Unboxing the Xpeng X9

The unconventional Chinese electric multi-seater breaks boxy mould to offer longer range

- Christopher Tan

The Chinese must be head over heels in love with multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), going by how almost every brand has at least one multi-seater in its line-up.

The latest to arrive in Singapore is the Xpeng X9, a 5,293mm-long, 1,988mm-wide and 1,785mm-tall carrier which stands out from the crowd with its sheer size and unconventional design.

With its rakish "fastback" rear, the electric seven-seater has a similar silhouette to a Range Rover, albeit plumped up by one too many Cantonese barbecue pork buns, or char siew pau. (Xpeng is based in Guangzhou, after all.)

The car's weight, however, is not commensurate with its chunky presence. At around 2.6 tonnes, the X9 may be heftier than most cars on the road here. But it is not overweight when compared with juggernauts such as the BMW X7, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 or even its somewhat leaner doppelganger, the Range Rover.

Indeed, most electric cars are substantially heavier than their combustion equivalents, such as the aforementioned cars. But not the X9. You do not sense its heft at the wheel either.

The plus-sized Xpeng carries itself well. Despite its 20-inch wheels, it is surprisingly adept at insulating the cabin from challenging road contours, thanks to air suspension.

This system allows the car's ground clearance to be adjusted by up to 70mm. A measuring tape says the range is closer to 60mm. There is also a selection of firmness, ranging from Comfort+ (softest) to Sport (hardest). But at the wheel, the difference between the two extremes is barely discernible.

Contributing to ride quality is an option to dial down regenerative braking to a bare minimum. This reduces the jerkiness often associated with electric cars when you lift your foot off the accelerator for one reason or another.

You can likewise dial down the sensitivity of its electronic nannies to prevent the car from sounding like an ice cream truck.