A Foodie Roadtrip From KL To Penang With The Denza D9

Denza whisked us from KL to discover the flavours of Ipoh and Penang. Here’s what our Deputy Editor had to say about the journey.

Amidst a hectic schedule, I took a much-needed escape with the Denza D9—a foodie road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, with a quick stop in Ipoh. The only catch? I’d be driving myself. Lucky for me, my partner-in-crime for this journey was a close friend, and since I love being behind the wheel, I happily took the driver’s seat all the way from the Denza showroom in KL to Ipoh.

First of all, I love big cars—SUVs, MPVs, even the occasional monster truck. Funny for someone as small as me, but there’s just something about commanding the road in something massive. Along the way, I got to explore all the bells and whistles the D9 had to offer.

The Denza D9 is sleek and commanding

Before stepping inside, let’s appreciate the exterior. Personally, I think the D9 is quite the head-turner. Its large frame gives it real road presence, enhanced by a bold front grille with vertical chrome fins and arrow-style tail lamps sweeping across the rear. It may not break design boundaries like some of its flashier Chinese rivals, but it holds its own with confident, understated luxury.

In Malaysia, both the Advanced and Premium variants share elegant touches—dual sunroofs, crisp LED headlamps, soft-close doors, a powered tailgate, and sleek 18-inch wheels. Underneath, the Advanced model runs a 313 PS front motor, while the Premium adds a rear motor for AWD, delivering a combined 374 PS and 470 Nm of torque. Both are powered by Denza’s robust 103-kWh Blade battery, offering a WLTP-rated range of up to 520 km (FWD) and 480 km (AWD).

The luxe within

Now that the tech talk’s out of the way, let’s shift gears to the fun part—the interior. I may not be a car expert, but I do know a beautifully designed cabin when I see one. Inside, the D9 oozes quiet luxury. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster pairs elegantly with a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen that supports “Hi Denza” voice control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 50-watt wireless charger for fuss-free connectivity.

It also comes with a full suite of driver assistance systems, including Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, while the Premium AWD variant adds Denza’s Disus-C adaptive damping for a ride smoother than my morning latte.

The cabin feels generous and thoughtfully appointed. You get powered and ventilated front seats, while the second-row captain’s chairs spoil you with ventilation, massage, and full recline with leg rests. The Premium variant ups the indulgence with a suede headliner, plush Nappa leather, a digital rear-view mirror, and even a built-in chiller box because why not?

The second-row seats mimic a business-class lounge experience and largely succeed. Pair that with a Dynaudio sound system that delivers warm, bassy tones, and you’re set for long drives in style.

Lunch in a cave, literally

Our first stop: Jeff’s Cellar at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh. I’ve always wondered what the Banjaran Titiwangsa mountain range looks like from above, but instead, we went underneath it, dining inside a literal cave.

Despite the cavern setting, Jeff’s Cellar is pure luxury, equipped with chandeliers, ambient lighting, and blessed air-conditioning. It’s typically a fine-dining spot, but for the Denza media drive, we were treated to a lavish buffet spread: roast chicken, oxtail, lamb, beef, more beef, and enough dessert to put us in a food coma.

Life in the fab lane

After lunch, I swapped roles from driver to Kim Kardashian mode. Sitting in the back of the D9 was an entirely different experience. The massage seat with its cooling function quickly became my new favourite feature. It didn’t take long to understand why the D9 is designed for both driving and being driven. There’s ample legroom, the seat reclines almost flat, and yes, best believe I had a very good nap.

Entering Pearl of the Orient

When we rolled into Penang, our first stop was the Gurney Paragon Mall, home to the Denza showroom. We were greeted with pastries and drinks that were, frankly, too good to decline. After snapping some photos for Instagram, we explored the D9 roadshow to get to know the car better.

Penang Marriott Hotel: home for the night

Naturally, Denza booked us into the Penang Marriott Hotel because, of course. Perched along Gurney Drive’s shimmering coastline, it’s the kind of place where business travellers turn into beach lovers and holidaymakers start negotiating late check-outs.

Inside, it’s all contemporary elegance—ocean views, warm wood tones, and just enough Peranakan flair to remind you you’re in Penang. The rooms are plush, the pool looks made for drone shots, and the whole experience is equal parts laid-back and luxe.

Dinner at Aunty Gaik Lean

No trip to Penang is complete without visiting Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery. In a city full of street food legends, this Michelin-starred Peranakan gem doesn’t need gimmicks, just serious flavour.

Dining here feels like visiting your grandmother’s house, if your grandmother happened to be a culinary goddess. The buah keluak chicken is aromatic and rich, the asam pedas perfectly balanced, the prawn sambal delightfully bold. And the pie tee? Crisp, golden perfection.

The Journey Home

As if one trip wasn’t enough, we got to do it all over again and this time from Penang back to KL, with a pit stop at Uniti Ipoh for lunch. I drove us out of the island, got chauffeured halfway back, and by the time we reached home, I was convinced: the Denza D9 isn’t just an MPV. It’s a road trip companion, a mini spa, and a luxury lounge on wheels all rolled into one sleek, chrome-finned package.

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