XPENG G9 Review: Has XPENG finally hit the target?

Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular in recent
years; the global demand for battery-powered cars is rapidly growing. But while
Tesla has dominated the market, other companies are looking to challenge their
supremacy. One of those challengers is XPENG G9 – an electric car manufactured
by Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng Motors, whose released was met with high
expectations.

Taking into consideration features like acceleration speed,
top speed capabilities and range life – along with a comprehensive comparison
study on pricing variations as well as feature set diversity – this detailed
review will provide us valuable insight about the newest entry on the electric
vehicle scene made by Xpeng Motors and how it matches up against its
competitors.

Design

The Xpeng G9 has
a design that will stop you in your tracks. Resembling the P7 ‘light saber’
running lights family car, it has an unmistakable presence. LiDAR and DLR units
are housed lower down, meaning the windscreen is free from tech above for
maximum visibility.

At first glance,
its minimalist look and attractive white/black paint combo draw attention to
the details of this vehicle; gloss black plastic trim below the bonnet with 71
liters of storage in its frunk; softly sculpted shoulders and doors blending
into an overall sleek appearance; blacked-out roof bars & window frames on
our test car seen – all working together to give this EV a muscular stance.

Additionally, we
have a full width lightbar across its tail with glossy black plastic detail providing
visual enhancement without feeling weighed down. And lastly, there’s a rear
spoiler concealing top mounted rear wiper plus 660/1576 liter boot expandable
when seats fold down for added space whenever needed.

For those who
appreciate exquisite design as well as performance, The Xpeng G9 should be at
the top of their list!

Interiors

XPENGs have
always had great tech and on-road dynamics, but it was their questionable
interiors that took some of the shine away from an otherwise impressive
package. The P7, for example had decent design but cheap materials while its
predecessor, the P5 lacked basic functions like climate control in rear seats.
XPENG seemed to be confused between whether they wanted to compete with
mainstream brands or go up against premium offerings from rivals like Tesla.

Thankfully G9 has
addressed these issues by completely turning around its interior design with
beautiful touches such as Canton Tower chairs for your front passengers and an
expansive dual 15.6 inch screens at the back which will definitely impress
anyone who enters the vehicle! You also get ambient lighting options along with
a two spoke steering wheel which looks different versus traditional three spoke
ones you see in most cars these days.

The cabin space
is excellent thanks to its huge 3 metre long wheelbase ensuring there is enough
room even for third row seating occupants making it ideal if you plan on going
out on long journeys or roadtrips with your friends/family.

Entertainment features.

XPENG G9 features
XPENG’s own software that is intuitively designed for maximum interactivity
while driving. Its best in class voice recognition skills keep drivers from
taking their eyes off the road while its passenger side screen filter prevents
digital distraction.

Additionally, the
driver seat offers full adjustability plus headrest speakers that call out
notifications when needed. The passenger seat can recline with one-touch
activation and leg rest mode available for extra comfort. Rear seats feature
base cushion extension and backrest angle adjustment (up to 10 degrees) aiding
in relaxation during long drives or providing stellar support when tackling
curves on twisty roads.

For audio buffs
looking for an extra kick, there’s also a 28-unit 2250W DynAudio sound system
with 5D Opera System that literally combines audio units with other features
like fragrance system, ventilation as well as massage functions – basically
transforming your vehicle into a symphony hall! This is a major improvement on
all previous XPENG models.

Learn More: VinFast VF9 Review: What makes this Vietnamese Car stand out?

Driving dynamics

The Xpeng G9
stands out with its dynamic driving performance and advanced technology. It
utilizes a Dual Chamber Air Suspension and Continuous Damping Control to ensure
smooth handling over rough surfaces, allowing for maximum comfort even at high
speeds. The EV also provides an incredibly whisper-quiet drive; the G9 is
quieter than the P7 thanks to the optimized air flow system, Michelin tires,
and noise isolation materials in the cabin.

The steering on
this vehicle is adjustable from easy to sporty via a simple tweak of settings
in the Driving menu that includes Comfort+, Eco+ or Sport+. The exterior
dimension are also quite practical – 4.891-metres long, 1.937-metres wide and
1.67-metres tall – allowing for easy placing & parking due to its large
windows & camera system along with ultrasonic sensors that make up part of
its XNGP ADAS functionalities including Highway Autonomous Driving and City
Autonomous Driving powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Orin-X (508 TOPS).

Performance

The Xpeng G9 is
powered by a 230kW rear-mounted motor boasting 430Nm of torque, and in its
Performance version also has two motors producing 405kW and 717Nm. It can go
from 0-100kph in 6.4 seconds (RWD form) or 3.9 seconds (in the dual-motor
guise).

The G9 also has a
78.2 kWh battery for the RWD models and 98KWh batteries for both RWD and AWD
variants; with a single motor version claiming CLT range of 702km, double motor
650km, standard battery 570km – though real world use will likely be around
77%.

But regardless of
engine type it makes use of an 800V architecture to allow for 4C supercharging
– allowing you to get 200 km in five minutes – as well as using 3C chargers
which give 130 km in five minutes charging time.

Learn More: Tesla Model S Review: Will this decade-old EV still hold up?

The Bottom Line

XPENG’s newest
car, the G9, may be their most significant launch yet. Their new product shows
that they are now making mature choices and better planning when it comes to
product design.

The G9 is a
marked improvement in almost every way offering sumptuous styling, an excellent
interior rich with features, industry-leading ADAS safety system, polished road
manners- everything you could ask for at this price point.

Speaking of
cost,the price of the top-notch flagship model starts at 469,900 RMB – which
puts it on par or even lower than some competitors such as the ES7 that costs
468,000 RMB (~$64,500) without much extra added value.The more sustainable
option for driving is ES7 that has its battery rented out and brings down the
cost to 398,000 RMB (~$54,900). Meanwhile,the entry-level BMW iX in China will
set you back a whopping 746,900 RMB(~$103K).

So not only do
buyers get what critics consider to be an excellent SUV with amples seats
spaced comfortably enough,but also various standard amenities often missing
from others which sets XPENG apart from its competitors.