Xpeng G6: First Impression

Cementing an automotive brand in a country is not easy – even more so when the brand in question is new. This is the challenge facing Xpeng Motors as it launched the Xpeng G6 EV in Dubai on October 19, 2024. It has chosen Gulf Star Motors, an Ali & Sons Holding subsidiary, as its official dealership partner in the UAE.

The Xpeng G6 is a midsize coupe SUV and will compete against the likes of the Tesla Model Y. The electric SUV is to be available in Standard Range RWD, Long Range RWD, and Performance AWD variants. Meanwhile, the starting price of the new Xpeng G6 in the UAE is AED 106,869.

Exterior

The exterior of the Xpeng G6 reveals a mixed bag of modern urbane chicness and uninspired design ideas. The G6 flaunts a long wheelbase situated between short overhangs and a steeply sloped roof that merges neatly into its flared rear haunches. These, along with the steeply raked pillars and flat front & rear facades, play deceptively well with your visual perception.

Therefore, your first glance of the Xpeng G6 will leave you pondering about its styling. The EV does look more compelling when finished in either Fiery Orange or Midnight Black. Found up front is the brand’s ‘X’ logo in the middle of two DRL LED strips, while the triangular bits in the bumper house the LED headlights and LiDAR sensors.

Apart from its stylish coupe-like roofline, the Xpeng G6 gets 20-inch alloy wheels. The design of these two-tone rims is mundane and they seem out of place on a car like this. The segmented clear-lens LED tail lights look sleek, and there is also an active rear spoiler that pops out from the bottom of the rear window!

It might look deceptively compact from a distance, but the Xpeng G6 is anything but small. It has a respectable boot volume of 571 litres, expandable to 1,374 litres with the rear seats folded. The Xpeng G6 drives in at 4,753 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,650 mm in height – its wheelbase comes in at 2,890 mm.

Interior

Just like its exterior, the interior of the Xpeng G6 has its fair share of hits and misses. The latter can be explained away by the now-familiar uninspiring design language that envelops the centre console, dashboard and driver’s display in a blanket of usable but boring canvas. The cabin looks far better when dressed in the dual-tone white/grey trim.

Other factors that will irk some customers are the oddly-shaped two-spoke steering wheel and the lack of physical buttons. The former makes frequent maneuvering challenging while the latter could become annoying over time. However, the Xpeng G6 has a few tricks up its electric sleeves to negate those things – or at least it tries.

Many coupe-esque designs tend to eat into the rear headroom, but that is not a bug that infects the G6. Its roof is high enough and the floor low enough to allow even taller folks to feel comfortable in the rear seats. The leather seats are well-designed and supportive, with the rear ones offering adjustment for the backrest angle as well.

The light theme and the expansive glass roof make for an airy cabin environment. Enhancing comfort further are the heated & ventilated seats and automatic climate control, along with the electrically-adjustable front seats. With no one occupying the front passenger seat, you can recline it to 180 degrees and the rear seat to 38.4 degrees for limousine-like space & comfort.

There are other conveniences like two 50-watt wireless chargers, a 10.2-inch driver’s display, an AI voice assistant, and OTA updates. Customers can monitor and operate some of the car’s functions via the Xpeng App, whilst in-car entertainment is provided by a 980-watt audio system with 18 speakers. There is a 14.96-inch touch-infotainment system – everything is powered by a Snapdragon chipset.

The EV gets front & rear cupholders, USB-A & USB-C ports, split-folding rear seats, a powered tailgate, surround-view cameras, plus Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity. Its ride quality is also good and the cabin NVH remains within acceptable limits over most kinds of road surfaces. Even though it is not the most exciting interior, it is a practical one.

Engine and performance

The Xpeng G6 is based on the SEPA 2.0 platform, an 800-volt silicon carbide electric architecture. The base G6 uses a 66-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with one electric motor driving the rear wheels – its WLTP-claimed range is up to 435 km. The RWD 87.5-kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) version has a WLTP-claimed range of up to 550 km.

The G6’s battery packs are capable of accepting up to 280 kW of DC fast charging. This translates to the batteries going from 10-80 percent SoC in less than 20 minutes, which is considered pretty decent. The Xpeng G6 also features a dedicated heat pump to ensure its batteries stay within the optimum temperature to deliver their best efficiency.

The RWD Standard Range variant has 190 kW (255 hp) of power and 440 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the RWD Long Range variant also has 440 Nm but offers up to 210 kW (282 hp). The top-end AWD Performance gets two electric motors with a combined output of 350 kW (470 hp) and 660 Nm.

This means that the G6 Performance can go from 0-100 kmph in 4 seconds. Even the slowest G6 will get past 100 kmph in 6.6 seconds. As for the top speed, all variants of the Xpeng G6 are electronically-restricted to 200 kmph. Drivers can choose between Standard, Eco and Sport modes, while four levels of regen are available.

Safety

The Xpeng G6 gets an IP68 rating for waterproofing and dust resistance, meeting industry standards. It features 13 active safety systems that include 29 cameras and sensors for a comprehensive understanding of the surroundings. The G6 comes with driver-assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, vehicle & pedestrian detection, auto-emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assist, and parking sensors.

Of course, the Xpeng G6 also gets multiple airbags, stability management & traction control, TPMS, and ISOFIX anchors. Due to its use of lightweight aluminum and high-strength steel, the weight is kept low while providing up to 80 tons of collision resistance at the pillars. Meanwhile, the batteries of the Xpeng G6 can withstand temperatures of up to 700 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion

With a starting price tag of just under 110,000 dirhams in the UAE, the Xpeng G6 EV is not cheap. However, it claws back that disadvantage by offering its buyers an extensive equipment list and a good range. The performance is decent, though those seeking more will need to splurge for the top-end variant.

The G6’s interior is well-made and offers a comfortable experience – albeit one that will not excite on the design front. There is a generous amount of luggage space as well, even though loading/unloading items will be cumbersome due to the high cargo floor. You could look at the Xpeng G6 as the Chinese take on the highly-popular Tesla Model Y.

Also read: Xpeng G9 electric SUV makes debut in the UAE