Peter Lyon
January 28, 2025
Two Chinese electric MPVs are landing in Malaysian showrooms and they’re both vying for the best minivan on the market. With the exception of height, the XPeng X9 is larger than the Denza D9 in terms of size. But is it prettier? We will leave that up to you to decide.
Nevertheless, both vehicles are still much larger than the industry standards — Toyota Alphard and Vellfire pair, and they are also marginally longer than the Zeekr 009, which is the other EV MPV rival in Malaysia.
In terms of design, the two electric MPVs have gone in opposite directions. The Denza D9 maintains traditional lines that feature strongly on the Alphard and Vellfire. This includes the wide, in-your-face grille at the front, the LED headlights that look more conventional, and even its taillights.
In contrast, the XPeng X9’s exterior is more “futuristic” boasting sleek surfaces and distinctive angles on the outside of the body that shout spaceship—just look at the rake on the rear windscreen. Here, the lighting also adopts a new strategy, using full-width light bars for the rear light signature and front daytime-running lights, which appear to align when viewed from the side.
The X9 Boasts Better Range
Range is critical. While the D9 offers 620 km under CLTC the X9 delivers 702 km (CLTC), although we can subtract up to 15% of those figures for real-world performance.
Inside, it is easy to see that the two vehicles are designed to accommodate essentially different kinds of passengers.
However, that does not imply that their equipment is that different. Both vehicles have the same 2-2-3 seating arrangement that can accommodate seven passengers, with the captain seats in the second row being covered in high quality, quilted Nappa leather. They also have a panoramic glass roof that allows passengers to see the open sky, as well as a small refrigerator behind the centre console that allows you to keep your drinks warm or cold.
Their design philosophies are actually the primary distinction between the two. Once more, the Denza D9 chooses a more “traditionally classy” appearance, whilst the XPeng takes a more futuristic tack, with large screens and clean lines taking up the entire cabin.
In contrast to the D9’s 15.6-inch touchscreen, the XPeng X9 has larger screens throughout, including a 17.3-inch central touchscreen on the dashboard that manages practically every feature of the car. A second-row 21.4-inch touchscreen TV with access to streaming services like Apple TV and Spotify is also included with the XPeng X9.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
While the Alphard and Vellfire were the industry standards for years, I’m afraid to say that the Toyota twins have been knocked off their pedestal by the new kids on the block—this electric Chinese pair offering a fully electric powertrain, competitive quality and features and reasonable pricing.
