Launched in late January, the GWM Wey G9 completes a septet of seven-seater luxurious MPVs available on the market, all vying for a similar clientele of towkays and well-to-do households. The checklist of rivals is huge and contains the electrical Denza D9, Zeekr 009 and Xpeng X9, in addition to the equally hybridised GAC M8 – these Chinese language people-carriers all goal to topple the popular selection, the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire.
This section is of nice curiosity to many Malaysian patrons who will need to see how these automobiles stack up when it comes to specs. Nicely, we’ve taken the difficulty to line all of them up for straightforward comparability, so with out additional ado, let’s kick issues off with the costs.
A story of two value brackets – Chinese language and Japanese
Pricing-wise, the Center Kingdom fashions begin inside RM60,000 of one another. Now that the brand new tax construction for CBU fully-imported EVs has pushed the worth of the D9 up, the Wey G9 has turn out to be the most affordable of the seven MPVs right here, retailing at RM269,380 (nett as an alternative of on-the-road for the sake of consistency, as some manufacturers solely present non-OTR pricing) for the only Hi4 plug-in hybrid variant.
Thoughts you, the 2026 D9 continues to be on the (extra) inexpensive finish of the spectrum, priced at RM299,000 for the Superior FWD and RM355,000 for the Premium AWD. The X9 is technically cheaper, however its quoted costs are for 2025 items (seemingly nonetheless accessible) and thus exclude import and excise duties. For comparability’s sake, these costs are RM279,888 for the Commonplace Vary 2WD Professional, RM297,888 for the Lengthy Vary 2WD Professional and RM313,888 for the Lengthy Vary 2WD Professional+.
The 009 is on the identical boat, however even its tax-free costs are barely greater than the D9’s at RM299,800 for the Government FWD, RM349,800 for the Luxurious AWD and RM359,800 for the Extremely Luxurious AWD. The M8 PHEV is the priciest of the Chinese language group at RM327,763 for the Premium and RM387,763 for the Luxurious.
After all, the Toyota duo are by far the costliest, with even the bottom Vellfire 2.5 costing RM446,765. If you would like an Alphard with turbo energy, you’ll need to spend an eye-watering RM546,845 for the Alphard 2.4T Government Lounge, whereas the brand new Vellfire Hybrid Government Lounge retails at a cool RM548,670. However let’s be clear – the principle competitors for the Chinese language MPVs are grey-market “recon” items, with loads of the present fourth-generation mannequin on sale at related costs.
Electrical energy and efficiency versus mechanical simplicity
So far as the bottom fashions are involved, the all-wheel-drive Wey G9 is the efficiency champion, with a sum complete of 442 PS and 642 Nm of torque coming from its 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine and twin electrical motors. This trumps the front-wheel-drive M8’s 372 PS and 630 Nm, although the latter has a bigger 2.0 litre turbo mill.
With a bigger 44.2 kWh NMC battery (versus a 25.57 kWh LFP pack for the M8), the Wey G9 may journey additional on a single cost (170 km versus 120 km, each on the outdated NEDC cycle), though each have a complete vary in extra of 1,000 km. Nonetheless, the M8 narrowly beats the Wey G9 in gasoline effectivity, attaining 16.4 km per litre versus 16.1 km per litre for the GWM when each batteries are whittled down to twenty%.
The electrical fashions are a lot of a muchness when it comes with their FWD variants, with the 340 PS 009 Government edging out the 320 PS X9 and the 313 PS D9 Superior. Each the 009 and D9 have the choice of AWD, however whereas the D9 Premium solely will get a raise to 374 PS, the 009 Luxurious and Extremely Luxurious produce an absurd 612 PS and 693 Nm. In consequence, the AWD Zeekrs are in a position to dash from zero to 100 km/h in simply 4.5 seconds, almost two and a half seconds faster than the D9 AWD.
The Denza additionally lags behind when it comes to vary even with a sizeable 103.6 kWh LFP battery, providing 520 km on the WLTP cycle for the D9 FWD and 490 km for the D9 AWD. By comparability, the Xpeng travels farther on a single cost regardless of the smaller batteries – as much as 500 km for the Commonplace Vary with a 84.5 kWh LFP battery and 590 km for the Lengthy Vary variants with a 101.5 kWh NMC pack. The 009 leads right here, with its 116 kWh NMC battery delivering 604 km for the FWD mannequin and 582 km for the AWD variations.
As anticipated, it’s the Japanese duo that convey up the rear when it comes to energy. Of those, the full-fat Alphard reaches a level of respectability, with its pure petrol 2.4 litre T24A-FTS turbo four-cylinder engine producing 287 PS and 430 Nm, despatched to the entrance wheels by a great ol’ eight-speed automated gearbox. There aren’t any efficiency figures, solely a 180 km/h high pace and a middling gasoline effectivity determine of 11.1 km per litre.
You’ll do no higher with the also-petrol Vellfire, although its less complicated 2.5 litre 2AR-FE naturally-aspirated mill produces simply 180 PS and 235 Nm, and is mated to a sometimes fuel-sipping CVT. However it’s the hybrid model that greatest balances efficiency (250 PS from the mix of a 2.5 litre Dynamic Drive engine and an electrical motor) and gasoline effectivity (17.5 km per litre, one of the best amongst these with an ICE).
The Toyota fashions additionally undergo in terms of highway tax by advantage of the comparatively giant engines – RM773 for the two.4 litre Alphard, RM867 for the Vellfire Hybrid and RM874 for the bottom Vellfire. Distinction this with the Wey G9 that asks for simply RM90, or the M8 that prices lower than half to tax at RM375.50.
As for the electrical fashions, the D9 FWD’s highway tax prices RM335, adopted by the X9 at RM365 and the 009 FWD at RM395. Step as much as the AWD variations and the D9’s tax sticker price climbs to RM485, whereas the 009 really suffers from having 612 PS, with JPJ asking for an enormous RM1,440 in highway tax alone. The costs listed are for personal patrons in Peninsular Malaysia.
Alphard and Vellfire not the scale kings
There was as soon as a time when you would rely the Alphard and Vellfire on being the most important automobiles on the highway, however that’s not the case in the present day. In reality, the Toyotas are the smallest of the automobiles right here, measuring a hair over 5 metres lengthy. They’re edged out by the Wey G9, regardless of the Malaysian-spec mannequin being the shortest of the accessible variants, which might measure as much as 5.4 metres lengthy.
The remainder of the automobiles are over 5.2 metres lengthy, with the spaceship-like X9 being the longest at nearer to five.3 metres. The totally different lengths correspond to the quantity of boot area accessible with all of the seats up – barely any for the Toyotas, versus 233 litres for the GWM, 410 litres for the Denza and 574 litres for the Zeekr (GAC, like Toyota, doesn’t present baggage capability numbers). With its lengthy rear overhang and deep effectively of a boot, the Xpeng affords comfortably probably the most room at 755 litres.
We must always level out, nevertheless, that the X9’s trick energy rotating and folding third-row seats take up that whole effectively, so whilst the largest right here, its 2,554 litre most trails the Tardis-like 009’s 2,979 litre cargo maintain. That is adopted by the D9 at 2,310 litres and the Wey G9 at simply 1,725 litres. By the way in which, the Toyotas’ handbook third row needs to be folded up sideways (with a whole lot of power, may we add) to the partitions, which implies they eat up valuable cargo room.
Seven luxurious seats on all fashions
GAC M8, Xpeng X9, Zeekr 009, Denza D9
The sport of uncooked numbers was one the Chinese language MPVs had been designed to win, but it surely’s a closer-run contest when it comes to the accessible equipment. All of the automobiles you see right here include power-adjustable and ventilated entrance seats (the Toyotas and the 009 AWD fashions get powered steering adjustment; the Wey G9, D9 AWD, X9 and 009 achieve a massaging perform), together with a full digital instrument show.
For as soon as, the Japanese fashions additionally maintain their very own when it comes to infotainment display measurement, with a 14-inch contact panel not one million miles away from the 14.6-inch show within the GWM, the 15-inch OLED show within the Zeekr, the 15.6-inch show within the Denza and the large 17.3-inch show within the Xpeng. It’s the GAC that’s the outlier with a relatively tiny 10.1-inch touchscreen.
The Toyotas additionally profit from having bodily management knobs for the air-con – neatly built-in into the touchscreen – however lose out by not having a entrance sunroof (twin skylights come as normal, however can solely be seen within the second row). Additionally, in order for you real leather-based, you’ll need to steer clear of the bottom Vellfire.
GAC M8, Zeekr 009, Xpeng X9, Denza D9
On this rarified section, second-row captain’s chairs are the norm quite than the exception, all powered recliners with air flow, built-in ottomans and both bodily, capacitive or touchscreen controls. Moderately egregiously, the petrol Vellfire does away with therapeutic massage on the second row as effectively – you’d need to spring for the Alphard or the Vellfire Hybrid to get the upgraded Government Lounge seats. Extra snug pews with added adjustment are additionally fitted to higher-spec variations of the GAC, Xpeng and Zeekr.
Additionally, the bottom Vellfire and the D9 don’t include a rear monitor, fitted to the roofs of all the opposite fashions. The Chinese language automobiles (GAC excluded) additional profit from having a heated and cooled fridge compartment, with the Denza and Xpeng gaining second-row Qi wi-fi chargers on high of that.
All fashions trip on unbiased suspension entrance and rear, with the GWM gaining frequency-selective dampers. The electrical fashions paved the way when it comes to sophistication – the Denza will get adaptive dampers, whereas the Xpeng and Zeekr are fitted with full adaptive air suspension. The X9 additionally comes with rear-wheel steering, enabling a remarkably tight turning circle for what’s the largest automotive right here.
Full security for the entire household as normal
Gone are the times when the protection equipment of MPVs lagged behind different passenger autos regardless of routinely ferrying extra individuals. All these automobiles are fitted with no less than six airbags, with the Denza gaining second-row aspect airbags, the Zeekr coming with a entrance centre airbag and the GAC getting a novel rear windscreen airbag to guard the third-row passengers.
Additionally coming as normal are Stage 2 semi-autonomous driving options equivalent to adaptive cruise management and lane centring assists, alongside a barrage of different driver aids. Notably, the Chinese language fashions all obtain park help that may show you how to park these behemoths with out you having to raise a finger, though 360-degree digicam methods do come as normal.
Closing ideas
However the truth that we’ve got but to drive it – and due to this fact can’t judge it simply but – the GWM Wey G9 seems to supply loads of worth for not a lot cash. It could not lead the section in anyone space, but it surely nonetheless delivers all of the options that one may anticipate from a luxurious MPV, in addition to a robust plug-in hybrid powertrain. On paper, no less than.
In the meantime, the Denza D9 comes with it a degree of belief {that a} BYD model brings, however you’ll have to ensure that you may reside with an EV’s tradeoffs – particularly given its lack of vary versus rivals just like the Xpeng X9 and Zeekr 009. Each of those automobiles additionally provide loads of high-tech chassis and powertrain options, and so they cost quicker as well (a lot quicker within the case of the X9).
With not a lot to shout about when it comes to options, the GAC M8 delivers related specs to the Wey G9 – besides that it’s way more costly, and also you’ll need to pay a sizeable premium on high for the M8 Luxurious with all of the bells and whistles. At that value, the bottom Toyota Vellfire out of the blue doesn’t sound all that rather more costly, though it does lose out on some key options.
The stated options are on the Alphard and the Vellfire Hybrid, that are very expensive automobiles. That alone makes them onerous to justify, however the picture they create – for higher or worse – nonetheless means so much for patrons on this section, and if they’re prepared to splurge greater than half one million ringgit on one, who’re we to inform them no?
For extra, watch our video evaluations of the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire and the Denza D9.
GALLERY: GWM Wey G9 Hi4
GALLERY: Toyota Vellfire Hybrid Government Lounge
GALLERY: Toyota Alphard 2.4T Government Lounge
GALLERY: Denza D9 Premium AWD
GALLERY: Zeekr 009 Extremely Luxurious AWD
GALLERY: Xpeng X9 Lengthy Vary 2WD Professional+
GALLERY: GAC M8 Luxurious
AD: Drive the ZEEKR EV of your desires. Submit your particulars and Zeekr Carro (Bangsar, Mutiara Damansara, Penang, Seremban shops) will get in contact with you.
