For years the Toyota Vellfire has been one of the only good luxury MPV that the Indian buyer had access to. However, the last year or so has been pretty solid with multiple MPVs in the luxury segment coming to our shores and many of them selling pretty well. MG launched the electric M9, the Kia Carnival got an update, making it a more relevant and cheaper alternative to the Vellfire. Alongside that, we got cars like the Mercedes V-class and now BYD’s luxury range Denza has arrived in the country with the first launch being their own luxury MPV, the Denza D9. The Denza D9 is now another option for buyers looking for a luxury MPV around or under the ₹1 crore range.
In this article, we will compare the new Denza D9 with its direct competitors – the Toyota Vellfire, MG M9, and the Mercedes V Class. Here, the Denza D9 and the MG M9 are both electric, while the Toyota Vellfire is a hybrid, and the Mercedes V Class is the only car which has a purely internal combustion engine. Interestingly, the MG M9 and the Denza D9 are also the cheapest of the four.
Price
| Denza D9 | MG M9 | Toyota Vellfire | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | |
| Ex-showroom price | Rs 90 lakh | Rs 79.94 lakh | Rs 1.20 crore to Rs 1.30 crore | Rs 1.40 crore (petrol and diesel) |
| Variants | One, fully loaded | Presidential Limo; limited Couture Edition at Rs 84.94 lakh | Hi and VIP Executive Lounge | V 300 (petrol) and V 300 d (diesel), both in AMG Line Extra LWB trim |
| Approx. on-road, Delhi | Rs 95.86 lakh | Rs 85.14 lakh | Rs 1.40 crore to Rs 1.51 crore | Rs 1.63 crore to Rs 1.67 crore |
The MG M9 is the cheapest of the three at ₹79.94 lakh. The car was initially launched at an introductory price of ₹69 lakh (ex-showroom), but has since increased twice to ₹79.94 lakh (ex-showroom). The Couture Edition, limited to 50 units and styled with designer Gaurav Gupta, costs ₹84.94 lakh.
The Denza D9 sits in the middle at ₹90 lakh, about Rs 10 lakh above the standard M9. There is only one variant, so the only choices are colour and cabin theme.
The Toyota Vellfire is in a different price bracket. The Hi-Grade variant costs ₹1.20 crore and the VIP Executive Lounge costs ₹1.30 crore, which is ₹30 lakh to ₹40 lakh more than the Denza D9. On-road prices vary by city.
Put simply, the extra Rs 10 lakh over the M9 buys the D9 more power, a bigger battery, more airbags and a longer equipment list. The extra Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh for the Vellfire buys a hybrid with no charging worries, a reputation for reliability and, according to reviews, the best seats of the three, but not the longest features list.
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class costs Rs 1.40 crore for both the petrol V 300 and the diesel V 300 d. Mercedes sells it only in the extra-long-wheelbase AMG Line trim, so there is no cheaper version. That makes it ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh more than the Vellfire, ₹50 lakh more than the D9 and about ₹60 lakh more than the M9. On-road in Delhi, it costs ₹1.63 crore to ₹1.67 crore (ex-showroom).
Powertrain and range
| Denza D9 | MG M9 | Toyota Vellfire | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | |
| Type | Electric | Electric | Petrol strong hybrid | Diesel or petrol mild hybrid |
| Battery / engine | 115.07kWh LFP battery | 90kWh NMC battery | 2.5-litre petrol engine plus electric motor | 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel or petrol engine |
| Power | 462hp | 245hp | 193hp engine, 250hp combined | 237hp (diesel), 231hp (petrol) |
| Torque | 365Nm | 350Nm | 240Nm (engine) | 500Nm (diesel) |
| Drive | Front-axle motor | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Claimed range / economy | 730km (NEDC) | 548km (MIDC) | 19.28kpl (ARAI) | 16kpl (Diesel); 12kpl (petrol) |
| DC fast charging | 10 to 97 percent in 9 minutes (claimed) | 0 to 100 percent in 90 minutes (160kW) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| AC charging | 11kW | 11kW, about 10 hours for a full charge | Not applicable | Not applicable |
{A note on range figures. The cars are measured on different test cycles (NEDC, MIDC and ARAI), so 730km and 548km are not a like-for-like comparison. Real-world range will be lower for both electric cars.}
The Denza D9 is the most powerful of the three by a wide margin, with 462hp and a claimed 0-100kph time of 8.5 seconds. Its 115.07kWh battery is also the biggest, and Denza claims a 730km range. The 9-minute fast-charging claim is the headline number, but it depends on the charger you plug into. Suspension is MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, with semi-active dampers. How it rides on Indian roads is yet to be tested.
The M9 has a 90kWh battery and a single front motor making 245hp and 350Nm. It has three drive modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport. The claimed range is 548km, and a full charge from a 160kW DC charger takes about 90 minutes. That is slower than the D9’s claim, so long trips will need more planning.
The Toyota Vellfire pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and an eCVT gearbox. It never needs plugging in and can be filled at any petrol pump. The Toyota Vellfire can run on electric power alone when the battery has enough charge, and that it feels best in stop-start city traffic. Push it harder and the engine becomes audible. In India, it is sold only in front-wheel-drive form. The Toyota Vellfire creates about 191 bhp of power and 240 Nm of torque.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The V-Class is a conventional engine car with no hybrid or electric drive option. The V 300 d diesel has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine making 237hp and 500Nm. The V 300 petrol has a 2.0-litre engine making 231hp with mild-hybrid assist. Both use a 9-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox. Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping is standard and is tuned specifically for Indian roads.
Long trips. The Vellfire and the V Class are the easiest cars here for a long drive: fill up and go, with no need to find a charger. The Denza D9’s fast-charging claim, if it holds, could make electric road trips practical, but it depends on finding a charger that can deliver such speeds. The MG M9’s 90-minute DC charge means a long stop on the highway. If most of your driving is under 100km a day and you can charge at home, either EV will do the job.
Like the Vellfire, the V-Class needs no charger, so long trips are simple. Mercedes has not published a fuel-economy figure, so we cannot estimate its running cost the way we did for the Vellfire. Any fuel-burning car here is likely to cost more per km to run than the EVs when they are charged at home.
Size and design
| Denza D9 | MG M9 | Toyota Vellfire | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,250mm | 5,200mm | 5,005mm | 5,370mm |
| Width | 1,960mm | 2,000mm | 1,850mm | 1,928mm |
| Height | 1,900mm | 1,840mm | 1,950mm | 1,880mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,110mm | 3,200mm | 3,000mm | 3,430mm |
| Wheels | 18-inch | 19-inch | 19-inch | 18-inch |
| Boot space | 689 litres | 945 litres (plus 55-litre frunk) | Not listed | Not listed |
The D9 is the longest car here, the M9 is the widest and has the longest wheelbase, and the Vellfire is the tallest but also the shortest and narrowest. Boot figures may be measured differently, so treat them as a guide. The D9 weighs 2,915kg.
The V-Class changes the size rankings. At 5,370mm it is the longest car here, and its 3,430mm wheelbase is the longest of the four and of any Mercedes sold in India. It is narrower than the D9 and M9 at 1,928mm, and lower than the D9 and Vellfire at 1,880mm.
Denza D9. The D9 has an upright front end with a large blanked-off grille and vertical chrome strips. It gets U-shaped LED daytime running lamps, C-shaped silver elements around the lower bumper, and LED strips below. The sides are flat and straight, and the rear has a full-width LED tail-light bar with arrow-shaped details. The sliding doors and tailgate are powered, and the tailgate remembers its last opening position. There are four colours: Whale Sea Blue, Cosmos Black, Starry Night Grey and Arctic White.
MG M9. The M9 is boxy, but with sharp, connected LED headlights and tail-lamps and plenty of chrome around the body. It rides on 19-inch alloys and comes in three colours: Metal Black, Concrete Grey and Pearl Lustre White. It is the widest car in this group.
Toyota Vellfire. The Vellfire is the flashiest of the three. It has a huge six-slat grille in dark chrome, jewel-effect headlamps and chrome on its 19-inch wheels. Autocar India notes that the rising window line limits the view out for middle-row passengers, and that the long windscreen makes the front end hard to judge at first. U-turns need planning. Despite its low floor, it clears big speed breakers, though it uses steel springs rather than air suspension.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The V-Class is the facelifted version of the model sold in India from 2019 to 2022, and it is assembled locally at Mercedes’s Chakan plant in Pune. AMG Line styling is standard, with a star-studded grille, multi-beam LED headlights and a sportier bumper. The rear doors slide electrically and the tailgate is powered, with a glass section that opens on its own for small bags. It rides on dual-tone 18-inch alloys. There are five colours: Obsidian Black, High-tech Silver, Alpine Grey, Sodalite Blue and Crystal White.
Interior and comfort
Denza D9. The D9 is a seven-seater in a 2+2+3 layout, with Nappa leather on all three rows and three cabin themes: Black and Brown, Black and Beige, and all-Black. The front seats are 8-way power adjustable with massage. Second-row seats are power adjustable with ottoman, memory and ventilation, and each has a foldable tray. The third row is 4-way electric. The centre armrest opens into a refrigerator for second-row passengers, who also get two 50-watt wireless chargers and armrest touchscreens for seat massage, ventilation, and recline. Even the third row seats get electronic adjustment in the Denza D9.
MG M9. The M9’s best trick is its second row. Reclining captain’s chairs come with deployable ottomans, and the seats are finished in leather and suede in cognac brown. MG offers heating, ventilation and massage in the front and rear seats. The comfort and quality of the seats, however, is a step below the Toyota Vellfire.
Toyota Vellfire. The Vellfire’s middle row is its main selling point. Its seats are among the comfiest at any price, with heating, ventilation, massage, flip-out tables and a 14-inch screen that folds down from the roof. The third row has room for three adults, which is one of the best out there. The review’s complaints are about ride quality and road and wind noise, which it says are not up to the price.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The V-Class comes in a four-seat or six-seat layout, with leather upholstery in black or beige. The four-seater has two captain seats in the last row with extendable leg support, cooling, heating and massage, and suits chauffeur-driven buyers who want maximum space. The six-seater offers two middle-row layouts: seats facing the third row, or a conventional forward-facing arrangement. The front seats are powered and ventilated, and sunshades are fitted for the second and third rows. Unlike the other three, the V-Class has no sunroof, and its rear windows cannot be opened.
Features and technology
| Denza D9 | MG M9 | Toyota Vellfire | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | |
| Touchscreen | 15.6-inch | 12.23-inch | 14-inch | 12.3-inch |
| Driver display | 10.25-inch digital | 7-inch digital | Digital dials | 12.3-inch digital |
| Sound system | 16-speaker Devialet | 13-speaker JBL | 15-speaker JBL | 15-speaker Burmester with Dolby Atmos |
| Sunroof | Dual: single-pane front, panoramic over rows two and three | Dual: single-pane front, panoramic over the rear | Individual panels over second-row seats | None |
| Rear screens | Armrest controllers | Rear entertainment screens | 14-inch fold-down screen | Not listed |
| Camera | 360-degree | 360-degree | 360-degree | 360-degree |
The D9 has the biggest screen and the most unusual extras, including the fridge, three wireless charging pads and a boss mode function on the co-driver’s seat. The M9 offers vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-vehicle charging, a wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting and a 55-litre front boot. The Vellfire has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-colour ambient lighting and powered sunshades.
The V-Class has a 650W, 15-speaker Burmester system with Dolby Atmos and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its screens are smaller than the D9’s and Vellfire’s and about the same size as the M9’s, though its 12.3-inch digital driver display is bigger than the D9’s and M9’s. It keeps physical controls for climate, doors and ambient lights. The missing sunroof and fixed rear windows are its main feature gaps.
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Safety
The D9 has nine airbags, ADAS, a 360-degree camera with blind-spot monitor and tyre pressure monitoring. The M9 has seven airbags, Level 2 ADAS, stability control, a 360-degree camera and tyre pressure monitoring. The M9 has five-star Euro NCAP and Australian NCAP scores but has not been tested by Bharat NCAP. The Vellfire has six airbags, stability control, ISOFIX child-seat mounts and ADAS with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. Launch coverage did not mention a crash-test rating for the D9.
The V-Class has seven airbags, a driver-monitoring camera, adaptive cruise control and other ADAS features, a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, ISOFIX anchors, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold and hill-start assist. It has a full five-star Euro NCAP rating.
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Warranty and ownership
Denza covers the D9 for 6 years or 1.5 lakh km, with an 8-year or 1.6 lakh km warranty on the battery. It will be sold only through dedicated showrooms in Gurugram, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. The M9 is sold through MG Select showrooms.
The Vellfire has Toyota’s network behind it, and its reliability and peace-of-mind ownership is unmatched according to user reviews. Toyota has sold more than 5,000 Vellfires in India.
Mercedes gives the V-Class a standard three-year warranty, with service packages starting from ₹90,000. Bookings for the V Class opened in July 2026, with deliveries starting during the festive season.
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Which one should you buy?
In terms of pure value for money, the BYD Denza D9 is undoubtedly the best option. It is the most powerful, has the most features, offers very good safety and fast charging. However, the brand has just made an entry into the market so it needs to build a certain amount of trust among customers.
The Toyota Vellfire is the best option overall, with the most comfortable seats, hassle-free ownership experience, and all the features and privacy that someone opting for this kind of car would want. It is, however, on the higher-end in terms of pricing and is the least powerful car among the four.
The MG M9 is also a good value for money offering. It comes with all the features like seat massagers, screens, and ottoman storage. However, the quality of everything is a notch below the other options in this list.
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is the fourth option. It suits the buyer who wants a Mercedes badge, no EV hassle, and needs to move more people in luxury. The Mercedes-Benz V Class also offers a novelty element that makes it the most prestigious option of the four.
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