Denza Z9 GT Review: BMW, Audi & Mercedes Can’t Ignore This

Denza Z9 GT Review Summary

What It Is

• The Z9 GT is a premium car from Denza, a brand spun off from BYD. It is available as either a hybrid or a fully electric vehicle; this review focuses on the EV.
• The reviewer positions it against premium models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Tesla.
• The tested EV costs about €115,000 / £105,000. The hybrid is cheaper, though still expensive.

Main Features and Performance

• The EV has a 122 kWh battery, a claimed 600 km / 372-mile WLTP range, and three motors: one at the front and two at the rear.
• Denza claims 1,156 PS and 1,200 Nm of torque. The car felt exceptionally quick and put its power down smoothly during a launch-control test.
• It accelerates from 0–62 mph in 2.7 seconds. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S and Tesla Model S Plaid are slightly quicker, while the Z9 GT’s 2.8-tonne weight may contribute to the difference.
• Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, and the reviewer found them very effective.
• Driving modes include Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow and Race. Even Eco felt fast. Acceleration is powerful but not excessively abrupt, with a small response delay.
• The suspension combines a double-wishbone front layout, a five-link rear setup and dual-chamber air springs, offering a choice between a firmer or more comfortable ride.
• Rear-wheel steering makes the car feel responsive and gives it a claimed 4.6 m turning circle, tighter than that of a London black cab.
• Special manoeuvres include:
  • Intelligent crab walk, which allows diagonal movement.
  • Pencil compass turn, which rotates the car in a tight space and can also assist with parallel parking.
  • Drift mode. The reviewer did not personally test it; the feature was demonstrated. Repeated use of these manoeuvres can increase tyre wear.

Charging and Range

• The claimed range is 600 km / 372 miles, which the reviewer considered underwhelming for such a large battery. A BMW iX3 was cited as offering around 500 miles with a smaller battery, raising questions about the Denza’s efficiency.
• Denza says a quick top-up to 70% takes five minutes and a full charge takes nine minutes using its flash charger.
• In a controlled demonstration, the battery went from 10% to 75% in about four minutes and reached 97% just over nine minutes later. The test did not show charging power in kW; the reported rate of range added peaked at 2 km per second.
• Denza’s charging director said the charger uses batteries between the grid and the charging point to store energy and then supply it at very high power, avoiding the need for an equally powerful grid connection.
• Denza says charging in −30°C conditions takes only about three minutes longer to reach the same level.
• The company plans to install 3,000 flash chargers in Europe within 12 months, including 300 in the UK. These were plans described in the video, not an assessment of an existing charging network.

Design, Interior and Practicality

• The exterior has slim headlights, double daytime running lights, active lower cooling vents, a wide rear stance and a large rear spoiler. The reviewer was undecided about the styling, saying it looked more like a conventional hatchback or estate than a striking £100,000-plus luxury car.
• Denza calls it a shooting brake or estate; the reviewer thought “hatchback” could also fit. Design details include a flowing-silk-inspired waistline and hourglass-style rear lights.
• The tested car had camera-based door mirrors instead of conventional mirrors. The reviewer found the low viewing position awkward at first, though the camera angle can be adjusted.
• Automatically opening doors are fitted. Pressing the brake closes all the doors, moves the seat into position and adjusts the steering wheel.
• The cabin felt quiet overall, with some road noise from the large wheels and little wind noise. The seats were supportive and comfortable, and the driving position felt good.
• Interior materials and finish impressed the reviewer: Nappa leather, real wood and crystal details and buttons, with no obvious scratchy plastics. Physical shortcut buttons were welcomed.
• Technology includes a clear driver display, a large head-up display, a central screen and a separate passenger screen with media, YouTube, karaoke and gaming. The reviewer disliked the default image of Daniel Craig on the main display but expected it might be customisable.
• Other features include two 50 W wireless phone chargers and a central compartment that can cool drinks—including below freezing—or keep them warm.
• Rear-seat space is generous, with ample legroom for the 5 ft 11 in reviewer and adequate headroom. The rear seats recline and have heating, cooling and massage. Other amenities include a sunroof, seat-back storage, a central armrest, cupholders, wireless charging and a lit mirror.
• The reviewer found the boot’s claimed 495 litres hard to judge and thought it looked smaller; underfloor storage may contribute to the figure. A 53-litre front boot provides extra storage, including space for items such as charging cables.

Pros

• Astonishing acceleration and impressive ability to put power down.
• Strong standard braking.
• Comfortable, quiet cabin with high-quality materials and extensive rear-seat amenities.
• Responsive steering, controlled body movement and useful tight-turning capability.
• An unusually rich set of technology and convenience features.
• Potentially game-changing charging speed, if the planned charging network becomes available.

Cons

• Very expensive, at around £105,000.
• Styling may not feel distinctive or emotionally appealing enough for the price.
• Large battery but only moderate claimed range, suggesting weaker efficiency than some rivals.
• Heavy, and not quite as quick to 62 mph as the quickest EV competitors.
• Camera mirrors require looking down towards the doors.
• Practicality is not a standout; the reviewer questioned the boot’s claimed capacity.
• The driving assessment was brief and conducted on French roads; the reviewer had not tested it on UK roads. Drift mode was not personally tried.

Comparisons and Verdict

The Z9 GT is presented as a technology-heavy challenger to premium German EVs and Tesla. It does not beat the Porsche Taycan Turbo S or Tesla Model S Plaid for quoted acceleration, and its range compares poorly with the BMW iX3 cited in the review. Its main advantage is its claimed and demonstrated charging speed.

The reviewer was impressed overall, especially by the power, brakes, cabin technology and charging performance, but did not find the design emotionally compelling enough to make it an obvious heart-led purchase.

Verdict: A compelling premium EV to consider if fast charging and technology matter more than styling, range efficiency or emotional appeal—and if the buyer has roughly £100,000 to spend.

Views by Speaker

• Main reviewer: Praised the performance, braking, comfort, equipment and charging demonstration, but remained unconvinced by the exterior design, efficiency and emotional appeal. He also cautioned that his assessment was based on a short test.
• Denza charging director Diego Pereshi: Said the charger uses onboard storage batteries to deliver megawatt-level charging despite a more modest grid connection. He quoted five minutes to 70% and nine minutes for a full charge.