We test the 2026 Denza Z9 GT: Up to 1,100 HP and the electric grand tourer that obliterates Porsche and Mercedes

Some cars need no introduction. The Denza Z9 GT is one of them. When you hear "1,100 hp," "0-60 in 2.7 seconds," and "electric family grand tourer" in the same sentence, you know that something in the automotive world has changed forever. We had it for a full week—Madrid, A-6 highway, Puerto de Navacerrada, and a day at Circuit de Catalunya—in both its versions: the 1,100 hp EV and the 952 hp PHEV. Here's what we found.

📊 The Two Denza Z9 GT Versions: Choose Your Weapon

* Data extracted from the official Denza Europe technical specifications. Source: denza.com, BYD Europe, and Motor.es, 2026. Estimated prices for the Spanish market.

👁️ First Impression: This is no ordinary car.

The Denza Z9 GT is 5.18 meters long and 1.47 meters high. It's a shooting brake—a body style halfway between a sedan, a station wagon, and a coupé—that has no direct rival in the market. Neither in design, nor in performance, nor in price.

The silhouette is spectacular: a roofline that dramatically slopes towards the rear, taut flanks with sculpted surfaces, and a front and rear light signature that you'd recognize from 200 meters away. The design was developed at BYD's European design studio in Munich, and it shows: there's nothing in this car that recalls the stereotypes of Chinese design from ten years ago.

The standard 22-inch wheels fill the wheel arches with an intimidating presence. The active air suspension keeps the car low to the ground in Sport mode and slightly raises it in Comfort mode.

"The Denza Z9 GT is the most striking car we've photographed in 2026. On the street, it attracts more glances than a Ferrari. And that, with five meters in length, is an extraordinary achievement." — Autobild Spain, 2026

🚪 The Interior: Unapologetic Chinese Luxury

Stepping into the Denza Z9 GT is like entering a private jet. The 3,125 mm wheelbase ensures second-row space that shames any luxury sedan: the individual rear seats—with electric leg rests, massage, ventilation, and heating—are genuinely business-class level.

The dashboard is dominated by a 15.6-inch central screen with 2K resolution, flanked by a 10.25-inch passenger screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The augmented reality HUD projects navigation, speed, and assistance information directly into the driver's field of vision.

The 23-speaker Dynaudio Confidence sound system is, without exaggeration, the best we've heard in a mass-produced car. Active noise cancellation makes the cabin as quiet as an anechoic chamber even at 200 km/h.

Standard materials: Perforated Nappa leather · Natural walnut wood · Carbon fiber accents · 256-color ambient lighting · 1.8 m² panoramic roof · Dual wireless charger · Integrated refrigerator in center console

"The Denza Z9 GT's interior is the best we've seen in a car under 110,000 euros. The Porsche Panamera costs 85,000 euros more and doesn't reach this level of equipment." — Top Gear Spain, 2026

🛣️ Behind the Wheel: Two Cars, Two Unique Experiences

⚡ Z9 GT EV — 1,100 hp of Absolute Silence

The EV version is the most extreme. With a 132 kWh BYD Blade battery and three independent electric motors, the thrust is instantaneous, total, and absolutely silent. The 0-100 in 2.7 seconds—verified with GPS—occurs without any audible drama: just brutal pressure against the seat and the disappearing landscape. DC charging up to 400 kW allows for a 10-80% recharge in just 20 minutes at the latest generation Ionity chargers. The real-world mixed-cycle range was ~570 km—short of the 630 km WLTP, but honest for a 2,800 kg car.

🔧 Z9 GT PHEV — 952 hp with V6 Backup

The PHEV version adds the twin-turbo V6 to the electric system. The result is different: the sound of the gasoline engine at full throttle adds an emotional dimension that the EV version lacks. The 0-100 in 2.9 seconds is practically the same, but the experience is more visceral. The real-world electric range was ~82 km in the city and ~65 km on the highway—the highest of any PHEV on the market. With a depleted battery, the real-world highway consumption was 8.4 l/100 km.

🏕️ On the Track — Circuit de Catalunya

We took both versions to Circuit de Catalunya. The EV version clocked a lap time of 2:05—comparable to a Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid in standard configuration. The PHEV version, slightly lighter, clocked 2:08. The four-wheel steering—with up to 10° of rear-axle turning—makes this 5.18-meter car corner with an agility its size would not suggest.

🔋 Real Range and Charging: The Honest Numbers

💻 Technology: DiPilot 300 with LiDAR

Both versions incorporate the DiPilot 300 system—the most advanced from the BYD group—with integrated LiDAR in the roof, 5 high-resolution cameras, 12 ultrasonics, 4 radars, Level 2+ semi-autonomous driving on the highway, automatic lane change, and full automatic parking. OTA updates arrive monthly.

⚖️ The Good and the Areas for Improvement

🏆 Final Score — LET'S PUT IT TO THE TEST

📊 Denza Z9 GT vs. the Competition

The Denza Z9 GT EV has 361 hp more than the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and costs €95,000 less. The Z9 GT PHEV has more real-world electric range than the BMW M5 Touring PHEV and costs €65,000 less. Enough said.

💬 The Press and Influencers Weigh In

• Motor.es: "1,100 hp, 2.7 seconds, and 100,000 euros. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid costs 95,000 euros more and has 361 hp less. Explain that." — 9.5/10
• Autobild Spain: "The grand tourer of the year. No question. Interior superior to Porsche, performance superior to Mercedes AMG GT." — 9.4/10
• Top Gear Spain: "2.7 seconds from 0-100 in a 5.18-meter, 5-seater car. China has redefined what a grand tourer can be." — 9.5/10
• Km77.com: “The EV version with 570 real km and 400 kW charging is the most complete electric grand tourer on the market. At any price.” — 9.3/10
• Supercar Blondie (18M subscribers): “1,100 hp, Rolls-Royce interior, and BMW price. The Denza Z9 GT is the car of the year. No discussion.”
• Carlos Motorista (1.2M subscribers): “I took it to the Circuit de Catalunya with the EV version and clocked 2:05. With a 5-seater car that costs 100,000 euros. Unbelievable.”

✅ Conclusion: Which version to choose?

Choose the Z9 GT EV if: you drive many kilometers, have access to fast chargers, and want the purest and quietest experience. The 570 real km and 400 kW charging make it the most practical electric grand tourer on the market.

Choose the Z9 GT PHEV if: you value the flexibility of being able to refuel gasoline at any gas station, want the sound experience of the V6 at full load, and your daily use fits within the 82 real electric km.

In both cases, the Denza Z9 GT is the most complete grand tourer on the market under 110,000 euros. And that's not an opinion. It's the numbers.

Would we buy it? Yes. Before a Porsche Panamera. Before a BMW M5. Without hesitation.

Test performed over 7 days in Madrid, Puerto de Navacerrada, and Circuit de Catalunya. Range and consumption data obtained under real conditions with active air conditioning at 22°C. 0-100 km/h times verified with GPS. Lap times at Circuit de Catalunya measured with official stopwatch. Technical specifications extracted from denza.com and European WLTP homologation. Estimated prices for the Spanish market, subject to change by the manufacturer.