Verdict

It’s not precisely bursting with dynamic sparkle, and we’d in all probability forego the additional motor of this Efficiency model, however the XPeng G9 continues to be one of the spectacular all-electric SUVs we’ve tried not too long ago. It has loads of area and oodles of in-car tech, is rather well completed, and has the efficiency, vary and charging speeds to go face to face with rivals from Korea, Germany and even California. All it actually wants is XPeng to commit to creating it in right-hand drive and get on with establishing a supplier community right here. The automotive is able to discover UK prospects, we’d argue.

Chinese language manufacturers are racing in the direction of Europe proper now, and lots of have the UK of their sights. We’ve already seen the influence that the likes of the revitalised MG and newcomers BYD and Ora can have – and Shanghai firm XPeng is hoping that it may possibly faucet into the burgeoning marketplace for EVs within the area too. The G9 flagship SUV could be an apparent candidate for UK showrooms, and that is our first probability to see the way it stacks up, albeit in very late pre-production kind and on Dutch roads.

We have been fairly impressed with the packaging, appear and feel of the G9 after we noticed it at a static presentation earlier initially of this 12 months. To recap, it’s a 4.8-metre-long, five-seat SUV that’s barely longer, each total and in wheelbase, than the likes of the BMW X3. It sits on XPeng’s personal bespoke EV structure, charmingly known as Edward, and is available in three configurations, beginning with a smaller-battery version with a single rear motor producing 308bhp and a 75kWh LFP-chemistry pack delivering 286 miles of vary.

There are then two extended-range variations, which have extra energy-dense NMC chemistry and 93kWh (web) capacities. One has the identical rear-drive set-up because the Customary Vary, and manages as much as 354 miles on a single cost; the opposite will get an additional motor for a mixed output of 543bhp – sufficient for a 0-62mph time of three.9 seconds – however sacrifices just a little vary within the identify of efficiency, at 323 miles.

XPeng is making daring claims on charging, too. The smaller-battery version can handle DC charges of as much as 260kW however the 93kWh fashions crank this as much as 300kW – sufficient, XPeng says, for the automotive so as to add 60 miles of vary in simply 5 minutes when hooked as much as a quick sufficient charging level.

The vary providing is refreshingly easy, too. All vehicles get a warmth pump, a full-length panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and soft-close doorways as commonplace. There’s no phrase but on UK pricing – XPeng continues to be engaged on the marketing strategy for right-hand drive, it says, though the sensible cash is on a debut right here in late 2024 or early 2025 – however the automotive has already been launched within the Netherlands, with costs starting from round £51,000 to £62,500. 

Climbing aboard, these numbers appear fairly practical, as a result of there’s treasured little contained in the G9 to provide away the truth that it’s a car designed and manufactured in China. The supplies and finishes are deeply spectacular, with neatly stitched leather-based on the seats and soft-touch finishes in all the proper locations. There are metallic components on the centre console and refined ambient lighting lets you personalise the cabin if you’re on the transfer.

The one ‘inform’ on the automotive’s origins is its know-how, as a result of it arguably has an excessive amount of. The ten.25-inch digital instrument panel is par for the course however the pin-sharp 14.96-inch central infotainment show is matched by an an identical panel designed for the entrance passenger’s use. It has pixel filtering tech that’s designed to permit a film to be watched – in a traffic-clogged Shanghai rush hour, you observed – with out the driving force’s being distracted by it; in reality, it’s a little bit of tech overkill that established European manufacturers would resist.  

We’re driving the AWD Efficiency in the present day and certain sufficient, it has fairly surprising acceleration for one thing with the G9’s dimensions, to not point out its 2.3-tonne kerbweight. Certainly, ought to you choose Sport mode for optimum tempo, it truly turns into arduous to modulate the throttle pedal inputs, such is the automotive’s desperation to react to the smallest of them. The left-hand pedal can be a difficult buyer, though when you’re via the early a part of retardation, and the bleed-off between power recuperation and the (Brembo) discs and pads is resolved, you’ll discover it simple sufficient to come back to a clean cease in metropolis visitors. There’s additionally a selectable single-pedal mode that may deliver the automotive all the way down to a very sluggish creep – once more, helpful in heavy visitors.

Regardless of its measurement, in truth, the G9 is properly suited to city routes. The steering is mild and constantly weighted (although devoid of really feel, you received’t be shocked to listen to), and there’s respectable visibility, assisted by a plethora of cameras whose photographs are relayed to the central display screen to assist remove blind spots. Efficiency editions get air suspension as commonplace and it does a superb job of soothing out side-street ripples.

It’s completed on motorways, too, the place the spectacular electric-motor refinement mixes with a fairly soothing journey (solely troubled by the sharpest and deepest bridge-expansion joints) to make sure a cushty expertise. There’s a little bit of low-frequency resonance transmitted up from chosen street surfaces however usually, the worst offenders for noise at pace are the chunky aspect mirrors.

We had treasured little alternative to discover the G9’s limits on roads that blended pace with tighter corners or camber adjustments, however the total set-up would lead us to anticipate that it could properly require just a little persistence in corners, lest the powertrain overwhelm the tall physique and the comfort-focused suspension beneath it.

As for the in-car tech, it’s nonetheless present process ultimate tweaks – the fantastic thing about software program over {hardware}, we’re advised – however there are wise (non-haptic) switches on the steering wheel that management a number of key features, together with the cabin temperature, and shortcuts positioned on the highest of the large central display screen for options just like the windscreen de-mister. 

It’s a disgrace, although, that you just nonetheless want at the very least two display screen prods to alter the car’s driving mode or its degree of brake power recuperation – though XPeng’s voice assistant may have a stab at slicing this out if you happen to’re ready to speak to it. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are lacking, too – not unusual from Chinese language manufacturers, however XPeng ought to grasp that European prospects are eager on utilizing their telephones as an alternative of, for instance, built-in navigation.

The G9 is a sensible factor, with commonplace recline on the rear seats (that are heated, bear in mind), baggage of legroom for back-seat passengers and a 660-litre boot that expands to 1,576 litres when the 60/40-split second row is folded down. There’s an extra 71-litre frunk beneath the bonnet for cable storage, and XPeng even sells a self-inflating sleep package that may flip the rear cabin into in a single day lodging.

Now learn our evaluate of the Nio EL7…