Motors review: Xpeng G6 'does everything well'
The Tesla rival is a perfectly refined, relaxed, easy-to-live-with electric car perfect for the family, writes Jim McGill note-0
Less than a year ago, Xpeng launched its G6 into the UK. Now the Chinese company has introduced a significantly updated 2026 version of its Tesla Model Y rival. For most people, the question will be “why?”. Was the original launch model really that bad? Or are we simply seeing another example of how quickly a Chinese carmaker can rapidly introduce another step-up on the car’s development cycle? If it is indeed the latter, the speed at which it can not only identify but implement such changes is diametrically opposite to that traditionally slower time taken by European manufacturers. It unquestionably helps that Xpeng proudly states that it is “a technology company that makes cars”. What’s also worth emphasising is the fact that though the G6 didn’t arrive in the UK until last year, it was launched in China in mid-2023. So the car is actually older than it might first appear. But so too is Xpeng. Backed by heavyweight Chinese tech investment, including support from Alibaba, the company was founded in 2014. And to back up Xpeng’s technology status, four out of 10 of the company's employees work in R&D, and half of those work in software and AI. Oh. And you should also be aware that VW is integrating Xpeng’s tech architecture into its EVs for the Chinese market from this year.
Ok, so tell me more about the G6 Pitched squarely at the Tesla Model Y, you can choose from three models of the G6. The entry-level Standard Range RWD starts at £39,990 and offers 292-miles (all range figures WLTP), up to 382kW DC charging and a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds. Next up is the Long Range RWD which will cover 326-miles, has peak charging of 451kW and knocks 0.2s off the 0-62 time. It starts at £44,990. For £49,990 you get the top-of-the-range Performance AWD. It’ll scamper from standstill to 62mph in just 4.1secs, has a range to 316-miles, and again is equipped with 451kW rapid-charging. The headline here is Xpeng claims to can recharge from 10% to 80% in just 12-minutes. Brilliant. But … we don’t have 451kW charging in the UK (should that really come as a surprise?). Our public infrastructure currently tops out at 350kW. At least you know the G6 has been future-proofed for improved UK charging rates in the future. Xpeng has also used leading-edge construction methods to build it, including incorporating huge aluminium castings which give lots of body rigidity, plus cell-to-body battery construction which fits a lot of electrical energy into a compact space. I was fortunate to drive both the G6 Long Range RWD and dual motor Performance models at the press launch.
What’s new for 2026? Xpeng claims it has made 20,000 changes in this facelift. Yes, 20,000. The good news for you is, I won’t be listing them all here. Externally the changes are subtle. The wheelarches are now colour-coded, the front badge position is changed thanks to the revised front lights, while at the rear the redesigned diffuser sits beneath a small ducktail spoiler. These tweaks certainly haven’t changed the G6 from an ordinary-looking duckling into a swan. It’s still a bland-looking thing. But it certainly now looks more cohesive. It’s inside the cabin where the principal changes and improvements have been made. There’s an upgrade to the materials, and all the touch-points have been improved. It all just looks and feels better, plus there a subtly redesigned dashboard and a new look to the steering wheel. There’s also ambient lighting which now runs cleanly across the dashboard into the doors, plus the front seats now benefit from massage functions and adjustable lumbar support. This is in addition to the already existing heating and ventilation fitted to the seats.
Anything else on the inside? Oh yes. The operating system to the 15.6in central screen has been updated. Already fast and crisp in its previous iteration, it’s now much easier to use and navigate. Plus, the G6’s ‘Hey Xpeng’ voice control actually understood my Scottish accent — a major bonus — and responded quickly to my requests. It even recognises which seat the command comes from. Clever. Just as well because equally annoyingly, even the repositioning of the angle of the side mirrors is buried deep in a submenu. Elsewhere the ambience is lifted by the better quality materials and the redesigned dashboard. And while the high centre console is practical, practicalities are further boosted by twin-cooled wireless charging pads. Not only do they now sit in a softer surface, but the charging is very effective, despite my iPhone being encased in a hard-backed protective case. And you could almost lose yourself in the deep, lidded central cubby. Rear seating space is bordering on the cavernous. Sitting behind my own driving position there was more than ample legroom. Space is further enhanced by the flat floor, plus the rear seats recline. All that’s missing in the rear is a 55in Smart TV. Instead to can go sky-gazing through the huge panoramic roof. As for bootspace, it swallows 571-litres of goodies, increasing to 1374 with the rear seats folded. Towing capacity is rated at 1500kg. Having been built by a ‘tech company’, it’ll come as no surprise to you that the interior is screen-led. Personally I would prefer more buttons and knobs, but the software does feel intuitive, given time. And the big bonus of course is the smooth-operation voice control system, which will handle most controls and save you diverting your attention from the road and faffing through endless onscreen menus.
Now, what’s it like to drive? It certainly feels like a car developed by software engineers as much as vehicle engineers. To many prospective buyers that won’t necessarily be a bad thing. It’s competent to drive, but don’t expect cutting edge, razor-sharp handling. It’s not the way the G6 has been prepared. Polished might well be the best word to describe it. The G6 does everything, well. It just never really excels at anything in the driving experience. It is though way less annoying than a Tesla Model Y. The now inevitable and necessary bings and bongs of the safety systems don’t intrude too much, and the lane-centring software is acceptable. It’s a car which makes it easy to settle into a simply drive from A to B. It demands very little of you. But it’s a bit of a ‘Steady Eddie’ sort of experience. Don’t expect anything dynamic. It’s not that sort of car. Performance in the RWD versions is brisk rather than dramatic, which actually suits the character of the car. As you would expect, the Performance version is considerably faster; but even here, thanks to its good-natured composure, it doesn’t actually feel that quick. Steering is positively light and accurate, but doesn’t deliver any great feedback. It does make for easy manoeuvring in town, but on the motorway it’s rather lifeless. Overall comfort is good, though the ride does suffer and fidget when you come across a stretch of the UK’s potholed roads.
Verdict Remember my opening questions: essentially is this upgrade a quick fix to cover launch issues, or the fast evolution of an EV? Having driven the two cars, without doubt it’s the latter. The 2025 UK launch G6 was never a bad car, but this test model illustrates how Xpeng has listened to customer feedback and delivered on it. The cabin quality is much, much better and the G6 simply feels much more established and mature than before. It’s not a car for keen drivers. But that statement, in truth, means the G6 will appeal to more drivers than it doesn’t. It’s a perfectly refined, relaxed, easy-to-live-with electric car perfect for the family. It’s a serious piece of kit. It’s also, essentially, an improvement on the Tesla Model Y for close to Tesla 3 prices. Plus you can rest easy knowing your hard-earned cash isn’t going into the pockets of Elon Musk. That alone makes the Xpeng G6 something worthy of consideration.
The facts Xpeng G6 RWD Long Range
Price: £44,990 (G6 range from £39,990) Engine: 87kWh battery, single rear-mounted e-motor Power: 282bhp Transmission: Single-speed, rear-wheel drive Top speed / 0-62mph: 118mph / 6.7sec Electric range: 326-miles (WLTP) CO2: 0g/km Weight: 2120kg Dimensions (L/W/H): 4758mm / 1920mm / 1650mm On sale: Now
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