Xpeng G6 first drive | Refreshingly familiar

Xpeng might be a new marque in the UK but the G6 looks and drives like something from a well-established brand. As a result, it’s probably the most convincing Chinese export we’ve driven.

Overview

Amid the onslaught of new cars and brands from China, we’ve witnessed some rather quirky and sometimes questionable design elements and engineering on some of the models we’ve tested.

From names to looks, interior layouts to infotainment, and driving dynamics, the Chinese just do things differently to our norm. But, in the case of the Xpeng G6 things are about as familiar as they can get. Which is a good thing.

Xpeng is an electric vehicle (EV) brand. It doesn’t take ageing platforms designed for dreary petrol engines and slap an electric powertrain in them. It designs EVs from the ground up, using some pretty cutting-edge technology.

The G6 is the first Xpeng to arrive in the UK. Imports are handled by International Motors – the people behind Isuzu, Subaru and GWM Ora.

It’s a large family car that’s very similar in size and design to the Tesla Model Y. Perhaps that’s no coincidence.

It’s competitively priced, starting at £39,990 for the Standard Range model or £44,990 for the Long Range model. There’s no trim levels or options as all cars come loaded with kit.

Comfort and practicality

While the G6’s body might not be the last word in style, its bulbous shape does provide an exceptionally large interior space. No passenger will be left wanting for more with legroom and headroom in abundance.

Boot capacity is 571 litres, which is on par with a Skoda Enyaq but a far cry from the 854 litres in a Model Y. There’s also no storage space under the G6’s bonnet, which is a shame.

Up front the seats are separated by a raised centre console that houses a large storage are beneath, an armrest, some cupholders and two cooled phone charging pads.

The seats are comfortable and supportive with heating and cooling functions built in. The front seats are also electrically adjustable.

There’s an impressive mix of materials inside, especially for the price point. The seats are upholstered in a high-quality leatherette, which contrasts with fabric sections on the door panels and dashboard. The touchpoints, including the plastic surfaces, are also of a high quality, giving Xpeng an edge over its home-grown competitors BYD and MG.

The dashboard has a minimalist layout that relies on its central touchscreen, à la Tesla. But the overall design looks it was given more thought and there is, at least, a separate insturment cluster! Switchgear is limited to some stalks behind the steering wheel and window controls on the doors.

For those in the rear, there’s no separate panel for the climate control or seat heating/cooling functions. Perhaps a first world problem but drivers might get frustrated at constantly having to make adjustments on behalf of their rear seat passengers.

Safety and technology

With a full five-star Euro NCAP rating, the Xpeng G6 has proven itself to be as safe as its European rivals. Alongside passive safety and body strength, the G6 is equipped with a suite of driver aids and technology. These include lane keeping aids, adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving capability, surround view camera, blind spot monitoring along with blind spot cameras and automatic parking.

There’s also a camera that monitors the driver for signs of drowsiness or distraction and we’re pleased to report that these systems have been calibrated properly. You don’t have to suffer endless beeps and bongs or tugs of the steering wheel in the G6. During our time with the car we found the systems largely unintrusive.

The G6 uses a large central touchscreen for all its infotainment functions and vehicle controls. The user interface, like in most Chinese cars, is Android-based and works like a smartphone or tablet. There are layers and layers of settings and options, which can become a bit of a minefield. You’d definitely want a thorough handover to make sure all the cars various features and functions were properly understood.

While many of the areas where Xpeng took inspiration from Tesla benefit it, it’s the lack of physical buttons that really lets the G6 down. There’s no volume control knob, no temperature control buttons. There’s not even a mirror adjustment switch. You have to delve into the car settings to move the side mirrors, which is performed using the steering wheel buttons.

Oh, and those steering wheel buttons are unmarked. It’s very much a case of push-it-and-see-what-happens. The controls on the right mainly handle the audio system. On the left, sometimes it’s the climate control and sometimes it’s the cruise control depending on whether the latter is activated or not. Given how Xpeng has refined every other element of the car, the lack of detail with these key controls is a little disappointing.

Driveability and range

Xpeng offers the G6 with two powertrain options: RWD Standard Range and RWD Long Range.

The Standard range car uses a 66kWh battery with a WLTP range figure of 270 miles. It has a power output of 258PS.

Opt for the Long Range and you get an 87.5kWh battery that promises 354 miles of range and a slight power increase to 286PS.

Both batteries use 800-volt architecture and support ultra-fast charging. Up to 215kW for the smaller unit and 280kW for the larger unit means a 10% - 80% charge can be completed in 20 minutes.

When it comes to efficiency, the G6 continues to impress. We managed 4.0mi/kWh quite easily, in the Long Range car, putting the WLTP figure of 354 miles in sight.

On road refinement is high, there’s not a lot of noise intrusion and the G6 rides comfortably. You can adjust the steering weight from the touchscreen, with firmer or lighter options depending on preference. However you setup the car, the G6 isn’t the last word in dynamism. It’s proficient and stable, but not particularly exciting.

The more powerful car manages 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, half a second faster than the Standard Range model. Acceleration always feels swift, with immediate response from the throttle.

Standard fit Michelin tyres ensure there’s plenty of traction, too. The overall driving experience is well-judged for the segment and is unlikely to disappoint those coming from similar family-oriented vehicles.

Company car tax and running costs

Xpeng is a new arrival in the UK and therefore is yet to prove itself as a viable fleet brand. However, with the backing of International Motors fleets should feel some relief that support will be available if required.

The company plans to open 20 dealerships by the end of the year, so footprint will be small but the brand is not planning to shift extensive volumes initially, so aftersales provision should be adequate.

We’ve not got any running costs for the G6 yet, but on list price alone it presents a compelling offer. As one of the largest and most capable electric models to fall beneath the £40,000 ‘Expensive Car Supplement’ threshold, the Standard Range model ticks a lot of boxes for company car drivers.