Denza D9 van bows in China

Mercedes-Benz and BYD have introduced the Denza D9 in China, a single-space minivan to rival the Buick GL8, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Alphard.

The vehicle is 5.25 meters long, 1.96 meters wide and 1.92 meters tall with 3.11 meters separating the axles. The suspension is spring-based and independent on all four wheels, whichcome in 18- and 19-inch sizes. Automatic sliding doors are included in the base spec. The roof sports a modest-sized hatch and a large panoramic section.

Buying the most deluxe spec gives you power-adjustable second-row seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions, as well as foldable footrests. There are also sensor panels in the armrests and a couple of 12.8-inch displays with built-in web cameras for making video calls.

Other than that, all specs offer seven seats in total, wrapped in leather in all specs except the topmost one, which trades standard leather for soft Nappa. Imitation wood décor all around and contour lighting round off the interior styling. The trunk can hold between 410 and 570 liters (14.5 – 20 cubic feet) of luggage.

The dash panel houses a 10.25-inch dash display, a HUD and a 15.6-inch multimedia display. All-around view cameras and adaptive cruise control are also included.

Powertrain-wise, customers can choose between PHEV and BEV variants. The only exterior difference is in the design of the front end. All motor and battery parts are shared with other BYD models. The Denza D9 runs on a unitized platform known as the e3.0 and uses a Blade series traction battery. The company promises to release 2WD and AWD modifications with one and two electric motors, respectively, and more than 600 km (404 miles) of driving range.

The hybrid makes do with a 1.5-liter petrol turbo engine that stays off most of the time and only engages when the battery starts running low on current. Aside from being a power generator, though, it can actually be coupled to the front axle via a single-speed reduction gear and help driving it in parallel with the front axle motor.