​Denza's Big Bet: Can the Triple-Motor, 300,000 RMB N8L Hit 10,000 Monthly Sales?​​

​​​This year, the popularity of large SUVs like the AITO M8 and Lynk & Co 09 has driven breakthrough sales growth for Harmony Smart Drive and Lynk & Co. Denza also urgently needs such a model to move beyond its current monthly sales of around 12,000 units. Even within the same group, Fang Cheng Bao achieved sales of 24,121 units in September, with the Leopard 3 and Leopard 7 being highly successful this year. Zhao Changjiang, former General Manager of the Denza-Fang Cheng Bao Direct Sales Division, stated that the launch of the N8L marks Denza's entry into a new growth phase targeting monthly sales of 20,000-30,000 units. Officially, this model has high sales expectations, aiming for at least around 10,000 units per month. But can it truly become the second hit product after the Denza D9? Today, let’s examine its exceptional "skills."

​​N8L Product Highlights: Safety & Luxury, Mastering Technology & Intelligence​​

You may have noticed a detail: official promotions for several large SUVs add a modifier that represents the product’s core highlight. The AITO M8 is the "Family Smart Flagship SUV," the Lynk & Co 09 is the "Flagship Large 6-Seater SUV," and the Denza N8L is the "Large 6-Seater Safe & Luxurious SUV." Each succinctly summarizes the product’s greatest strength—safety and luxury.

First, let’s talk about safety. Structurally, the Denza N8L uses 2000MPa hot-formed steel in key areas. Compared to the higher-priced AITO M8, which uses 12 pieces of 2000MPa hot-formed steel, Denza hasn’t specified which parts use high-strength hot-formed steel. However, from a monocoque body structure diagram, the front support beams, A-pillars, lateral body support beams, and door side beams are marked in different colors, indicating the likely use of high-strength steel to ensure the passenger compartment remains intact in a collision. Officially, the A-pillar has a 4-layer high-strength design, with a single-side roof load-bearing capacity of up to 14.3 tons—roughly the weight of a dump truck. Although a PHEV, the N8L adopts the CTB (Cell-to-Body) battery integration technology commonly used in EVs, significantly enhancing overall rigidity and reducing frontal collision intrusion by 22% and side collision intrusion by 36%. Additionally, the vehicle features full aluminum front and rear anti-collision beams.

For airbags, the vehicle is equipped with 9 airbags, the same number as the AITO M8, including front far-side airbags, front and second-row side airbags, and side curtain airbags covering all three rows. The far-side airbags prevent secondary collisions between occupants during a side impact or rollover. The front seats also feature dual-pre-tensioner seatbelts that actively tighten in a collision.

In terms of active safety, the Denza N8L can pass the fishhook test at 210 km/h, which simulates emergency obstacle avoidance at high speeds—swerving right then left—testing anti-rollover capability. It also ensures stability during a high-speed tire blowout, maintaining control at 180 km/h in a straight-line blowout or 144 km/h in a curve blowout, through integrated control of the suspension, braking, drive, and steering systems.

The Denza N8L also features the "Yi San Fang" (Easy Triple) technology, enabling triple-motor independent drive and rear-wheel dual-motor independent steering. This allows the rear wheels to steer, resulting in a smaller turning radius—a minimum of 4.58 meters, with rear-wheel steering angles of ±10°. For tight parking spaces, the vehicle can lock a single wheel and control the torque difference of the rear dual motors to pivot around that wheel, enabling "drifting" in and out of spaces. On slippery surfaces, the wheels can automatically enter "snow mode" (slight toe-in) to prevent slipping. The Easy Triple technology also allows for compass-point U-turns and crab-walking mode, making the large vehicle more agile.

The N8L is equipped with the "Tian Shen Zhi Yan B" (Eyes of the Gods B) ADAS, featuring one LiDAR, enabling city and highway navigation assist, automated parking, traffic light recognition, autonomous lane changing, pedestrian yielding, and ETC passage. Advanced ADAS also enhances active safety, allowing for automatic emergency braking at 120 km/h (90 km/h at night). It also offers wheel looseness monitoring and a life protection system that provides alerts, assisted driving takeover, and emergency calls in case of driver fatigue, distraction, or sudden illness.

Luxury has always been a core highlight of Denza models. Each Denza model focuses on interior details, and the N8L is no exception, featuring eco-grade large-area leather upholstery, translucent real wood trim, and dual-pane acoustic glass for cabin quietness. It also offers 128-color ambient lighting, a fragrance system, a sunshade for the panoramic roof, and sound-insulating and heat-insulating privacy glass—everything is just right. Compared to previous models, the N8L pays more attention to practical scenarios, aligning with mainstream large family 6-seater SUVs.

When unlocked, users can open the front power doors by making a "thumbs-up" gesture within half a meter. NFC+UWB keys enable seamless unlocking, and the power-closing doors offer elegant operation. The tailgate can be automatically opened or closed by stepping on an AR projection on the ground. The exterior showcases both high-recognition design and a return to mainstream styling, available in six exterior colors: Classic Red, Snow Jade Glow, Mysterious Black, Stone Shadow Blue, Frost Cloud Ink, and Emerald Ink, and three interior colors: Cloud Brocade Beige, Golden Mountain Brown, and Platinum Sandalwood Gray.

The smart cockpit features a 50-inch AR-HUD, a 13.2-inch instrument screen, a 17.3-inch central touchscreen, a 13.2-inch co-driver extension screen, a 17.3-inch rear entertainment screen, and a streaming rearview mirror, enabling multi-screen connectivity. A 32MP pop-up camera supports recording, video calls, and monitoring children. The voice control system integrates an AI smart assistant with the DeepSeek large model, answering queries and controlling various in-car functions. The interface supports dual-screen functionality, keeping up with mainstream systems, and includes phone connectivity, wireless karaoke, sentry mode, and in-car payment. All variants come standard with a 20-speaker Devialet audio system and Dolby Atmos sound, making Denza's smart cockpit highly compelling.

In terms of seating, the N8L is 5200mm long with a 3075mm wheelbase, positioning it as a large SUV. It features a 6-seat layout with multiple scene modes, such as "front row bed mode" and "four-person comfort mode," and one-click reset for all seats. The trunk has electric seat folding buttons, and with the下沉空间 (lowered storage area), maximum cargo volume reaches 1128L. The vehicle offers 49 storage spaces. The seats use a 10-layer process "Cloud Rest" design, with active side bolster adjustment for the driver, ventilation, heating, and massage for the front and second rows, a zero-gravity seat for the co-driver, and heating for the third row. The second row includes foldable tables and four-zone climate control. An 11L intelligent cooled/heated fridge can hold 18 cans of soda, equipping the rear passengers with the "fridge, TV, large sofa" trio.

Comfort is also reflected in the chassis. The Denza N8L features the "Yun Nian A" (Cloud Chariot A) intelligent air body control system, using dual-chamber air springs and continuously damping adjustable electronic shock absorbers to dynamically increase suspension stiffness and damping, reduce body roll, and raise the suspension by up to 50mm for improved passability. The system also includes preview functionality, scanning the road ahead and proactively adjusting the suspension based on upcoming conditions—a feature shared with competitors like the AITO M8.

For powertrain, the N8L comes standard with a dedicated PHEV 2.0T high-efficiency engine + PHEV platform high-efficiency EHS electric hybrid system. The engine has a thermal efficiency of up to 44.13%, with NEDC fuel consumption of 6.1L/100km, 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 220km/h. It uses a dedicated PHEV power-type Blade battery, offering a pure electric range of 230km, fast charging from 30-80% in 19 minutes, and a comprehensive range of 1300km. Standard triple-motor setup delivers excellent power, one of the N8L's biggest highlights.

Overall, the Denza N8L continues the brand's cutting-edge technology, offering a balanced package with its own functional advantages. It inherits Denza's traditional strengths in safety and luxury while keeping pace with the times, matching the intelligent tech experience of mainstream family SUVs like the AITO M8. However, the N8L's greater advantage may be its price—a more cost-effective price tag could determine whether it becomes a hit. The pre-sale price range is 319,800–349,800 RMB, positioning it in the 300,000–350,000 RMB range, competing indirectly with the AITO M8. Next, let’s look at the competitive landscape.

​​Competitors: Each Has a "Trump Card," Standing Out Won’t Be Easy​​

The Denza N8L faces several competitors in its segment, many launched this year and already established in the market. The primary competitor is the Lynk & Co 09, also a large PHEV SUV with a maximum CLTC pure electric range of 280km. However, not all 09 variants use a 2.0T PHEV system (entry-level uses a 1.5T PHEV), and not all have triple motors (mid-and lower variants have dual motors), making it slightly less powerful than the N8L's triple-motor setup. The 09 uses a 3-speed DHT, allowing adaptive strategies for different conditions, with a fuel consumption under low battery of 7.29L/100km. It also features air suspension + CDC.

Previously, ADAS might not have been a strong suit for Geely-group models, but the launch of the "Qianli Haohan" ADAS system changed that. The Lynk & Co 09 is equipped with the Qianli Haohan H7 system, the second-highest in the series, supporting urban and highway ADAS. Hardware includes a 126-line LiDAR and an NVIDIA Drive AGX Thor chip with 700 TOPS computing power. The infotainment system is even more notable, with a striking 30-inch 6K central screen, the LYNK Flyme Auto system (competitive with HarmonyOS), and a leading-class 30-inch 6K rear screen, powered by two Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chips.

The Lynk & Co 09 also has a 6-seat layout, a highlight being the second-row seats that can rotate 180 degrees, adding functionality. It also features a 23-speaker audio system. Priced at 309,900–416,900 RMB, it's highly competitive, achieving sales of 7,319 units in September, making it one of the best-selling large SUVs.

Of course, the top player in the large SUV market is undoubtedly the AITO M8, with September sales of 21,244 units, far exceeding others. However, the M8 is priced higher: the EREV versions are priced at 359,800–440,900 RMB, offering 5 and 6-seat options, plus a BEV version. Even the entry-level EREV M8 has a CLTC pure electric range of 201km. The EREV system provides a smoother, quieter ride due to electric drive, but the M8's dual-motor power is noticeably weaker than the N8L's. The M8 also features the Huawei "Tu Ling" platform (air suspension + CDC) with preview system.

The biggest highlight of Huawei-based models is ADAS. The AITO M8 features a 192-line LiDAR and Huawei's latest ADS 4 system, enabling point-to-point navigation, automated ETC passage, and zero-intervention driving. Enhanced ADAS also provides stronger active safety. The infotainment system includes a 12.3-inch instrument screen, a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, and a 16-inch co-driver entertainment screen. The HarmonyOS 4 smart cockpit is undoubtedly powerful, and the rear offers a 32-inch projection system. The vehicle also has a HUAWEI SOUND 19-unit audio system. Buyers choosing the AITO M8 prioritize the intelligent experience.

The 6-seat M8 also offers zero-gravity seats in the second row. Although priced higher than the N8L, there is price overlap, inevitably leading to comparisons. The AITO M8 is certainly the strongest competitor. The Huawei series also includes the newer, lower-priced AITO M7, though it's smaller (mid-size SUV), but closer in price to the N8L (279,800–359,800 RMB for EREV versions).

Apart from a smaller size, the M7's overall experience isn't far behind the M8, including rear zero-gravity seats, air suspension, a rear folding screen, and ADS 4 ADAS. After its facelift, the new M7 has become more imposing, with significant overall improvements, now on par with the M8.

Another large SUV featuring Huawei's "Qian Kun" ADS 4 ADAS and Harmony Cockpit 5 is the Dongfeng Mengshi M817, a rugged body-on-frame SUV. Besides intelligent advantages, it offers strong off-road capability: 31° approach angle, 31° departure angle, 20° ramp breakover angle, 237mm ground clearance, 820mm wading depth, front and rear limited-slip differentials, central diff lock, crawl mode, and tank turn. It stands out for its distinct character, suited for long-distance self-driving tours.

Despite being a rugged SUV, its performance is strong thanks to a 1.5T PHEV system, accelerating 0-100km/h in just 5.2 seconds, with a fuel consumption under low battery of 7.24L/100km—impressive for a 2.9–3 ton vehicle. The interior luxury is also commendable, though it only offers 5 seats. It's a great choice for those who enjoy unconventional road trips.

Another competitor is the Li Auto L8, the pioneer in this segment of new-energy 6-seater SUVs. Li Auto was the first to identify this market demand. Facing increasing competition, the L8 has continued to innovate, upgrading hardware this year. The newly launched model features NVIDIA's latest Drive Thor-U chip (700 TOPS) and a 116-line LiDAR. The VLA driver large model allows voice command control of ADAS for greater intelligence. For entertainment, Li Auto was the first to offer equal treatment for the central and co-driver screens—dual 15.7-inch 3K screens powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip—and first to provide the "fridge, TV, large sofa" for rear passengers. The L8 also ensures comfort for every passenger, even the third row, offering MPV-like comfort and legitimizing the third row in SUVs.

However, like the AITO M7, the Li Auto L8 is a mid-size SUV, slightly smaller than the Denza N8L. Li Auto models are similar to AITO, offering long pure electric range (280km CLTC), EREV powertrain with dual motors. While acceleration isn't as strong as the N8L, it's sufficient. Air suspension + CDC is standard.

In summary, competition in this segment is fierce, with each product offering strong capabilities and a great experience for passengers. In this context, it won't be easy for the Denza N8L to stand out. As Denza emphasizes, the N8L's core advantages are safety and luxury—tangible experiences. Empowered by various technologies, it also boasts the strongest power and tech-filled features like compass-point U-turns. But Denza's expected trump card is price, which could be the deciding factor for consumers.

​​Editor's Review​​

The Denza N8L shows great sincerity in its product offering. All variants feature the Easy Triple triple-motor system, delivering impressive performance, along with many of Denza's proprietary technologies. Even the entry-level variant is well-equipped. Compared to other new-energy brands, Denza often conveys a "classic" luxury feel with substantial, tangible experiences, earnest materials, and a focus on safety. The N8L全面提升 (comprehensively upgrades) its technological attributes, catching up with mainstream brands in the "fridge, TV, large sofa" aspect. Ultimately, we eagerly anticipate its final price, which will be announced at the N8L launch event on October 28th at 19:00.

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