extent it is – pull the boost paddle on the steering wheel, and this 2.9-tonne car rockets to 60mph in 2.5 seconds. Quite frankly, though, it’s a pretty unpleasant experience, but impressive nonetheless.

No, the main focus here is comfort. Happily, BYD’s engineers have focussed on the ‘GT’ part of the name, as it’s a very refined car to drive. There’s a very floaty feel to the car, even in the stiffest of the various suspension modes, while in normal driving the Z9GT is even more composed than a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. But this doesn’t mean the Z9GT isn’t engaging to drive, as the steering is sharp and accurate. Essentially, the Z9GT feels like a surprisingly well-sorted GT car with a sporting feel, rather than an upscaled sports car like the Taycan.

A quick note on manoeuvrability – around town, the Z9GT is seriously impressive thanks to its rear-wheel steering that gives this big car a supermini-like turning circle. There’s also ‘crab-walking’ tech that allows the car to drive diagonally down a road. Will owners ever use this? Answers on a postcard.

How does it look?

While BYD is very clear that it hasn’t looked to European rivals as inspiration to create its Denza premium brand, there is a vaguely familiar look to the Z9GT. Perhaps it’s the Porsche Panamera-aping haunches, but there’s certainly a good looking car that gives off the upmarket vibe that BYD was hoping for.

What’s it like inside?

Interior quality is seriously impressive, with acres of leather-covered surfaces, tactile plastics, and real wood and metal detailing. The Z9GT pretty much is on par with European rivals in this regard, but you could say it should be for the price Denza is charging.

There’s the usual large central touchscreen that controls most of the car’s functions, plus an on-trend third screen for the passenger. For a 3.1-metre-long car, interior space is predictably enormous, with rear-seat passengers able to properly stretch out.

What’s the spec like?

Buyers will likely have the option to choose different colours and materials, but there won’t be trim levels. There will be just one very high level of standard specification, with luxuries including heated, cooling and massaging seats, a fridge, and doors that electrically open and close. Denza hasn’t confirmed prices yet, but it’s expected that the plug-in hybrid will be in the region of £90,000 to £95,000, while the EV will be pegged at around £100,000.

Verdict

Making your mark in the volume end of the market is one thing, but establishing a credible brand that people will aspire to own is quite another. The Z9GT has all the right credentials on paper, and when you factor in its unmatched charging abilities it’s clear that BYD is trying to do more than other premium off-shoots from established European players. Are Brits ready for a £100,000 Chinese EV? Only time will tell.