Luxury MPV showdown: Denza D9 vs. Lexus LM

Denza has already entered the local market. It also inaugurated its first series of flagship stores in the country. 

Notably, the brand’s first-ever model for the Philippine market is the D9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) - a feature-filled seven-seater offering with a slightly upgraded lineup of mechanical specs compared to the BYD eMAX 9 DM-i, with which it shares a platform. 

Additionally, the Denza D9 also serves as the luxury equivalent of its BYD sibling. But how does it compare to locally available luxury MPV models like the Lexus LM, which has already entrenched itself in the market? 

Let’s find out by comparing the on-paper specs of the Denza D9 against the Lexus LM (seven-seater) variant. 

Powertrain

Under the hood of the Denza D9 is a 1.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine paired with two electric motors. On its own, the model’s internal combustion engine (ICE) can generate up to 128 horsepower (hp) and 220 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. With its front and rear motors added, the nameplate has a total system output of 400 hp and 681 Nm of torque. 

The Lexus LM, on the other hand, has a 2.5-liter inline-four engine and two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). In total, the model can put out 247 hp and 239 Nm of torque. 

So, when it comes to engine outputs, the Denza D9 has the Lexus LM beaten by a wide margin. On top of this, the D9 has a larger battery capacity of 40 kilowatt-hours (kWh) that provides it with a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) range of 180 kilometers (km). This feature is absent on the LM, which comes with a much smaller battery.

Notably, the Lexus LM has a very different hybrid system compared to the Denza D9. To be more specific, the Denza D9 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can self-charge and be plugged into a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) EV charger. Meanwhile, the Lexus LM is a “closed-loop” hybrid that can’t be plugged in. 

Both, however, do come with a regenerative braking system, a unibody chassis, performance driving modes, electronic continuously variable transmissions (E-CVT), and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Apart from these, the two MPV models also get their own specific versions of active suspension systems. 

On the Denza D9, it utilizes the BYD-made DiSuS-C, while the Lexus LM comes with the Toyota Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system. Both are intelligent systems with automatically adjusting dampers that can reduce vehicle body movement and isolate vibrations. The result is a smooth and comfortable ride. 

Regarding their suspension hardware, the Denza D9 rides on a MacPherson strut at the front and a multi-link at the rear. The Lexus LM uses a similar front suspension, but its rear comes with a double-wishbone setup. 

Stopping power for the two models is provided by disc brakes. The two also come with electronic power steering. On the other hand, the Lexus has a larger fuel tank with a 60-liter capacity, which is much larger than the Denza’s 53-liter tank. 

Here’s a summary of the Denza D9 and Lexus LM’s basic mechanical specs: 

Model	Denza D9	Lexus LM
Internal combustion engine	1.5-liter gasoline	2.5-liter gasoline
Electric motor setup	Two electric motors	Two electric motors
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
Transmission	E-CVT	E-CVT
Total horsepower	400	247
Total torque	681 Nm	239 Nm
EV range	180 km	N/A

Exterior

Appearance-wise, both the Denza D9 and the Lexus LM have nailed the typical modern MPV body shape. Both get sharp-looking LED lighting fixtures complete with LED taillight bars, wide and tall window lines, and some measure of shiny chrome decorative trimmings. Additionally, both even go for large and tall grilles, which on the LM looks more integrated with its main body. 

The side portions of these rides are also both expansive and mostly smooth. In this section, the two get power-sliding double rear doors for easy ingress and egress. Their rear sections also get a power tailgate. 

Other exterior features common between the two include power-folding/adjustable side mirrors with heating, acoustic glass, a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlamp functionality. 

Completing the look of the Denza D9 is a set of 18-inch wheels, whereas the Lexus LM comes with a larger set of 19-inch wheels. 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Denza D9 and Lexus LM’s dimensions: 

Model	Denza D9	Lexus LM
Length (in millimeters)	5,250	5,125
Width (in mm)	1,960	1,890
Height (in mm)	1,920	1,930
Wheelbase length (in mm)	3,110	3,000

Based on the measurements above, the Denza D9 appears much larger than the Lexus LM. It is longer, wider, and taller compared to the Lexus model, with a significantly longer wheelbase as well. 

Where car buyers are concerned, taking stock of a vehicle’s dimensions is crucial for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it can help determine how roomy the car’s interior is. Another is determining if one’s garage can even fit the vehicle you’re looking to buy. 

Other stories: Women in the Philippine auto industry A closer look at Mitsubishi Versa Van’s pros, cons Check out the updated Honda CR-V’s variants

 

Interior

As expected, both the Denza D9 and the Lexus LM (seven-seater) both get roomy interiors with a three-row, seven-seater layout. The two also come with well-arranged cockpits, a captain-seat second row, and a bench-type third row. 

Moreover, both come with power-adjustable front seats, power-adjustable and ventilated second-row seats with an ottoman, long slide rails for the second row, a massage function for the second-row captain seats, and leather upholstery. 

Also common to the two is a folding third row, ambient lighting, a triple-zone automatic climate control system, and a variety of air purification systems. Furthermore, both also get touchscreen surfaces to control the many functions of their second-row captain seats. 

On the one hand, the Denza D9 comes with a built-in refrigerator. On the Lexus LM, this feature is only available on the top-spec four-seater version. 

Here are some driving-oriented amenities that are found on both the Denza D9 and the Lexus LM: 

• Push-to-start button
• Power tilt and telescopic steering column
• Smart entry
• Electronic parking brake
• Drive mode selector
• Front cabin armrest
• Digital gauge cluster

For on-board entertainment and navigation, the Denza D9 uses a 15.6-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is linked to a 14-piece Dynaudio speaker set, and it can provide 4G connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. The D9 also has an NFC car reader. 

Compare that to the Lexus LM, which was kitted out with a 14-inch central display linked to a 21-piece 3D Quantum Logic surround sound system. It also has wireless smartphone connectivity, OTA, and integrated WiFi hotspot support. 

Based on the specs above, the Denza D9 does get a larger display, but the Lexus LM appears to have a more advanced speaker system. Both cars, however, also have wireless smartphone charging pads and a generous amount of USB ports. 

Safety

Moving on to safety, the Denza D9 and Lexus LM come with a comprehensive basic kit, as expected from modern MPVs. As standard, the two come with anti-lock braking, stability control, traction control, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, tire pressure monitoring, auto brake hold, their own versions of a rollover mitigation feature, and ISOFIX child seat anchors - among others. 

Unique to the Denza D9, however, is a “brake-wiping system” that is able to automatically clean its discs as it works in tandem with the model’s stability control and regenerative braking systems. 

Moreover, both get a slew of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). For the LM, it has the Lexus 3.0 package, which includes a pre-collision system, road sign assist, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steer assist, lane trace assist, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and many other ADAS components. 

Meanwhile, the Denza D9 comes with the DiPilot suite, which includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear-collision warning, rear-cross traffic alert and braking, blind spot detection, emergency lane-keep assist, and traffic sign recognition. 

Price

In the Philippines market, the recently launched Denza D9 retails for P4.298 million. It also has an introductory price of P3.998 million.

The Lexus LM seven-seater version, on the other hand, starts at P7.168 million, which is around P2 million more compared to the Denza MPV. 

Final thoughts

To sum it all up, it is clear to see that the Denza D9 severely undercuts the Lexus LM. And while it is more affordable, the Chinese-made MPV is already on par with the Japanese luxury offering when it comes to safety gear, creature comforts, and on-board tech. 

The kicker is the Denza D9’s on-paper performance figures and its selectable electric-only range. This goes together with its ability to be plugged in to be charged. 

So, which one is better on paper? Well, it could just be the Denza D9. Then again, Lexus has been around for a long time and has more than proven itself in fit and finish and vehicle reliability. 

Be aware, however, that the Denza model we’re talking about shares a lot of bones with the BYD-made eMAX 9 DM-i. In this regard, both BYD and, by extension, Denza, are quickly catching up with Toyota and Lexus, so there’s that. 

In the end, buyers who are seriously considering these two nameplates should be able to determine which one is right for them through a test drive. Reading specs online is a good start, sure. But getting some actual seat time with the car you’re looking to buy is always ideal. 

Also read:

Denza D9 DM-i gets limited-time P300K price cut

Denza PH launches D9 MPV

Denza inaugurates initial dealer network for PH

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