What the chocolate biscuit is an Xpeng when it’s at home?
Xpeng is a new Chinese car brand set to hit UK shores. It’s releasing the all-electric G6 SUV – that orange thing you’re looking at – in a matter of weeks.
Another Chinese import. Why should I care?
It’s a fair question. Maybe because the G6 was designed by JuanMa Lopèz, the same Spaniard who led the design of the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Or maybe because VW is integrating Xpeng’s tech architecture into its EVs for the Chinese market from 2026, (and yes, it’s worth noting here that Xpeng had a German outfit tune the G6, too). Or maybe because you like the sound of getting a Tesla-like vehicle for non-Tesla-like prices.
Keep talking.
The tsunami of new EVs and unfamiliar brands UK-bound is tough to follow. Off the top of our heads, we’ve welcomed the BYD Atto 3, BYD Dolphin, Jaecoo 7, Leapmotor T03, Omoda E5, Onvo L60 and Zeekr 001… but there are more we haven’t named, and to date, nothing has truly blown our minds (even though the pricing has kept the Old Guard on its toes).
Will the G6 blow my mind?
Probably not. The styling seems to have out-blanded even Tesla, though it’s deliberate: Xpeng wants it to blend in with those models already out there.
At least the colour’s distinctive. Up close that orange has purple sparkle, which looks better than it sounds. The lack of edges, though, mean a reliance on the indistinct monobrow headlights, the outlined wheel arches and the decision to colour-contrast the spoiler.
The numbers are more impressive.
How so?
Xpeng claims the G6 has a drag co-efficient of only 0.248 (SUVs usually sit above 0.35) which is impressive for its size. At 4.7m long and almost two metres wide, it’s in Audi Q6 territory. Not slow, either. According to official figures, the standard e-motor develops 254bhp and fires the rear-wheel-drive G6 from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. That’s on par with the Sport Performance version of the Q6.
Opting for the bigger battery means that 0-62mph time drops to a brisk 6.2s and power output increases to 281bhp. Nice.
What the deal with the battery size, range and charging potential?
It’s built on an 800V electrical architecture and there’ll be two battery sizes available: the standard 66kWh and the long range 87kWh. The 66kWh LFP battery offers a respectable 270 miles (WLTP), and supports fast charging up to 215kW.
The long range NMC-based battery will give a range of up to 354 miles, and can accept up to 280kW power delivery on the fast chargers. According to IML – Xpeng’s UK distributor – that makes it the fourth fastest charging car in the world. A bold claim that, after considering the Lotus Electre, Porsche Taycan and Mercedes EQS, all depends on where you position the Ioniq 5 and EV6 on that scale. It is likely top six though.
What’s the cabin like?
One word: roomy. Futuristic. Short folk need to sit so far forward to touch the pedals, they entirely miss out on the joy of the stunning glass roof, which adds even more to that sense of space. There should probably be an intercom to speak with those in the back seats.
Elsewhere, the fake-cow and soft furnishings come in light or dark choices, and they don’t feel cheap. There’s an 18-speaker audio suite, front seats that recline fully (although not necessarily flat), a 10.2in landscape central screen that feels very Tesla (in that every possible feature is configurable or initiated in its digital menu) and rear heated seats, all as standard. As are the wireless charging pads, which are cooled. Fancy.
Truth be told, you’ve got yourself a pretty comfortable conservatory without the need to shell out for that house extension. It’s so civilised there’s even AppleTV+ and ‘Mindfulness Space’ apps so parents hanging around for kids in after-school clubs can wind down and get some genuine peace and quiet while waiting.
What’s the G6 like to drive?
The G6 drives well, actually. It takes more than a moment of hunting the digital menu options to toggle the thing out of Eco and into Standard mode. That reduces the overzealous regen demand and gives a gentler, infinitely more comfortable braking experience.
Acceleration is smooth. Yes, it’s an EV and torque is instantaneous, but the G6 has an added sense of motivation and seems geared to people-please. It glides easily, the steering is light and it negotiates potholes without any remarkable judder.
The car feels balanced and confident in bends. The high torsional rigidity gives the chassis the stiffness to feel composed when cornering and overall, it’s a very comfortable car to drive – though, the road noise bleeding into the cabin was higher than we might have expected.
Engaging the cruise control with its lane changing capabilities offered mixed success. The car certainly knew what it was doing – at least 97 per cent of the time. As with the Tesla models, the display shows the driver where other vehicles are positioned on the road, inspiring confidence and trust… most of the time. At Level 2 SAE, the autonomous features still need supervising, so don’t think you can robot your way home.
You can, however, toggle the car to automatically slow down if a road sign changes the speed of the road, or ask you first…or let you adjust the speed of the car manually, i.e. drive for yourself.
Hmm, tell me more about the tech.
As mentioned, everything is swallowed inside the touchscreen central display, which wasn’t always as touch-sensitive out on the road. The steering wheel buttons aren’t standardised and need to be configured. On the plus side, every single feature has a written explanation – and in some cases, an animated visual – so you know what features you’re selecting, or (in the case of the bongs and bleeps) deselecting.
There are 29 sensors around the car, so blind spot monitor isn’t just a bleep, or orange visual cue. There’s a camera view on the central display as soon as your indicator goes on. That’s quite cool, but the buttons on the doors to open them seem a step too far. Heaven only knows what the cost to repair a single door might be in the event of a bump.
Speaking of costs, how much do I need to buy one?
With UK sales kicking off around March, folks at the distributor are keeping tight-lipped about the price of the G6. But the thing went on sale in Europe from around €43,000 (c.£35,000) so that might give us some idea.
You mentioned a distributor was involved…
Yep, International Motors Limited (IML) is the same group that brought Hyundai, Maserati and Subaru – to name but a few – into the UK. It also has Great Wall Motors (GWM), responsible for the Ora 03, on its global roster.
And IML UK boss William Brown told TopGear.com the government should reintroduce EV buying incentives. Unsurprisingly, he’s pleased the tariffs affecting Chinese imports into the EU haven’t been applied in the UK – one way of keeping the G6’s price competitive. Brown also reckons the WLTP figures are much more accurate than those offered by other EVs.
So, what’s the verdict?
Without the exact pricing, we can’t say. The G6 is a very family-oriented vehicle – plenty of room, lots of entertainment options with nothing needing a subscription outside what you’d already pay for (Netflix, AppleTV+, etc.) and vast levels of comfort.
The G6 will undoubtedly make it onto a lot of drivers’ short lists, especially if the price proves that low. Already bought into the ecosystem of electric vehicles? The G6 offers an alternative to the Tesla Model Y and a more tech-led experience than some of the legacy carmakers currently offer. Whether you’re open to letting a few tech glitches slide on the journey to an autonomous new future will determine if the Xpeng G6 will make yours.
