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Pros: Excellent range, charging speed, high-quality cabin, space
Cons: Looks like a Tesla clone, unexciting to drive, lacks brand image
Xpeng G6 Design
If you buy an Xpeng G6, you will spend a lot of time explaining to people that no, it’s not a Tesla Model Y. The two cars are astonishingly similar in style, both sharing an egg-shaped SUV profile and a blunt bonnet with a broad LED strip (now in one piece with integrated indicators). The latest G6, which has been given a thorough update even though it only went on sale in Ireland a few months ago, has changed a bit on the outside though. As well as that new LED strip at the front, there’s a new tailgate with an integrated ‘ducktail’ spoiler that not only helps with the car’s aerodynamics but also helps to distance it a bit from the Tesla. This AWD Performance model also comes in a dramatic Black Edition where basically everything on the outside — wheels, body, brake calipers, badges — is painted black. It looks very mean.
Xpeng G6 Interior
Aside from the battery (which we’ll get to in a minute) the Xpeng G6’s biggest improvement has been on the inside. The overall style is the same — big screens, no buttons — but the quality of the materials used has taken a step up. Xpeng considers itself a high-tech rival to traditional European premium brands such as BMW and Audi, which sounds like a bit of a stretch, but when you see the revised dashboard design and feel the quality within, you might be convinced. Space is excellent, and although there’s no glovebox there are big storage areas in the centre console, as well as a pair of high-speed wireless phone chargers with their own cooling system so your phone doesn’t get too hot. The big 15.6-inch touchscreen is pretty slick to use, but unfortunately Xpeng insists on putting absolutely every function on there, which means you’ll struggle to find important items such as headlights and door-mirror adjustment on the go, which isn’t good. There’s a decent 571-litre boot, but no ‘frunk’ storage in the nose.
Xpeng G6 Performance & Drive
Xpeng has given the G6 a new long-range battery, which is actually smaller than its existing long-range battery — it now holds 80kWh of stored energy — but which is also better. How? Well, it uses lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry which is more robust than the nickel-manganese-cobalt setup found in most other batteries. It also charges fast. Like, really, really fast. In fact, this battery can cope with up to 451kW of DC charging power, which is outrageous. There’s no charger in Ireland currently capable of supplying that much power, but if there were, this Xpeng G6 would be able to do a 10-80 per cent battery top-up in just 12 minutes.
Xpeng quotes a range of between 510km and 585km for the updated G6, depending on which version you buy, and going by what we experienced on our test drive, you should be able to depend on getting 500km out of it on a full charge in real-world conditions.
This was also our first chance to drive the high-performance version of the G6, the AWD Performance, which gets four-wheel drive and 486hp, and which can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a blistering 4.1 seconds. That’s a bit slower than the new Tesla Model Y Performance, but it’s still incredibly quick, and the G6 feels unseemly rapid. Sadly, it can’t back that up with sharp, sporty handling — the steering is just too light and feels disconnected. It’s a good cruiser, and very refined and comfortable, but less good around town where the ride comfort gets too firm.
Xpeng G6 Pricing
Before the update, Irish Xpeng G6 prices start at €42,000, but this AWD Performance model will probably be closer to €55,000 when it eventually arrives here. We don’t have a precise date for that arrival, which will also see a new single-motor 292hp Long Range version of the G6 using the same high-tech battery, but both should get to Ireland in early-to-mid 2026.
Carzone Verdict
The Xpeng G6’s battery tech has taken a massive leap forward in front of most of the competition, and it has also taken a big step towards being a serious premium-badge contender, thanks to that improved cabin quality. It should be more fun to drive, really, but if Xpeng gets the pricing right, this AWD Performance model could be very desirable.