XPENG G6 (2026) Review

Introduction

If you’re not familiar with XPeng, it probably won’t take you long to guess that it’s Chinese.

It is one of over a dozen new East Asian brands trying to crack the British market, taking advantage of the enormous shake-up that’s begun across the automotive industry over the past few years as electrification takes hold.

XPeng launched in the UK in February 2025 – its G6 mid-size coupe-shaped SUV being the first of its cars to go on sale.

The G6 was originally launched in its homeland a couple of years earlier, receiving some significant updates in time for it to hit the forecourts here. Now it’s had a few further tweaks – in fact, XPeng says it includes over 20,000 incremental engineering modifications.

Whatever that really means in practice, there are new batteries, with a full switchover to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), and an all-new top-of-the-range Performance version, launching as the 'Black Edition'.

It doesn't take much looking to see that the G6 is aiming squarely at Tesla Model Y customers.

But does it really compete?

What are the Pros & Cons of the XPeng G6?

Pros:

• Extremely fast charging speed
• Highly practical
• Nice interior with quality materials

Cons:

• Ride quality isn’t great
• Infotainment is fiddly
• Frunk storage is an optional extra

What are the first impressions of the XPeng G6?

While the Tesla Model Y may have inspired the initial design of the G6, it's arguably the new Model Y that's taken inspiration from the G6. The G6's silhouette roughly matches the Tesla's, though it's noticeably more bulbous, with lines that are more defined than the Tesla's.

The XPeng has thin headlights, connected by an equally slender light bar, which runs along the top of the front end, effectively splitting it off from the edge of the bonnet. In that respect, the new Model Y’s design has followed suit.

Much like the Tesla, there’s little else to talk about on the XPeng’s front, though a large indentation sits above a lower grille, flanked by two large air intakes that also house some of the lights.

Around the sides, the bodywork is relatively smooth, though there's a defined crease emanating from the wheel arches that runs slightly diagonally between the front and rear. The sloping roofline becomes even more apparent when viewed from the back, with the very acute rear windscreen appearing to angle more towards the front of the car than the sky.

There is another lightbar at the top of the tailgate, beneath the glass, running from one side to the other, while the number plate sits towards the bottom, above the thickened, piano-black rear bumper.

It looks great, though whether it holds its form as well as a Model Y is questionable.

What are the XPeng G6’s key features?

There is only one trim level, with 20-inch alloys, a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, voice control, an XOPERA 18-speaker sound system, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display.

You also get pop-out door handles, a panoramic glass roof, double-glazed front windows, an electric tailgate, LED headlights with intelligent high beam, and six-way electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats.

Heated rear seats and steering wheel, ambient lighting, and dual-zone climate control are also included.

Standard Range Models feature leatherette upholstery; Long Range and Performance models feature Nappa leather.

In terms of power, the Standard Range produces 258PS, the Long Range outputs 296PS – both single-motor rear-wheel-drive models – while we're testing the all-wheel-drive Performance version, in its only currently available form: the ‘Black Edition’.

This ups the poke to 487PS, with dual motors.

What is the range of the XPeng G6, and what are the battery options?

Our Performance model manages a claimed 316 miles from its 80.8kWh battery.

The same battery is in the Long Range model, though the car’s reduced power means it’ll go slightly further: 326 miles.

You get a smaller 68.5kWh battery in the Standard Range version, dropping the range to 292 miles.

Of course, expect less in the real world, as many factors, including driving style and outside temperature, affect the range achieved.

What’s the performance and drive like with the XPeng G6?

Well, the Performance model’s clout is frankly outrageous.

While the Standard Range does 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds, and the Long Range manages the same in 6.7 seconds, our test car does it in an eye-watering 4.1 seconds. Pick the slowest of the three, and still nobody will complain that it’s taken almost seven seconds to get to 62mph in a car like this.

The Performance version, then, is really for those who want entertainment. It does, without a doubt, put a childish smile on your face.

Despite being quite a large car, it offers good visibility, making it relatively easy to thread around the slow streets of a village or town centre, especially in Comfort mode, which makes the steering effortlessly light.

In Sport mode and, curiously enough, in Eco mode, it’s as heavy as can be, which makes slow, stop-start journeys tiresome. The mode you're in also changes throttle response and brake ferocity, but the heavier steering settings might come in handy when tackling a twisty backroad.

As you’d expect, there’s quite a bit of body lean when taking corners at speed, though our all-wheel drive model enables you to get a slight kick of oversteer as you hammer out of a bend.

That is because more power is sent to the rear axle, though it doesn't necessarily make the G6 especially nimble or playful. The steering doesn’t provide that much feedback and feels a bit artificial, and you do feel the car’s bulk when cornering – this is no BMW M2 after all.

Nevertheless, the 2026 G6 is slightly better than we expected, particularly as most Chinese SUVs we’ve driven in the UK to date offer fairly mundane driving dynamics. Unfortunately, ride comfort isn’t great.

Imperfect roads cause jolts and thumps through the cabin, and at speed, the G6 can feel a little bouncy and take a long time to settle down, too. As a result, it rarely feels as planted as more refined rivals do.

Motorway driving sounds serene, though, with soundproofing a big plus in the XPeng, with double-glazed windows deadening the din of the tyres and the wind hitting the door mirrors at speed.

Regenerative braking also feels well implemented, with consistent, predictable decelerating forces when you hit the brake pedal, though changing the settings is done via the touchscreen and is needlessly overcomplicated.

Most manufacturers simply install paddles behind the steering wheel. One-pedal driving isn’t quite doable even in its most ferocious setting, still requiring a tap of the anchors to bring it to a stop. The G6’s maximum braked towing capacity is 1,500kg across all variants, which is less than that of a Model Y.

How fast can the XPeng G6 charge?

The Standard Range model has a maximum charging speed of 382kW, making it one of the fastest on the market. The Long Range and Performance models deliver an even quicker 451kW, making it the current industry leader.

That means a 10-80% top-up takes just 12 minutes at the latter charging speed, while the Standard Range takes about the same time, despite its slower speed, because its battery is smaller.

What are the running costs and emissions for the XPeng G6?

They are a lot lower than an equivalent combustion-engined car, that's for sure, particularly in the wake of recent price hikes at the pumps. Benefit-in-kind tax is cheapest for EVs, too, so the latest G6 will make a great company car, cost-wise.

Tax will be just £10 for the first year, but will rise to £200 a year thereafter. The good news is that the Expensive Car Supplement – which adds £440-a-year to the cost of your road tax for years two to six inclusive – has recently been revised.

The threshold has risen from £40,000 to £50,000 – and our Performance model comes in just under at £49,990 – so you won’t need to worry about paying thousands extra in tax.

It does, though, mean that any optional extras are out of the question, while you’d be able to kit your car out with every option available in the Standard and Long Range models and still be comfortably under the threshold.

The Performance is in the same insurance group as the Long Range model – 44 – with the Standard Range coming one lower in group 43, though those are quite high compared with some competitors.

What’s the interior and technology like with the XPeng G6?

The XPeng G6’s cabin is quite striking when you step inside.

Its minimalist interior design looks sophisticated, with an oval-shaped steering wheel and a high, wide centre console that, compared with most cars, creates a tall barrier between the front seat occupants. It is full of rounded edges, which look the part, though it’s so decluttered that it could be accused of being a little soulless.

The dashboard is coloured a lighter grey, but other than the edges of the indicator stalks, the airbag surround on the wheel, and the outer border of the gear selector console, there’s little else other than a very dark grey, almost black, colour.

That is quite frustrating in our top-of-the-range Performance edition, given the Standard and Long-Range models’ interiors are offered in white (officially ‘light grey’), which only adds to the sophistication.

In fairness, it perhaps defeats the object of offering a ‘Black Edition’ if it doesn’t have a black interior – but at least offer the customer the option given it’s available to other models.

That said, the layout and vibe of the interior is classy, even if it is all black – and the infotainment system looks great too. The large, 15.6-inch touchscreen is mounted on the dashboard like a tablet, offering a lovely layout which looks like you’re navigating a classy website.

It offers a very responsive touchscreen with crisply clear graphics, while the icons and text are sufficiently sized so major functions can be operated at a glance on the move. However, the menu interface is overcomplicated, with some options buried in sub-menus, while the shortcut buttons along the bottom aren’t the easiest to use.

A minimalist interior inevitably means that virtually everything is controlled through the screen, including the air conditioning. It is nice, but it risks leaving non-computer-literate users confused.

The 10.2-inch digital instrument screen is also quite cluttered, with lots of display information, some of it on the small side, while customisation is limited to toggling between pages.

You can, though, customise some steering wheel buttons to bring up certain menus on the infotainment screen. The cabin's build quality is also of a high standard, with everything feeling sturdy, while there’s plenty of softer materials and plush surfaces.

Is the XPeng G6 practical, and how big is the boot?

Finding a comfortable seating position is straightforward, thanks to powered adjustment in the front seats. Forward visibility is good, with fairly thin windscreen pillars.

Out of the rear, though, the sloping roofline, tapering rear-side windows, roof spoiler, and curved lower edges of the rear windscreen heavily restrict over-the-shoulder visibility. In fact, there are few cars we’ve been in that offer a worse view.

Thankfully, front and rear parking sensors are stock on all models, along with a 360-degree camera that provides a clear view around the car. There is a lot of space up front, with the wide centre console providing elbow room for two front seat occupants, while headroom isn’t an issue despite the panoramic sunroof.

Admittedly, very tall adults might find their scalp brushing the ceiling in the rear, given the coupe-esque slope of the roofline, but there’s enough legroom in the back to sprawl out and get comfortable.

There is also a rear touchscreen for passengers to enjoy their own entertainment. Boot space measures 571 litres, which is impressive for this class, though the similarly sized Tesla Model Y trumps most with a whopping 890 litres.

The G6's available capacity expands to 1,374 litres with the rear bench folded in a 60:40 split. The boot is conveniently accessible, maximising your ability to use the space, and there’s only a very small boot lip to lift your things over.

Bizarrely, a ‘frunk’ – additional storage space underneath the bonnet – is an optional extra. However, there’s quite a lot of storage (included as standard, you’ll be happy to know) beneath the boot floor for charging cables, tyre pumps and the like.

You will find plenty of storage inside the cabin, too, with large door bins, a deep cubby beneath the central armrest, a tray area underneath the centre console, and two wireless smartphone chargers, though curiously, there's no glove compartment.

How safe is the XPeng G6?

The G6 was put through its paces by Euro NCAP in 2024, earning a five-star rating with notable scores of 88% for adults, 85% for children, and 75% for safety assists.

It comes as standard with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) called XPILOT 2.5, which includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centring control, and adaptive turning cruise.

You also get assisted lane change (apart from rear-wheel drive Standard Range models), while Extended Range and Performance models receive a driving recorder.

Forward distance monitoring and collision warning, traffic sign recognition, speed assistant system, intelligent high beam, driver state monitoring, blind spot detection, lane departure warning and lane keep assistance are all standard.

You also get enhanced auto parking and remote vehicle summons, enabling the car to drive to you in a car park, as well as rear collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

Can I choose optional extras with the XPeng G6?

You can. Although our Performance ‘Black Edition’ test car mandates a black colour scheme, Standard and Long Range models come in white, with black, dark grey, silver and purple available for extra.

Inside, our car again misses out, but non-Performance models can be fitted with a light grey interior instead of dark grey – and that’s at no extra charge.

Mudguards, wind deflectors, mats, a centre console tray, a dog guard and an under-bonnet storage facility are all available, too.

What are the rival cars to the XPeng G6?

The mid-size SUV segment of the market is highly competitive.

The Tesla Model Y is probably the most likely foe, while the BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 should also be considered.

Skoda’s Enyaq and Volkswagen’s ID.4 and ID.5 are worthy competitors, plus Ford’s Capri is also worth a gander.

Renault’s Scenic E-Tech is also another option, while those looking at the premium end of the car leasing market may want to factor in the Audi Q4 e-Tron.

What’s the final verdict on the new XPeng G6?

The XPeng G6 is a wholesome contender which ticks plenty of boxes, even if it’s not great in some areas. The infotainment system – though lovely to look at – risks being overcomplicated with some less than user-friendly features.

It is also not the comfiest SUV to drive, though its handling, while not amazing, is better than expected. It lacks the excitement of premium marques, and the electric range isn't anything special. But charging speeds are brilliant – literally the fastest you can get – and it’s a highly practical car with plenty of standard equipment.

The Performance version we drove will put a smile on your face when accelerating. Still, it's overkill – and lesser models let you choose a brighter interior without charge, which we’d recommend.

In terms of acceleration, the Long Range edition more than suffices and is the one we’d pick for its extra miles, though there’s nothing wrong with selecting the Standard Range if you’re on a budget.

With only one trim, equipment levels are virtually the same regardless, so you’re not being shortchanged. Overall, the 2026 G6 has plenty of potential – and it's a step forward on the ‘old’ model – but XPeng needs to keep working hard to compete with established brands.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the XPENG G6.

**Correct as of 05/06/2026. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 36 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £4,037.64 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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