I first came across XPeng when I was working in China back in 2018. Back then, the brand was promoting their first car, the G3 small SUV, heavily in the media, and I remember being rather impressed by its tech innovations, such as its incredibly clever remote self-parking system.

Fast forward to half a decade later, and XPeng has now made its way to Singapore. Outside of BYD, XPeng is probably the Chinese car brand that has drawn the greatest amount of intrigue here, thanks to the company’s highly visible co-founder He Xiaopeng, and its penchant for huge publicity blitzes to showcase its technology advancements. Some even equate XPeng as akin to China’s Tesla.

But tech is a fast-moving arena, and constantly improving is the name of the game. And so, barely a year after XPeng’s G6 SUV was introduced here, the car has received a facelift, bringing with it improvements that would hopefully enhance the experience even further.

Blink And You’ll Miss It

There are some minor styling changes to the updated G6, but honestly, you’ll need to be very observant to be able to point them out. The front light bar now stretches across the width of the car, and as a result, the XPeng logo now moves up to the bonnet, instead of sitting in the middle of the bar.

At the back, the tailgate features what looks like a mild rear spoiler, breaking up the curvy blob design and giving the G6 a slightly more sporty stance. The bumpers apparently are a bit more sculpted too, but it’s genuinely hard to spot, even for the sharper-eyed.

Ergonomically Enhanced

The interior of the XPeng G6 gets more substantial changes however. The most visible tactile difference are the air con vents, which can now be adjusted manually instead of via the touchscreen. It’s very much a welcome change, because anything that doesn’t require you to focus too much on the touchscreen is always a good thing.

The driver instrument display is now a standalone screen, instead of being embedded in the dashboard previously. The main central touchscreen is now bigger as well, at 15.6-inches, up from 14.9-inches previously.

The dashboard also looks a tad classier, with its faux wood inlays that gives the car a slightly upmarket feel, and you now get ambient lighting available too. There is a new digital rear view mirror as well, which is quite handy because visibility out the back is blocked by the rear headrests otherwise.

Overall, the cabin of the updated G6 now feels more befitting of the car’s premium positioning status.

Update Your Software

XPeng has gone on to upgrade the infotainment’s operating system (OS) software as well, and the improvements are pretty numerous. I won’t go into every single update for the sake of brevity, but I’ll just pick out the highlights.

There is something called XCombo, which allows you to preset certain instructions for the car to follow under various conditions. For example, you could get it to turn on the air con at a predefined time of the day. Or switch on the ventilated seats whenever you get in the car, and various other things like that.

Other notables include the massage seats for the front occupants, which now have six different programmes to select from. The integrated dash cam also has an emergency recording function that automatically records footage whenever it detects an event or incident, such as an impending accident or collision.

One thing which hasn’t really changed though is the automated self parking function, which is just as well, because XPeng’s system is arguably the best one in the market out there. It can fully detect any available parking spaces, and all you need to do is select your desired spot and let the car do the rest.

Pure Performance

Along with the facelift, XPeng has also introduced a new Performance variant of the G6, which is now the flagship model of the range. The Long Range is now the entry-level version, while the Standard Range variant has been dropped.

The G6 Performance comes with dual motors and All Wheel Drive, compared with the Long Range model which is rear wheel drive only, and the two motors combine to produce a total of 480bhp and 660Nm of torque, which are supercar slaying numbers indeed.

0-100km/h comes up in 4.1 seconds, and the car does accelerate alarmingly briskly. However, it doesn’t quite do it with the same kind of forcefulness as you’ll get in a Tesla, for example. Instead, it creeps up on you with a sense of calm silence, and before you know it, you’re doing highly illegal speeds that would put you at risk of losing your licence.

Part of the reason could also be down to the G6’s refinement levels, which have been improved somewhat over the pre-facelift model. The suspension has been tweaked to smoothen out road undulations even further, and insulation has been enhanced to weed out more external noise from the cabin.

The car is supposedly better to drive in the corners as well, but truthfully, the G6 was never an engaging handler in the first place. Body roll is slightly reduced, and there is generally a good amount of grip, but otherwise, the G6 goes through bends with minimal fuss without coming across as particularly entertaining.

Fast And Furious

Fully charged, the XPeng G6 Performance offers a range of 510km, which is impressive in its own right, though slightly down on the Long Range’s figure of 525km. The test car yielded a figure of nearly 550km though, so it is entirely plausible to do over 500km in the real world.

A notable change on the updated G6 that may not be immediately beneficial is the car’s charging speed, which can now accept a maximum of 451kW on DC power, an improvement from 280kW previously. However, there are no chargers in Singapore that can charge at that speed currently, so the increase is rather moot, for now.

Given the rate of change in the world of EV development however, it won’t be surprising if such chargers come online soon to serve cars like the G6, putting to rest the issue of range anxiety once and for all. 

Just like back in 2018 when it was a fledgling newcomer, XPeng seems to be constantly staying ahead of the curve. The improvements on the G6 may be relatively minor in nature, but they offer a glimpse of how XPeng relentlessly improves itself and its products in the name of progress.

Technical Specifications

XPeng G6 Performance

Powertrain: Dual Electric Motors, All Wheel Drive

Power: 358 kW (480 bhp)

Torque: 660 Nm

Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)

0-100km/h: 4.1 Seconds

Top Speed: 202 km/h

Battery Capacity: 80.8 kWh

Drive Range: 510 km (claimed)

Energy Consumption: 5.4km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$251,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Ben Chia (@benchiacars)

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But let’s be real, in a market already flooded with EV heavyweights, the G6 has a tough crowd to win over.

So, what does Xpeng bring to the table? For starters, there’s a big screen inside, a trendy light bar outside, and a tech entrepreneur at the helm of the company, no less.

All very nice things. But, can the G6 stand out from the sea of new EVs that have recently hit the market?

Robo-cop

The XPeng G6 has a smooth and sleek facade, reminiscent of a cross between the Hyundai Kona EV and the Tesla Model Y. While it may not immediately stand out, its Macintosh-inspired looks do garner second glances from passersby.

There are two versions on offer for Singapore-bound units – Standard Range or Long Range. Both share 440Nm of torque, but the Long Range variant benefits from 282bhp, a slight bump from the 255bhp found on the Standard.

As with most EVs, acceleration is brisk and instant. You’ll easily win other folks in a traffic light drag race, since it only takes 6.2 seconds to hit the century mark.

How does it fare on the roads?

The G6 isn’t here to wow you with Tesla-like theatrics, but it gets the job done. The ride is on the firmer side, but not uncomfortably so, and the handling is competent. There’s plenty of grip, and the traction control does its job well enough.

What it lacks, though, is personality; the steering feels a little dead, and there’s no real sense of excitement behind the wheel. It’s more vanilla than va-va-voom, but vanilla is what most folks prefer anyway.

The G6 is quiet and composed at highway speeds. There’s a coasting mode for regenerative braking, and while the X-Pedal mode delivers strong regen, it won’t bring the car to a complete stop. A little more engagement would’ve been nice.

Tech aplenty

One of the bigger appeals of the G6 is the amount of tech you get for your dollar. The suite of sensors in this car can pick out subtle differences in its environment, even distinguishing between solid and dotted lane markings, It knows the direction a stationary car is facing and even notices if the vehicle next to you has its indicators on.

An array of cameras are dotted around the car, and these help the G6 perform functions like auto-parking. You just tap a button on the touchscreen to confirm the parking spot, sit back, and watch as the car smoothly wiggles its way in. This is arguably the smoothest auto-parking assistant I’ve ever come across in a car locally. Bravo XPeng.

To prevent distractions from other occupants, there are speakers embedded within the headrests, which discreetly sound out updates from the car. Really helpful when you’re trying to listen to Google Maps whilst your passenger is blasting off some tunes in the car.

You don’t have to worry about charging

One of the G6’s aces is its 800V architecture. That’s the same lightning-quick charging tech we’ve seen in premium models like the Porsche Taycan and Hyundai EV6.

Translated, whether you spring for the 66kWh or the bigger 87.5kWh battery, you’re looking at a 10-80% charge in just 20 minutes.

During my stint, I managed to average 17.8kWh/100km, which is pretty much bang on with what XPeng touts the G6 can do. The figures are impressive, and with a gentler foot, I reckon some folks can easily strive for lower numbers.

Does cheaper mean compromised quality?

Now, you’d think a lower price tag means you’re getting a cut-rate experience. But, I’m happy to report that the G6 holds its own.

While the design might not blow your socks off, the interior is far from shabby. Soft-touch materials, thoughtful storage, and a large touchscreen give off a pleasant, unpretentious vibe. 

It’s the kind of car that is approachable to folks who are warming up to new-generation tech.

Having suffered through clunky interfaces in other Chinese EVs like BYDs and Zeekrs, the G6’s UI is actually not bad.

There are a few awkward English translations, but the overall experience is pretty straightforward. A far cry from the labyrinthine systems we’ve seen elsewhere.

While the centre console is a tad high and slightly intrusive, the rest of the cabin is spacious. A posse of five can easily fit and travel in comfort, whilst all of their belongings are tucked away in the 571-litre boot.

A sensible choice

Overall, the Xpeng G6 is a good all-rounder. It does everything you’d expect an electric SUV to do, and it does it without fuss.

But, unfortunately, it doesn’t stand out enough. In a sea of EVs, it feels like Xpeng’s biggest challenge isn’t the product itself but convincing people to take notice.

It’s not flashy, it doesn’t scream for attention, and it won’t blow your mind with cutting-edge innovation. But maybe that’s its strength – it’s a no-nonsense, well-rounded EV that just happens to be cheaper than the big names.

Where everything else is dialled up to 11, that might just be refreshing enough to win over drivers looking for a straightforward electric ride. No gimmicks, no fuss – just an EV that ticks the boxes for less money.

Technical Specifications

XPeng G6 (Long Range)

Powertrain: Single Electric Motor
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 210 kW (282 bhp)
Torque: 440 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
Acceleration: 6.2 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Battery Capacity: 87.5 kWh
Drive Range: 570 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 5.7 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$242,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: XPeng Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Their newly opened pop-up showroom at UOB Plaza 2 offers an opportunity for Singaporeans to experience what XPeng has to offer, with test drives of the new G6 available on-site.

The XPeng G6 is built on the SEPA2.0 platform with 800V architecture, boasting advanced software and lots of space and comfort. 

One of the standout features of the G6 is its super-fast charging capability; its 280 kW charging capacity allows it to juice up in less than half an hour.

The G6 comes with two battery options: a 66 kWh pack and a larger 87.5 kWh pack, the latter offering a maximum WLTP driving range of up to 570 km.

“We are thrilled to launch XPeng in Singapore,” said Mr Lee Hoe Lone, Managing Director of Premium Automobiles. “As a global leader in smart electric vehicles, we are passionate about bringing cutting-edge technology to the market.”

In an exclusive collaboration with UOB, XPeng offers UOB customers an additional S$5,000 discount on top of pre-launch exclusive privileges worth over S$10,000. 

To add to the showroom experience, XPeng has partnered with local F&B brands such as Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery and Whiskdom. Visitors can indulge in exclusive and unique flavours while exploring the G6.

Pop-Up Showroom Details

Date: From July 24, 2024
Location: UOB Plaza 2, Singapore
Operating Hours: 

• Monday – Saturday: 09:00 am – 07:00 pm
• Sunday: 10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Don’t miss the chance to experience this new EV at the pop-up showroom and take advantage of the exclusive offers available.

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