Xpeng G6 (2025 - )

There was a time when new manufacturers landed every six months or so and were met with great anticipation about what they would bring to the motoring mix. But currently, if the day has a ‘y’ in it, you can expect to see a new brand arriving, generally from China.

And that's exactly the case with Xpeng - the latest snappy name that joins the likes of the recently-launched BYD, OMODA and Jaecoo brands here in the UK.

The first model Xpeng is launching is a high-tech coupe-SUV with distinctively futuristic styling called the G6. It's fully electrified and available with two battery sizes - a 66kWh unit capable of delivering 270 miles on  a single charge or the larger 87.5kWh battery which ups the range to 341 - 354 miles.

The Standard Range model costs £39,990, while the G6 Long Range (as tested) is priced at £44,990.

With looks to challenge any Tesla fan's brand loyalty, the Xpeng G6 boasts a very strong road presence with plenty of kerb appeal, It's a sleek five-door coupe-styled SUV with smooth curves, sweeping lighting signatures, flush door handles, an active grille shutter, a panoramic glass sunroof and 20-inch 10-spoke black polished alloy wheels. 

Moving inside, the interior is beautifully spacious with a with a modern, clutter-free cabin that is packed with creature comforts. The leatherette-covered front seats can be heated or ventilated, and offer six-way power adjustment making it easy to find the ideal driving position. The steering wheel along with outer rear seats also feature heat settings for added comfort. 

The main focal point and car's nerve centre is a 15-inch infotainment screen, offering access to the 18-speaker sound system, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, climate control, a 360-degree camera, DAB radio, and plenty more besides. 

The door mirrors are adjusted via the scroll controls on the steering wheel and these can also be used to adjust the temperature, volume and other functions. 

The Xpeng G6 has an AI-powered personal assistant that is brought to life by saying “Hey Xpeng” and up pops a little robot in the corner of the touchscreen that can assist with many tasks so the driver can concentrate on the road ahead with both hands on the wheel. This was a tad touch and go and, at times, simple commands were misinterpreted. 

Elsewhere, all the vital driving data such as current speed, battery charge and driving range can easily be viewed on the clear 10.2-inch driver display behind the steering wheel. And there are two wireless charging pads, along with four USB ports to keep devices connected on the move. On the downside, the front USB ports are almost impossible to get to from the driver's seat as they are tucked away beneath the large centre console storage area on the passenger's side. 

As we mentioned, the Xpeng G6 is offered with a choice of two battery sizes. The smaller 66kWh unit on the Standard Range car delivers 258PS and has a range of 270 miles, while our Long Range vehicle features the 87.5kWh battery with 285PS which bumps the driving range on a single charge up to 354 miles. Both models deliver 440Nm of torque and both are rear-wheel drive, although an AWD version is available elsewhere in Europe. 

Our test car could complete the 0-62mph dash in a rapid 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph, which isn't bad for a family car weighing in at just over two tonnes. 

The acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive which helps make light work of joining a motorway or overtaking slower moving vehicles. It can sit at 70mph with ease on a dual carriageway although the higher speed, the quicker the battery charge levels drop, so that's worth keeping in mind.

On twisting country lanes, the Xpeng G6 impresses with its road holding next-to-no sign of body sway. It has quite a relaxed feel with nicely weighted steering, but the car is a little fidgety over rougher surfaces – which equates to about 95 per cent of our roads these days!

There are drive modes called Eco, Standard, Sport and Individual that alter the dynamics as well as the efficiency of the vehicle and its possible to adjust the power steering, brake pedal feel and level of regenerative braking with settings called Low, Medium, High and X-Pedal. the latter offers the strongest braking strength, although single pedal is not quite possible. 

Apart from the really narrow rear screen, driver visibility is good and there are sensors and cameras to assist with parking. 

And if you can get used to, or deactivate, the constand chimes and beeps then the car is generally refined too. 

The rear-wheel drive Xpeng G6 is a spacious five-door car that stretches 4,753mm in length, 1,920mm across and is 1,650mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,890mm. 

The cabin is exceptionally roomy with space for a couple of six footers up front and three adults in the rear. The front seats can be completely reclined if you fancy a quick forty winks somewhere safe, and the rear seats slope backwards so passengers sink comfortably into them. With light flooding into the cabin, the interior of the Xpeng is a relaxing place to be for all occupants. 

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can hold 571 litres of goodies, a capacity that increases to a generous 1,374 litres with the 60 : 40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And there are numerous practical storage options scattered throughout the cabin too, including a deep central cubby, door bins, front and rear cup holders, a double wireless charging pad, seat back pockets and a huge area beneath the centre console. Noticeable by its absence though is the lack of a glovebox.  Additionally, there is no frunk beneath the bonnet for extra storage. 

Vehicle to Load (V2L is available on the car meaning it can power up external sources such as camping lights, fridges and TVs etc. If needed. 

Charging is another plus point as the Xpeng can be fast-charged with a capacity of 280kW, where a 10 to 80 per cent boost takes less than 20 minutes. If using a home wallbox, a full charge on the smaller 66kWh battery takes 7.5 hours, increasing to 9.5 hours for the 87.5kWh unit. 

The Xpeng G6 is available in two formats - a Standard Range featuring a 66kWh battery, priced at £39,990 and the Long Range, as tested with the 87.5kWh battery unit, costing £44,990. Our car featured Silver Frost paintwork that added a further £700 to be asking price. If you are looking to keep costs low, the Artic White shade is standard and is included in the price. 

While EV owners still benefit from many financial incentives, they have been reduced this year. Previously, there was no road tax charge, but from April that changed and owners had to pay £10 Vehicle Excise Duty the first year followed by the standard £195 fee after 12 months. 

Additionally, anyone purchasing an EV costing in excess of £40,000 was previously exempt from paying an Expensive Car Supplement of £425 from years two to six of ownership. That benefit has also been withdrawn, although it will only apply to the Xpeng G6 Long Range model that we tested as the entry-level car is sub-£40k

With those added costs to factor in, home charging becomes more important when budgeting. While motorway charging may be unavoidable at times, it is expensive, so regular use of a wallbox at home or work is recommended.

While it's still too early to predict the reliability of the Xpeng G6, the vehicle is sold with an attractive five-year, 75,000-mile warranty, with the battery cover extended to eight years or 100,000 miles.

Like all Chinese EVs, the Xpeng G6 does ping and bing a lot of highlight speeds, lane movement and all manner of other alerts. Yes, these warning sounds can be deactivated which rather defeats the point of safety systems, or you will become quite immune to their chimes after time. This can be more concerning as one of the warnings may actually be important. 

But that aside, the Xpeng G6 is yet another excellent value-for-money EV from China that will be gaining plenty of traction thanks to its style, kit, handling and asking price. And it's also worth noting that the Xpeng G6 was awarded a maximum five starts when tested from its Euro NCAP safety rating.