2026 Xpeng G6 review: Quick drive

Xpeng is back in Australia... though it never truly left.

A widely publicised management change at one of the many relatively new Chinese brands in Australia has led to the establishment of Xpeng ANZ, marking a shift to factory-owned Xpeng operations in Australia and New Zealand.

It has sidestepped independent distributor TrueEV in the process, with the brand saying it's "building for the long term in Australia" and taking steps to meet that commitment. Among other things, that should mean better spare parts supply and improved customer support.

The first model to arrive locally since the shift is the updated Xpeng G6, a mid-size electric SUV aimed squarely at the segment-leading Tesla Model Y.

The SUV received generally positive press on TrueEV's watch, but this update promises substantial improvements.

The G6 has received updated tech, a lightly revised interior, and a new Performance grade. But most importantly, it has a new battery and is now based on an 800-volt electrical architecture. That enables DC fast-charging at up to 451kW, which is claimed to top up the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes.

Prices are also down by $3000 for the existing rear-wheel-drive variants, while the newly introduced Performance flagship undercuts several key rivals. There's also a new Black Edition pack available at the top of the range, offering stealthier styling.

To sample the updated SUV, CarExpert was offered an introductory 24-hour loan of the new 2026 Xpeng G6 AWD Performance Black Edition, ahead of a longer drive in coming weeks.

How does it stack up, and is it a worthier alternative to the mighty Model Y?

How much does the Xpeng G6 cost?

The newly added AWD Performance Black Edition is priced at $66,800 before on-road costs, while RWD variants of the updated G6 are $3000 cheaper than before.

Direct rivals for this particular G6 are limited to other performance-oriented electric SUVs. The most obvious is the Model Y Performance, which costs a bucketload more at $89,400 plus on-roads.

There's also the BYD Sealion 7 Performance at $63,990 plus ORCs, and the Zeekr 7X Performance at $72,900 plus ORCs – inspirational nomenclatures, we know.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Xpeng G6 like on the inside?

Not all that different to before, which means it still looks and feels a lot like a Model Y.

Of course, it's hardly uncommon for a modern Chinese vehicle to offer just a pair of screens and just a few physical buttons. The good thing is that Xpeng has still included just enough physicality to back up its impressively slick digital tech.

Firstly, there's no start button. You simply press the brake pedal, pop the column-mounted gear selector down to Drive, and set off. The convenience of that will be more appealing to some than others, but at least there is a physical shifter and not a stupid screen swipe like in a Tesla.

That stalk still isn't perfect, but we'll talk more about it later. Elsewhere on the steering wheel are a handful of buttons and scroll wheels, which are far more functional than we expected.

On the right-hand side are your typical audio controls for track-skipping and volume, while the left side takes a more multi-function approach depending on the scenario. Typically, the scroll wheel controls the air-conditioning temperature, while the directional buttons above control the fan speed.

It'll take a moment to rewire your muscle memory for this, but it's certainly one of the better alternatives we've seen to touchscreen-only climate systems. The buttons change when you're using cruise control, for example, as they'll then allow you to adjust cruising speed and following distance.

Things like this make the G6's cabin feel far more usable than we're used to in other Chinese cars. Even if there aren't many interior buttons, we can appreciate that Xpeng has still taken measures to improve the user experience. There are even manually adjustable air vents!

The sparingly used buttons don't include more nuanced controls for systems like drive modes or regenerative braking, but that doesn't mean they've been left out. Instead, Xpeng's voice assistant is on hand to fill in the gaps where possible.

Say 'Hey Xpeng', and you can ask the car to make climate control adjustments, toggle seat heating or massage, turn on the headlights, and even open specific vehicle settings menus. It's a little corny to ask the car to switch to Sport mode, but at least you don't have to dive into the touchscreen.

Unfortunately, however, this can be quite limited. It can't open the climate control interface, nor does it understand what a rear windshield demister is. This is strange when it can open specific menus like vehicle lighting and select individual drive modes.

It therefore becomes more of a crutch than a handy tool, but it's offset by a comprehensive shortcut menu accessible by swiping down from the top of the screen, customisable shortcuts on the bottom ribbon, and a programmable shortcut button on the steering wheel. Ours was set to show exterior cameras.

As for that central infotainment screen, it's grown from 14.9 to 15.6 inches but maintains much of the same functionality. If it wasn't already obvious, it's the central control hub for the entire vehicle, so thankfully it's responsive and graphically sharp.

Spending a day with the car isn't enough time to fully wrap your head around everything in here. It seems as if there's something new everywhere you tap or swipe, including plenty of customisation options, such as 256 ambient lighting colours and patterns, as well as a plethora of audio adjustments.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included – unlike in a Tesla – and they're both wireless, though we did experience disappointing connectivity drop-outs under Melbourne's toll gantries. This was the only real tech glitch we experienced in our short time with the car.

Another advantage of the G6 is that it still has a digital instrument display, which again sets it apart from a Tesla. This screen is quite basic, but it's still crisp and has enough info if you know where to look. Pressing and holding either scroll wheel lets you flick through it all.

Otherwise, the cabin feels like it's been bolted together remarkably well. There's certainly a quality edge to everything, and we'd go as far as to say it feels more premium than several models in the BYD catalogue.

The seats are comfortable even if you can't adjust the angle of their bases, while most surfaces are finished in plush synthetic leather. That's also true of the steering wheel, the buttons on which are satisfyingly clicky.

Being the top-spec G6, our tester was also fitted with a seat massage function. We found it best enjoyed on one of its lower-intensity settings, as its most aggressive mode is quite harsh.

The most significant downside of the G6's cabin is that storage isn't all that generous. There's a large tray under the centre console, a reasonably sized central storage box, and two cupholders, but that's about it.

There isn't even a glovebox on the passenger side, as per the Toyota bZ4X. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but it does mean one less space to conceal valuables.

Connectivity-wise, you'll find a couple of USB ports and a 12V outlet in the central storage tray, with a pair of 50W wireless phone chargers above. These earn brownie points for being ventilated.

For lack of a better word, the G6's cabin is quite bulbous. Say what you will about the effect of that on its exterior styling, but it's impossible to dispute the fact it creates incredibly spacious second-row accommodation.

I may not be exceptionally tall at 173cm, but it felt like the glass roof was nearly out of reach. Even the slightly more intrusive roof sections on either side of the glass panel don't noticeably reduce headroom.

Legroom was also impressive behind my seating position, and the fact the G6 has a completely flat floor means that even the middle seat should be fairly workable. And the outboard positions are well-padded and heated.

Rear-seat amenities include a padded, fold-down armrest with cupholders extending from its leading edge, and two discreet USB-C ports on the back of the rounded centre console. Overall, though, the G6's cabin feels tidy and purposeful, and subtly improved over the model it replaces.

At 571 litres, the G6's boot is smaller than the Model Y's huge on-paper figure of 938L, but larger than the Sealion 7's 500L. In the metal, it's decent-sized area with enough space for groceries or a couple of suitcases.

There's a bit of extra storage under the floor for loose items or charging cables, and access is made easier by a power tailgate. You won't find any hooks to help secure cargo, but at least the rear seats can fold down to unlock a maximum cargo capacity of 1374L.

Unfortunately, there's no spare wheel. And, unlike a Tesla, there's no additional storage compartment under the bonnet.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

Powering the G6 AWD Performance is an 80.8kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, which feeds two electric motors producing total outputs of 358kW of power and 660Nm of torque. WLTP driving range is quoted at 510km.

Our 24 hours with the G6 including driving around Melbourne suburbs, as well as on freeways and twistier regional roads. That means our recorded energy consumption isn't exactly representative, but it at least indicates the car is relatively efficient.

It's also impossible to ignore the new 451kW maximum DC charging capacity, which is truly mind-boggling. It's a shame such charging speeds remain almost impossible to access in Australia.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Xpeng G6 drive?

The original G6 already drew praise for the strong calibration of its safety tech, contributing to a generally solid driving experience. The new one is no different.

We've often criticised Chinese vehicles for their frustrating and incessant safety warnings, so it's commendable to find that Xpeng has managed to develop a competent suite of safety tech here. We had no issues with the functionality of the G6's speed limit warning or driver attention monitor.

These systems only made themselves known when there was genuinely an issue, though the driver monitor is noticeably more diligent when the intelligent cruise function is active. You can't be relying on cruise control while playing on your phone, after all.

The only minor gripes we have are that the emergency lane-keeping can be a bit sensitive, and that the car appears to be scared of large vehicles. Driving alongside trucks or vans prompts a warning that says "please drive away from the large vehicle", as if they present imminent danger.

Apart from that, you can adjust the sensitivity of every safety feature within the vehicle's settings. The car will remember your preferences too, so you won't need to dive into the infotainment system every time you hop in.

A safety-related highlight is by far the car's smart cruise control function. It does an exceptional job of matching traffic around you while staying firmly centred in its lane, and it isn't afraid to maintain speed around tighter highway bends.

It'll even change lanes for you and both stop and start in heavy traffic, but it may be a little difficult to trust for someone who's generally cruise-control-averse. If you prefer, there's also a more traditional adaptive cruise function that simply reacts to traffic ahead.

This leads us back to the imperfect gear selector stalk we mentioned earlier. It doubles as the cruise control activator: push it all the way down to 'Drive' once for regular adaptive cruise, twice for smart cruise, and all the way up to 'Reverse' to cancel.

This is quite counterintuitive, and it can be unsettling to place the gear selector anywhere near reverse when you're cruising along at 100km/h. Some of the steering wheel buttons are already used part-time for cruise-related functions, so surely a few more couldn't hurt.

Otherwise, we found the driving experience generally enjoyable. 'Performance' is certainly a fitting moniker for a model variant like this as it is an absolute rocketship off the line.

Flick over to Sport mode, and you'll immediately notice sharper throttle response. Pair that with launch control, and you end up with a brutally fast electric SUV that's more than capable of upsetting your lunch.

Its 4.1-second claimed 0-100km/h time may be down on the Model Y Performance's 3.5 seconds, but you're hardly going to be let down by what Xpeng has produced here. That immense level of performance is maintained regardless of the drive mode, which is great if you need to shoot a gap or make a quick overtake.

The only downside is that it's somewhat of a one-trick pony. The G6 Performance falls short of being a true corner-carver, primarily because it is undeniably heavy and its steering feels fairly lifeless.

The G6's hefty mass is certainly noticeable when taking corners with pace, and any mid-corner throttle inputs will have the traction control system scuttling to keep you from understeering off the road. The grippy Michelin rubber is at least a plus, though the seats aren't bolstered well enough to keep you in place, and it's easy to accidentally press the steering wheel buttons during hard cornering.

As for the steering, it's unbelievably heavy. I tend to prefer steering feel that's heavier rather than lighter, but the G6's tiller is trying too hard to feel substantial. Its lightest setting is acceptable at low speed, but it weights up considerably on the freeway.

Sport mode defaults to the heaviest steering setting, which feels like the power steering is disconnected entirely. It also feels very artificial, with the increased weight bringing no real improvements to accuracy or feedback.

Once again, this is easy enough to adjust, and the car will remember your preferences. The 'Individual' drive mode also saves all your nuanced preferences for steering, throttle response, and brake feel, so none of those flaws are dealbreakers. But we'd still like to see more options for the Performance grade overall.

In normal driving, the G6 is genuinely good. As expected, the ride is firm but not unacceptably so – it makes the car feel planted and stable, without the undue body roll or bouncing we often find in Chinese SUVs. It feels intentionally firm, rather than being crashy for the sake of 'sportiness'.

The physical brake pedal also behaves like you'd expect, and you have a selection of regenerative braking strengths to choose from, including a one-pedal mode. The point is that if there's something about the driving characteristics you don't like, it's incredibly easy to adjust them to your preferences.

All this is capped off by strong outward visibility, providing a decent sense of the vehicle's size around you, despite the short, sloping bonnet. Again, we're impressed by the calibre of the G6's safety gear, even if Tesla is still generally ahead in that space.

Oh, and there's a nifty auto-park feature that can remember specific locations and know you'll want to park there. Impressive stuff.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

There are now four grades in the Australian Xpeng G6 lineup.

2026 Xpeng G6 RWD Standard Range equipment highlights:

• Standard-range battery
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Heat pump
• Auto LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding heated side mirrors with position memory
• Soundproof front windshield and first-row windows
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar
• 10-way power front passenger seat with lumbar
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Front seat position memory
• Heated outboard rear seats
• 10.25-inch digital instrument display
• 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice assistant
• Satellite navigation
• Bluetooth
• Connected services
• Over-the-air software updates
• 18-speaker Xopera 2.0 surround-sound system
• 1 x USB-A port
• 3 x USB-C ports
• Dual wireless phone chargers
• Dual-zone climate control
• 256-colour interior ambient lighting
• Panoramic glass roof
• Power tailgate
• 6kW vehicle-to-load capability (V2L)
• 4 drive modes:
• • Eco
  • Comfort
  • Sport
  • Individual

G6 RWD Long Range adds:

• Long-range battery
• 20-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Massaging front seats

The G6 AWD Performance adds a dual-motor powertrain and unique badging.

G6 AWD Performance Black Edition adds:

• 20-inch black alloy wheels
• Black brake calipers
• Black paint
• Black exterior badges, accents
• Smoked black front light strip

Options

Just a couple of options are available for the G6.

2026 Xpeng G6 options:

• 20-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres (RWD Standard Range only) – $1000
• Light Gray interior upholstery – $1500

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Xpeng G6 safe?

The Xpeng G6 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2024.

Standard safety equipment highlights:

• 7 airbags, incl:
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention monitor
• Lane-centring
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Safe exit assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Xpilot Assist parking:
• • Enhanced AutoParking Assist
  • Auto Exit Parking Assist
  • Remote Parking Assist
  • Remote Vehicle Summons
  • Surround-view monitor with transparent chassis

The G6 RWD Long Range adds a driving recorder and automatic lane change.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Xpeng G6 cost to run?

Xpeng Australia backs its range with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty. Servicing for the G6 is required every 12 months or 15,000km.

Xpeng's new vehicle warranty is longer than the five-year, 120,000km coverage previously offered by TrueEV. It is, however, shorter than the free 10-year/220,000km extension previously offered as a promotion.

Service pricing has yet to be announced. We've contacted Xpeng ANZ for confirmation.

For reference, eight years of servicing for the BYD Sealion 7 Performance costs $3440.

To see how the Xpeng G6 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Xpeng G6 AWD Performance Black Edition

The Xpeng G6 remains an impressive option in an ever-growing market segment, and its minor changes all appear to be improvements.

It's pleasant to drive, offers well-calibrated safety tech, and doesn't disappoint on perceived interior quality. The cabin's screens will take newcomers a moment to get used to, but they're generally intuitive to use, even without buttons and a patchy voice assistant.

The new Performance grade brings face-melting pace, though we'd like to see a little more attention given to the steering calibration and seats to match its stellar performance. Dynamically, it really isn't that far removed from a Model Y Performance, which is no mean feat given the substantial price gap.

Of course, that reinforces the sentiment that the G6 is generally derivative of Tesla's top-selling electric SUV. With all that in mind, the standard G6 RWD Long Range is likely the pick of the bunch, from a value perspective alone.

Still, the G6 has more going for it than ever. We don't expect the management dispute between Xpeng and TrueEV to have a lasting impact on public perception of the brand; indeed, once the dust settles, Australian buyers will likely be more confident in buying via a factory-owned operation rather than a third-party distributor.

It should only add to the appeal of what is already a genuinely solid electric SUV.

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MORE: Explore the Xpeng G6 showroom