- The GX starts at roughly one-third the cost of the Range Rover in China.
- Steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering tech enable better manoeuvrability.
- Expected range of approximately 1600km matches the X9 EREV minivan.
XPeng just launched a new problem for premium SUV makers: a six-seat flagship that borrows heavily from Range Rover's design language, but costs roughly one-third the price.
The GX will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026, and it's the kind of move that quietly reshapes market expectations.
The design elephant in the room
Let's address the obvious: the GX's profile echoes the current Range Rover L460 in ways that feel deliberate.
The straight beltline, blacked-out pillars, and floating roof mirror the British icon's proportions, though XPeng tones down some of the original's more distinctive cues.
Side gills are smaller, and LED headlights appear subtly evolved rather than wholesale copied. The rear pivots toward separation with a full-width horizontal taillight design, as Range Rover's vertical setup gets traded for something that hints at Mazda's contour language.
For a vehicle launched before China's 2027 flush door handle ban, the GX includes pop-out handles that will become regulation-illegal soon. Expect a refresh before any international expansion.
Tech, range and the impossible triangle
Where the GX gets genuinely interesting is beneath the skin. XPeng's SEPA 3.0 architecture pairs steer-by-wire with rear-wheel steering, a combination that's still rare on large SUVs, especially at this price point.
The promise is better stability, tighter manoeuvrability, and the kind of ride quality typically reserved for luxury brands.
Under the bonnet sits the Kunpeng range-extender powertrain, running 800V electrical architecture and 5C battery technology for ultra-fast charging.
XPeng hasn't released final specs, but the GX is expected to match the X9 minivan's approximately 1602km range. That's enough to cross continents without planning every fuel stop.
Value that breaks the game
The real story is pricing. Chinese media reports suggest the GX launches around ¥400,000 (around NZ$96K). In China, an equivalent Range Rover begins at ¥1,412,000 (around NZ$340K). That gap is the valley where XPeng is setting up shop.
The GX includes six reclining seats across three rows, with XPeng's CEO claiming the boot remains "truly practical and extra-large" even with all seats occupied. That's the "impossible triangle" solved: comfort, cargo, and driving dynamics in one package, priced aggressively.
Whether the GX reaches markets beyond China remains unanswered, but Guangzhou-based XPeng is actively expanding into Europe and Southeast Asia. Newly minted Xpeng New Zealand has yet to confirm whether it will bring its new flagship SUV to the local market.
