Xpeng G6

FIRST DRIVE Chinese brand's first UK model gets an update a year after launch, with new batteries and motors, plus refreshed tech

- Alastair Crooks

WE first tested it in late 2024, but in typical Chinese brand fashion, the Xpeng G6 has already been given a fairly significant update, bringing new batteries, electric motors, exterior design and interior technology. It appears XPeng is taking the UK market, and the all-important midsize electric SUV sector, very seriously with the G6 - the firm's first and so far only offering here.

When car makers update their EVs, they usually fit larger batteries in the never-ending search for more range, but that's not the full story with XPeng. The entry-level 66kWh battery in the Standard Range model was recently replaced by a 68kWh pack, bumping range from 270 to 292 miles. However, the larger 87.5kWh battery that was available with up to 354 miles has come down to 80.8kWh, with a maximum range of 326 miles.

Those are fairly competitive figures when you take into account that the Ford Capri sits between 242 and 389 miles, the Tesla Model Y 311 to 387 miles and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 273 to 354 miles.

Our drive of the G6 AWD Performance (admittedly in cold and wet conditions) didn't provide much optimism about range. Instead of the claimed 316 miles, we saw a maximum 225 miles from an average efficiency of 2.8mi/kWh.

With this in mind, it's just as well the G6 comes with incredibly quick charging. Using XPeng's SEPA 2.0 architecture, which has a cutting-edge 800-volt electrical system, the G6 can charge at a peak speed of 451kW in Long Range and Performance guises. That means a 10 to 80 per cent top up can take as little as 12 minutes if you can find one of the very rare charging stations powerful enough.