Tested: Xpeng G6 580 Pro – Seriously? Forget The Model Y!

Bermaz Xpeng’s first hit, the Xpeng G6 580 Pro, turns out to be a good enough hit to make you forget a certain Tesla Model Y…

What’s This? Another Model Y Copy?

That’s not exactly the case. Sure, the base recipe may be identical, but the similarities between the two ends there. Truthfully? This EV SUV has some serious merits despite hailing from a relatively ‘new’ car brand.

At first glance, the G6’s sleek coupe SUV bodystyle is what makes people mistake it for the Model Y, but there are plenty of  distinctive design cues present - thankfully - that help set this Sino-badged EV apart from its American nemesis. It includes Xpeng’s signature ‘robot face’ up front featuring dual-stack LED headlights, slim LED taillights, as well as a sleek side profile that provides a low Cd rate of just 0.248.

What’s interesting too are the frameless windows - a rare trait amongst sub-RM200,000 offerings today, let alone one hailing from China. Next comes the 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels the G6 rolls on, which also has a refreshingly distinct look versus more enclosed wheel designs popularly primed on other EVs out there.

Personally, this writer isn’t a ‘coupe SUV’ fan, but I’m willing to make a rare exception here. Surely, the Xpeng G6 has enough distinct design  features that set it apart not only from the Model Y, but also other ‘generic’ Chinese EV SUVs out there.

Tesla-Esque Interior, But Better!

For better or for worse, the similarity between the G6 and Model Y continues in the cabin. Here, Xpeng’s midsize EV SUV gets your typical minimalistic interior mirroring said Tesla, as well as a slew of other contemporaries hailing from the same republic.

Despite its status as a ‘base’ variant, the G6 580 Pro we tested bore the same bells and whistles as the top-spec 755 Pro model does. Key tech amenities primed here include the slim 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, dual wireless chargers, an 18-speaker XOpera audio system, multiple USB ports, and a massive 14.96-inch infotainment screen that not only supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, it also has streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify.

While the front seats get both heated and ventilated functions, the rear ones only get the former.

Once you get a feel of the G6’s innards, however, you’ll immediately notice the Xpeng is more ‘up market’ than the Tesla it rivals thanks to the liberal use of premium leatherette upholstery and soft-touch materials. Elevating life quality inside the G6 too are the powered, ventilated, and heated front seats, though only the driver gets a memory function on top of all that.

The same can be said of the G6’s rear seats, as its strictly two-row, five-seater layout grants rear passengers plenty of real estate. Despite its sporty roofline, headroom is surprisingly ample, while amenities like the rear A/C vents, multiple USB ports, and the panoramic glass roof, all add to the luxurious feel of this spacious cocoon.

And before we forget, boot space is also quite decent at 571 litres. Expandable up to 1,347 litres, it’s safe to say that this sino-badged EV has enough here, even for the rare annual or bi-annual visits to IKEA or Harvey Norman.

Thanks to its buttonless cabin design approach, even mediocre tasks like adjusting the A/C vents and other driving-related controls can only be done using the central infotainment screen.

While the absence of both the frunk and a head-up display (HUD) aren’t dealbreakers per se, we’d reckon Xpeng’s decision to straight-out copy Tesla’s throw-everything-into-the-big-screen strategy might be the only thing that buyers may not gel well with in the G6. Then again, over 70% of EVs on sale feature the same or similar approach, so you might as well just get used to it quickly.

‘Best-in-Class’ Ride & Handling

One thing that Xpeng got right with the G6 is the driving dynamics. Even in this baseline 580 Pro form, the G6 has more than enough to provide a rather exhilarating yet refined drive.

Powering the G6 580 Pro is a single e-motor delivering 255 HP and 440 NM exclusively to the rear wheels (RWD). Yes, this figure is quite ‘modest’ when contrasted against other dual-motor-wielding EVs out there, but it is enough to grant the G6 with a decent 0-100 KM/H sprint time of 6.6 seconds, as well the ability to hit an  electronically-limited V-max of 200 KM/H.

Toggle the drive mode into Sport and the G6 feels like it loses its hair a bit, but it is still not too alarmingly rapid as what you’ll experience in more potent EVs. Nevertheless, with this EV, you’re still benefiting from the heavier steering and more sensitive brake feel.

Sheer power is definitely not the first thing you’ll notice as you send it, but the drive is definitely effortless, even in Eco and Standard drive modes. This supple yet ample power is supplemented by the stellar ride and handling quality, where its multi-link and double-wishbone setups have been tuned to deliver a balance between sure-footedness and comfort—a trait most Chinese EVs we’ve tested prior simply lack.

Complementing the G6’s refined ride and handling are its decently low noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels. Wind noises are surprisingly low despite the frameless windows mentioned, though tyre roar is noticeable beyond the 120 KM/H mark—a typical compromise when running on stickier Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.

All in all, the Xpeng G6 truly excels in the driving department, so much so that we’d comfortably say the G6 is one of the best Chinese EVs we’ve ever tested so far.

Decent Battery & Range, Even for an ‘Entry-Level’ Variant

For the ‘entry-level’ G6 580 Pro, this EV SUV gets a pretty neat 66 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, which Xpeng claims can yield up to 435 KM of WLTP-rated range.

Naturally, our brief stint with the G6 that majorly involved spirited driving sessions did no justice to its true range performance. But even under those circumstances we still charted a decent energy consumption rate of 18.1-kWh per 100 KM.

Besides energy efficiency, the G6’s 800-volt SEPA 2.0 architecture also grants rapid charging performance, with its DCFC rate capped at up to 215 kW—faster than the Model Y RWD’s 175 kW. AC charging, however, is still capped at 11 kW, which is not too bad considering the Model Y also gets the same AC charging capabilities.

With that being said, despite its ‘entry-level’ moniker, the Xpeng G6 580 Pro gets pretty decent battery performance that is ample enough to alleviate any range anxieties even from less-experienced EV users.

Comprehensive Safety, But It’s Tricky

Gone are the days when Chinese cars were often associated with being unsafe. This is very much evident in the Xpeng G6 580 Pro, which boasts a comprehensive arsenal of active and passive safety kits.

The former comes in the form of the Xpeng XPilot 2.5 ADAS suite, which uses multiple sensors and cameras enabling Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Blind-Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Centering Control (LCC), Active Lane Change (ALC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane-Keep Assist (LKA), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front & Rear Collision Warning (FCW & RCW), and more.

While all of these worked well, engaging them can be a hassle no thanks to the G6’s super-minimalistic cabin. Not only are most of these functions hidden deep inside the car’s infotainment screen, the label-less buttons on its steering wheel also make it difficult for drivers to memorise all the gestures and functions.

What’s good and worth complimenting though are the 360-degree camera and the XPilot Parking auto-park systems—both work pretty well in most situations. Combined with the comprehensive passive safety features like seven airbags, it comes as no surprise that the Xpeng G6 managed to obtain a full five-star score for the Euro NCAP body, proving once and for all that Chinese cars aren’t the hazardous econoboxes that they used to be.

Should You Buy One?

Should the Xpeng G6’s sleek styling, well-equipped interior, sublime driving performance, and decent battery performance not be enough to pull you away from the reigning Tesla Model Y, perhaps its far more reasonable price will be the ultimate checkmate.

For the baseline 580 Pro, the fully-imported (CBU) Xpeng G6 is only priced at RM168,820 on-the-road, thus making it almost RM30,000 cheaper than the recently-updated Tesla Model Y 'Juniper', which currently retails from RM195,450 onwards.

On top of that, the G6 also comes with decent standard warranties, which include a 5-year or 120,000 KM vehicle warranty, a separate 8-year or 180,000 KM battery and EV motor warranty, as well as a 3-year or 60,000 KM free scheduled maintenance—all providing you with a better peace-of-mind ownership experience.

Sure, in the grand scheme of things, it would be very difficult for the Xpeng G6 to compete against the mighty Tesla when it comes to popularity, and we’ll definitely see more Model Ys selling globally over the Xpeng in years to come. But thanks to newcomers like Xpeng with the G6, consumers are not only spoiled with more varieties, but also more affordable and better ones, too.

SPECIFICATIONS

XPENG G6 580 PRO