In a market increasingly dominated by electric vehicles, Chinese automaker XPeng is making waves with its latest offering for Australian shores. The 2025 XPeng G6, a sleek and sophisticated electric SUV, represents the company’s renewed push into the Australian market with what might be its most compelling vehicle yet.
I had the opportunity to get an early look at this newcomer during a recent industry preview in Sydney, and what I found was a vehicle that challenges preconceptions about Chinese electric vehicles while potentially redefining value in Australia’s competitive EV landscape.
A Fresh Face in Australia’s Growing EV Market
The arrival of the XPeng G6 comes at a pivotal moment for Australia’s automotive landscape. With electric vehicle adoption accelerating across the country and government incentives making the transition more appealing, XPeng’s timing couldn’t be better. The G6 enters a market where established players like Tesla, Hyundai, and Kia have already staked their claims, but brings with it a fresh approach and compelling value proposition that deserves attention.
For the uninitiated, XPeng might seem like just another Chinese startup, but the company has established itself as a legitimate player in the global EV race. Founded in 2014, XPeng has built a reputation for blending cutting-edge technology with accessible pricing in its home market. The G6 represents the company’s most concerted effort yet to challenge established brands in Australia.
“We’ve designed the G6 specifically with global markets in mind,” explained Sarah Chen, XPeng’s Director of International Markets, during the Sydney preview. “Australia represents an important expansion opportunity for us, and we’ve ensured the G6 meets the unique demands of Australian drivers.”
Design and Exterior: European Influence Meets Chinese Innovation
The first thing that strikes you about the G6 is how distinctly European it looks. This isn’t by accident – XPeng’s design team includes veterans from major European automakers, and the influence shows. The G6 features clean, uncluttered lines with a silhouette that manages to be both athletic and elegant.
At the front, a sleek LED light bar spans the width of the vehicle, giving it a futuristic face that’s becoming the signature look for premium EVs. The absence of a traditional grille – unnecessary in an electric vehicle – creates a smooth, aerodynamic profile that contributes to the G6’s impressive range figures.
Standing beside the vehicle, I was struck by its perfect proportions. At 4,753mm long, 1,920mm wide, and 1,650mm tall, the G6 sits in the sweet spot between compact crossovers and larger SUVs. The wheelbase stretches to 2,890mm, allowing for generous interior space while maintaining the vehicle’s dynamic stance.
The wheel arches house aerodynamically optimized 20-inch alloys as standard on the higher trim levels, while 19-inch options are available on entry models. These aren’t just for show – the careful aerodynamic work throughout the vehicle helps the G6 achieve a drag coefficient of just 0.248, placing it among the slipperiest SUVs on the market.
Perhaps the most striking exterior feature is the panoramic glass roof that extends from the windshield over the front and rear passengers. It’s equipped with electrochromic technology that allows for adjustment of tint levels via the infotainment system or smartphone app – a premium touch that’s unexpected at this price point.
Color Options That Stand Out
Australian G6 models will launch with six color options, including the signature “Electric Blue” that I viewed at the preview event. Other choices include Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Pearl White, Forest Green, and a striking Sunset Orange that’s sure to turn heads.
Performance: More Than Just Numbers
Under the sleek exterior lies XPeng’s latest electric powertrain technology. The G6 will arrive in Australia in three different configurations:
- The entry-level G6 Standard Range: Single motor with 230kW/430Nm and a 66kWh battery
- The mid-tier G6 Long Range: Single motor with 250kW/440Nm and an 87.5kWh battery
- The flagship G6 Performance: Dual motor AWD with 350kW combined output, 660Nm of torque, and the 87.5kWh battery
These aren’t just impressive numbers on paper – they translate to real-world performance that challenges much more expensive European alternatives. The entry-level G6 can reach 100km/h in a respectable 6.9 seconds, while the Performance variant slashes that time to just 4.1 seconds.
What these figures don’t convey is the refined nature of the powertrain. During a brief demonstration drive around a closed course, I was struck by how smooth and linear the power delivery felt. There’s none of the jerky response that plagues some EVs – just seamless acceleration that pushes you back in your seat when you want it, but remains civilized during normal driving.
Range and Charging: Eliminating Anxiety
Range anxiety continues to be a significant barrier to EV adoption in Australia, particularly given our vast distances. XPeng has addressed this concern head-on with the G6.
The Standard Range model offers 450km of range on the WLTP cycle, while the single-motor Long Range pushes this to an impressive 615km. Even the high-performance dual-motor variant manages 580km between charges.
These figures put the G6 in the upper echelon of electric SUVs for efficiency, and XPeng seems confident these numbers will translate well to Australian conditions. The company has conducted extensive testing in Australian environments, including hot-weather testing in the Northern Territory.
Charging capabilities are equally impressive. The G6 utilizes an 800-volt electrical architecture – a feature previously found only in much more expensive vehicles like the Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Ioniq 5/6. This enables blazing fast charging speeds of up to 300kW at compatible DC fast chargers, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
For home charging, an 11kW onboard charger comes standard, refilling the battery overnight when connected to a compatible wallbox.
Interior: Where Technology Meets Livability
Stepping inside the G6 reveals an interior that strikes a careful balance between futuristic tech and practical usability. The cabin is dominated by clean, horizontal lines and high-quality materials that wouldn’t look out of place in a premium European offering.
The centerpiece is a 14.96-inch central touchscreen that appears to float above the dashboard. It’s complemented by a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and, on higher trim levels, an advanced head-up display that projects information onto the windshield.
Unlike some competitors that have eliminated physical controls entirely, XPeng has wisely retained key buttons and dials for frequently used functions like climate control and volume adjustment. It’s a thoughtful approach that acknowledges that some interactions are simply better handled with tactile controls.
The seats deserve special mention – upholstered in a combination of synthetic leather and sustainable fabrics, they provide excellent support while remaining comfortable for longer journeys. Both front seats offer heating, cooling, and massage functions on higher trim levels.
Practical and Thoughtful
Despite its sleek exterior, the G6 doesn’t sacrifice practicality. Rear passengers enjoy generous legroom thanks to the long wheelbase, while the flat floor (a benefit of the dedicated EV platform) enhances the feeling of spaciousness.
Storage is abundant throughout the cabin, with clever solutions like a deep center console, large door pockets, and a “frunk” under the hood providing 71 liters of additional space – perfect for charging cables or small bags.
The main cargo area offers 571 liters of space with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,572 liters when folded. The load floor is flat and low, making it easy to load bulky items.
Technology: Intelligence on Wheels
XPeng has made its reputation on technology, and the G6 showcases the company’s latest innovations. The vehicle runs on XPeng’s Xmart OS, which powers everything from the infotainment system to the advanced driver assistance features.
The system supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but XPeng’s native interface is impressive in its own right. The voice assistant, activated by saying “Hey XPeng,” can control virtually all vehicle functions and even engage in natural conversation. It’s not quite human-level, but it’s among the most capable automotive voice systems I’ve encountered.
Advanced Driver Assistance
While full autonomous driving remains a future goal, the G6 comes equipped with an impressive suite of driver assistance features. The Australian models will feature adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and automated emergency braking as standard.
Higher trim levels add more advanced capabilities, including a highway assist feature that can handle steering, acceleration, and braking on compatible highways while the driver remains attentive. The system uses a combination of 31 sensors, including cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, and – impressively – LiDAR mounted discretely at the front of the vehicle.
This LiDAR system, rarely found in vehicles at this price point, provides detailed 3D mapping of the surroundings and enhances the vehicle’s ability to detect obstacles in challenging conditions like darkness or fog.
Pricing and Australian Availability
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the XPeng G6 is its pricing strategy for the Australian market. While final figures haven’t been announced, XPeng representatives indicated that the range will start around $55,000 for the Standard Range model, with the Long Range and Performance variants priced at approximately $65,000 and $75,000 respectively.
These figures position the G6 competitively against vehicles like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6, while offering specifications that often exceed these established competitors.
Australian deliveries are scheduled to begin in late April 2025, with pre-orders opening next month. XPeng is establishing a network of dealerships in major metropolitan areas, starting with Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, with plans to expand to other cities based on demand.
The company is also investing in service infrastructure, with trained technicians and parts availability being a priority to address potential concerns about after-sales support for a relatively new brand.
The Verdict: A Serious Contender
After spending time with the 2025 XPeng G6, it’s clear that this isn’t just another entry in Australia’s increasingly crowded EV market – it’s a serious contender that deserves consideration from anyone shopping in this segment.
The combination of impressive range, cutting-edge technology, practical design, and competitive pricing makes a compelling case for looking beyond established brands. While XPeng still needs to prove itself in terms of reliability and service in the Australian market, the G6 demonstrates that the company has done its homework on what Australian buyers want.
As our automotive landscape continues its electric transformation, the arrival of the XPeng G6 represents an exciting new option that pushes the boundaries of what we should expect from electric vehicles in this price range. It’s a welcome addition that will keep established players on their toes and ultimately benefit Australian consumers through increased competition and innovation.
If the production models deliver on the promise shown by the pre-production units I experienced, XPeng might just have a winner on its hands – and Australian drivers will have another excellent option in their electric future.
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