XPENG X9 Long Range Review: The Jetsons' Family Transport

What we like:

Excellent ride, refinement and power

Superb driver assistance technology

Feature packed interior

Great range and DC charging speed

Impressive build and material quality

What we dislike:

Looks might be polarising

The electric MPV market in the $300k-$400k range has been heating up after the Denza D9 made its pioneering debut. The VW ID. Buzz, Zeekr 009 and the XPENG X9 here followed thereafter.

Of the lot, it’s becoming quite clear which niche each one occupies. The Denza goes for bang for buck, the VW for sheer novelty factor and the Zeekr for the best money can buy. The XPENG on the other hand, offers a slightly humbler take versus the Zeekr in price and luxury, but comes close or even exceeds it in the way it drives.

But first, the looks. It is subjective, but in my opinion the X9 really stands out as a next-generation family transport. Put it in a Jetsons movie and it wouldn’t look out of place. It’s functional, too - the unusual curves and lines give it a slipper 0.236 Cd drag coefficient. It’s definitely interesting to look at.

On the inside, there isn’t the grand atmosphere of the Zeekr 009, but it adopts a more understated approach that’s also appealing. Material quality is still great and it feels like a luxurious experience overall, one that’s more modern luxury than opulent.

There’s just about every feature you can wish for, from the amazing 23-speaker in-house developed Xopera sound system, ventilation and massage seats for the first two rows, a 21.4-inch high definition entertainment system and a fridge for the 2nd row. If you need the extra space, the third row can be folded down electrically to allow the second row to have maximum legroom, effectively turning the X9 into a four-seater.

Of course, the driver assistance systems are also arguably the best in the industry short of a Tesla (as we’ve noticed in the G6). Just try out the auto parking feature and you will know what I mean. The way it searches for a car park lot is better than the most aggressive kiasu Singaporean can do. It’s so good, I would rather let the car auto park than do it myself.

And although the car feels super high-tech, many interior functions are controlled by physical buttons and knobs, which is a really thoughtful and tactile touch.

For even more luxury, there’s a Zero Gravity Package which adds Nappa leather for the first and second row, as well as special Zero Gravity seats for the second row and even an intelligent fragrance system.

Built on XPENG’s SEPA 2.0 platform which the G6 SUV also shares, the X9 offers 315 bhp and 450 Nm from a single front motor, bringing the car from 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds (7.7 seconds for the Standard Range). Not too fast, and not too low, but just right, and perfect for Singapore without the additional road tax loading of a dual-motor setup.

With Active Rear Wheel Steering as standard, the XPENG feels like a much smaller car than it really is. I haven’t found a better application of the technology than in the X9, which maximises its efficacy due to its long wheelbase. During parking, it aids in maneuvering in tight spaces, while offering more agility at high speeds. It works absolutely brilliantly.

The standard dual-chamber air suspension is also notable. It is probably the best tuned of all of the electric MPVs on sale today, offering adjustability for height and stiffness as well. Body control is well-managed and yet offers a pillow-soft ride that’s just sublime. Most other electric MPVs have an issue managing their weight due to their massive batteries. Not the X9.

Speaking of batteries, the X9 Standard Range is equipped with LFP batteries while the Long Range has NMC batteries. The result is that the Long Range is lighter than the Standard Range by 50 kg despite offering 90 km more range. Both offer AC charging speeds of 11 kW, while the Long Range charges on DC a little quicker at 317 kW versus 283 kW for the Standard Range. The DC charging speeds are very fast by industry standards nonetheless. In comparison, the Denza D9 DC charging speed is only 166 kW.

The X9 offers the best balance of just about everything without overdoing it. If I were looking for a luxury EV MPV in the market, this would be my pick.

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