Xpeng G6 Performance review: more than a just copy

There are a lot of electric SUVs around at the moment. An awful lot, in fact. So many that keeping track of which Chinese manufacturer has launched which Tesla Model Y-shaped thing can feel like a full-time job.

And then there is the Xpeng G6.

At first glance, it looks suspiciously familiar. Very familiar. The roofline, proportions and general minimalist approach all suggest that somebody at Xpeng spent a considerable amount of time looking at a Tesla Model Y and thinking, "Yes. But what if we did it a bit better?"

The phrase "Tesla killer" gets thrown around with child-like abandon in the medium SUV segment, which only serves to reinforce what a good job Tesla did with the Model Y in the first place. But the G6 isn't simply a Chinese copy of a Tesla. Even though it largely looks like one.

Bear with me here though, because underneath, however, is a genuinely well-developed electric SUV with an 800-volt architecture, rapid charging, a surprisingly polished interior and a driving experience considerably more sophisticated than its rather derivative appearance initially suggests. And in Performance form, it is properly quick, too.

Underneath it all is Xpeng's SEPA 2.0 architecture. The name might sound like something you'd find printed on the side of an inkjet printer refill cartridge, but it's actually the company's next-generation EV architecture, combining the electrical and electronic systems, powertrain, software and other underlying technology.

The G6 was the first production model built on SEPA 2.0, with an 800V silicon-carbide electrical system designed to enable much faster charging than conventional 400V EV architectures.

 

Xpeng originally quoted charging rates of up to 280kW for the G6, although the newer version has moved the game on considerably with up to 451kW available. Good luck finding a charger capable of charging it at that speed though - our current fastest charger is ChargeNet's 400kW site at Kaiwaka - but more will come...

And that's perhaps the more interesting thing about the G6. Beneath the very familiar-looking bodywork is a car that isn't particularly interested in doing things the old-fashioned way, allowing Xpeng to concentrate less on proving it can build an EV and more on building a really good car.

So has it?

On the outside: what are the Xpeng G6 Performance's main design features?

Let's deal with the elephant in the room first: yes, the G6 looks a lot like a Model Y. Like, a lot.

If the exterior makes you think Tesla, the interior initially does much the same.

There is really no point pretending otherwise. The rounded SUV silhouette, short overhangs, smooth bodywork, flush door handles and minimalist lighting all occupy very familiar territory.

But while the basic recipe is similar, the G6 manages to make something rather more attractive out of it.

The proportions are good, the detailing is clean and the front and rear light bars give it a suitably modern appearance without descending into the increasingly common Chinese-EV habit of adding unnecessary visual drama simply because the designers were allowed to.

Our test car was finished in a particularly nice light metallic purple that shifted between silver, pink and purple depending on the light. It suited the G6 rather well, adding a bit of personality to what could otherwise be quite a deliberately anonymous design.

Oh, and that Model Y-like nose with the full width lightbar? Xpeng got there before Tesla's facelifted Model Y arrived, with the original G6 having made its debut in 2023 and the redesigned Model Y following in 2025. Sure, the headlights are in different places, but the overall effect is strikingly similar. So who copied who then?

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Xpeng G6 Performance's cabin like?

If the exterior makes you think Tesla, the interior initially does much the same: there is a large central touchscreen, there aren't many buttons and everything is clean, simple and deliberately uncluttered.

But spend a little time inside and the G6 starts to separate itself.

The materials feel genuinely high quality, with tactile surfaces across the dashboard and doors and some nicely executed detailing, including the patterned speaker grilles. The physical controls that remain have a reassuringly tactile, expensive-feeling click, while the oval steering wheel manages to look unusual without being irritating.

And, crucially, Xpeng hasn't quite gone full Tesla. There are still proper stalks for things like the indicators and gear selection, which means you don't have to negotiate with a touchscreen every time you want to perform one of the basic functions traditionally associated with driving a car.

As you'd expect from a powerful modern EV, it doesn't so much accelerate as simply stop being where it was a moment ago.

There are plenty of other nice touches, too. Twin wireless phone charging pads are cooled, while the panoramic glass roof is tinted and designed to reduce heat, UV and infrared radiation. Subtle ambient lighting can also be configured to suit your mood, or your apparent desire to make your car look like a nightclub.

The seats are very comfortable, although they are fairly broad and don't offer the sort of aggressive side bolstering you'd expect in something genuinely sporty.

That's fine, because the G6 isn't really a sports SUV. It's a fast family car. And as a fast family car, it is a very pleasant place to spend time.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Xpeng G6 Performance like to drive?

The Performance version is properly quick, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 4.1 seconds. As you'd expect from a powerful modern EV, it doesn't so much accelerate as simply stop being where it was a moment ago. But what impresses more than the outright shove is the composure.

The driver assistance systems are another highlight, operating quietly in the background rather than constantly reminding you that they are there.

Around town, the G6 is quiet, smooth and remarkably comfortable. The ride is firm enough to stop it feeling floaty but supple enough to deal with the sort of broken urban roads that tend to expose badly tuned suspension rather quickly. That composure continues on the open road, where the combination of good ride quality, low noise and effortless acceleration makes it an extremely easy car to drive quickly without actually trying very hard.

The handling is less impressive, although that isn't necessarily a criticism, as the G6 is competent rather than exciting. It turns in neatly, grips well and does exactly what you ask of it, but there isn't much of the playful character that makes a Model Y surprisingly entertaining on a good road.

Then again, most people buying an electric family SUV probably aren't looking for one that encourages them to pretend they're competing in a hillclimb. The steering is accurate, the chassis feels secure and there is plenty of grip. It simply doesn't encourage you to go looking for trouble.

And for a family SUV, that's arguably exactly what you want.

The driver assistance systems are another highlight, operating quietly in the background rather than constantly reminding you that they are there. Then there is the self-parking system. Yes, really.

It will squeeze itself into remarkably tight spots, with an accuracy and confidence that borders on the slightly unsettling.

Self-parking is one of those features that sounds like a gimmick until you actually use a good one. And the G6's is a remarkably good one.

During our time with the G6, it would confidently identify and manoeuvre into parking spaces that virtually every other self-parking system we've tried simply refused to recognise as spaces in the first place. It will squeeze itself into remarkably tight spots, with an accuracy and confidence that borders on the slightly unsettling.

Tesla's system, by comparison, has proved far more easily confused in our experience, occasionally making some fairly questionable assumptions about the space around it and requiring considerably more intervention from the driver. The Xpeng simply seems to understand the physical space around the car better.

That's the sort of technology that actually feels useful rather than simply appearing on a specification sheet because somebody in the marketing department needed another box to tick.

Xpeng's companion app is also excellent, allowing you to control various functions remotely and even move the car out of a tight parking space.

The Xpeng G6 Performance is an interesting car because it doesn't really have a fatal weakness.

That last one sounds like a party trick until you find yourself parked so close to another car that getting back into your driver's door requires the sort of flexibility normally associated with competitive gymnastics.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Xpeng G6 Performance's warranty and servicing situation?

The G6 comes with a 7-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, while the high-voltage battery gets an 8-year/160,000km warranty. There is also 5 years/unlimited km on paint, 7 years/unlimited km anti-corrosion warranty and 7 years of roadside assistance included. Service intervals are 12 months or 20,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Xpeng G6 Performance?

The Xpeng G6 Performance is an interesting car because it doesn't really have a fatal weakness.

It looks a bit too much like a Tesla Model Y, but it's also rather handsome. The interior is minimalist, but it doesn't feel cheap or austere. It's extremely quick, but it isn't obnoxious.

The ride is comfortable, the technology works properly and the driver assistance systems are genuinely useful rather than simply being there so someone can mention them in a brochure.

And then there is the price. At $72,990 for the Performance, the G6 represents a lot of electric SUV for the money, particularly given the level of standard equipment.

The G6 isn't a Tesla killer - those sorts of declarations are generally best left to press releases and YouTube thumbnails - what it is, however, is an extremely convincing alternative.

It isn't quite as entertaining to drive as a Model Y, but it is arguably a more comfortable and more traditionally luxurious place to spend time. And while Tesla still has the advantage of familiarity, Xpeng has clearly done its homework.

The G6 isn't a Tesla killer - those sorts of declarations are generally best left to press releases and YouTube thumbnails - what it is, however, is an extremely convincing alternative.

The Chinese EV industry has reached the point where simply being cheaper and better equipped is no longer enough. Cars like the G6 need to be good cars first and Chinese cars second.

And the Xpeng G6 is a very good car. It just happens to look rather like a Tesla while doing it...

Xpeng G6 Performance FAQs

What kind of car is the Xpeng G6 Performance?

A medium-sized performance SUV.

Does the Xpeng G6 Performance have hybrid or EV technology?

The Xpeng g6 is fully electric with an 80kWh battery.

What’s the fuel economy of the Xpeng G6 Performance?

Xpeng claims a combined average consumption of 18.4kWh/100km for the G6 Performance, but normal daily driving saw us easily better that, with around 17 being easily achievable.

Is the Xpeng G6 Performance safe? 

The Xpeng G6 gets a full 5 Star safety rating from ANCAP and features a total of 7 airbags, including front passenger and driver airbags, side chest, side head and a centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the Xpeng G6 Performance have?

What are the Xpeng G6 Performance's main rivals?

• Tesla Model Y Premium AWD ($77,900): the obvious one. More entertaining, but slower and more expensive.
• Zeekr 7X RWD ($69,990): similar on paper, but only RWD, pricier and slower.
• IM6 by MG ($89,990): faster, but otherwise very similar specs. Much more expensive and not actually as good.
• Toyota bZ4X Motion ($68,990): Less luxury, but similar range. And that badge counts for a lot.
• BYD Sealion 7 Premium ($68,990): a known quantity, but you need to jump up to the $80k AWD to match G6 specs.