Xpeng G9L coming to Ireland as seven-seat electric SUV

What is the Xpeng G9L exactly?

It is an opulent, six- or seven-seat, all-electric SUV designed to sit above the existing G9 at the top of Xpeng’s product line-up (though the G9 isn’t actually sold in Ireland).

But while you might think the ‘L’ in the G9L’s badging stands for ‘Long’, as it’s a three-row SUV as opposed to the five-seat G9, that’s not the case. It in fact stands for ‘Luxury’ and, as such, the manufacturer has thrown all its technological know-how at this machine.

How so?

Well, it starts with powered, pop-out door handles, which in turn control automatic opening-and-closing doors, which is a proper top-end feature these days.

Inside is a mostly plus cabin, complete with Nappa leather for the upholstery for those sitting in rows one and two of the car (but not for the paupers in row three), and – of course – an absolute bevy of large digital screens.

None more so than the one which folds down out of the roof from just aft of the front seats, a 21.4-inch cinema-like screen which provides a viewing experience not dissimilar to what you’d find in the latest BMW 7 Series.

As if that weren’t enough, there’s another eight-inch screen in the back to control various onboard functions, then a front set-up which includes a 17.3-inch infotainment unit, an 8.8-inch digital driver’s cluster and an augmented-reality head-up display measuring a whopping 88 inches for its effective field-of-view.

It’s not just screens, though, but the whole tech bundle in the G9L which impresses. We actually got a chance to sit in the car at a preview event during the launch of the Xpeng L03 coupe-SUV, and there’s a hoop of ambient lighting encircling the roof which almost makes it feel like you’re in an upmarket nightclub when you’re sat in the rear seats.

On top of that, there are heated, ventilated and even massaging chairs in both the first and second rows, while the seats in the third row are just heated.

Other luxuries include a 23-speaker premium surround-sound system with driver’s-seat speakers built in ( this set-up can also perform ‘Road Noise Cancellation’ on the move), twin 50-watt wireless and cooled charging pads for smartphone devices, a centre-console fridge, three-zone climate control and even reclining captain’s chairs in the middle of the cabin for the six-seat model. It’s a very nice place to be.

It looks huge on the outside though

And it is. The Xpeng G9L is 5,120mm long, 1,999mm wide, 1,788mm tall and is possessed of a 3,100mm wheelbase.

You can see just how big it is if you focus on how small the 21-inch alloy which resides in the rear wheel-arch looks, when viewing the sheer expanse of metal above it.

Nevertheless, other exterior features include full-width light signatures fore and aft, frameless door mirrors with camera functionality, a set of active grille shutters in the nose of the Xpeng and the range-wide adoption of Matrix LED headlights.

Your colour choices, by the way, amount to just four: Arctic White, Diamond Black, Mirror Grey and, the hero finish, Waving Green.

What does its sheer size mean for versatility?

Having sat inside the Xpeng G9L for a brief look around its appointments, there’s masses of room in the second row if you want it, and even enough in the third row that a bulky six-footer (no comment) can just about get comfortable back there, with some careful electrical configuration of the relevant seats.

Behind the human occupants of either the six- or seven-seat G9L models is a 367-litre boot at a minimum. But those wanting more cargo capacity should go for the six-seater, because with its third row folded down it offers up 1,330 litres of volume.

The seven-seater, meanwhile, can only provide 935 litres (which is still huge, admittedly). All G9L models have a 65-litre ‘frunk’, too.

What powers the Xpeng G9L?

This is a fully electric SUV, and thus far we have three main derivatives. The opening gambit is the RWD Long Range Ultra, which comes only with seven seats. Its single rear-positioned motor delivers 367hp and 465Nm, enough for a 0-100km/h time of seven seconds on the button.

Above that is the AWD Performance Ultra, available in both six- and seven-seat guises. This churns out enormous numbers of 585hp and 695Nm through all four wheels, which results in a 4.9-second 0-100km/h time, no matter how many seats are on board.

All G9Ls will use twin-axle dual-chamber air suspension, teamed to adaptive dampers. Rear-wheel steering will be fitted across the board, while drive modes include Wet, Snow and Escape (the last of these for AWD cars only).

In terms of the electrical system, the platform for the G9L is 800-volt, hence an ultra-rapid 540kW DC charging peak.

The good news here is that despite the large 110kWh (gross) NMC battery fitted to the Xpeng, a 10-80 per cent charge will take as little as 11 minutes and 42 seconds if you find the right high-power charger to support the car.

AC charging, meanwhile, peaks at 22kW on suitable three-phase outlets, while there’s 6kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality and a standard-fit heat pump for the G9L, but one of the Xpeng’s main appeals is that it can tow up to 2,000kg of braked trailer if you need it to.

Where will the Xpeng G9L sit in the Irish market?

Probably somewhere between the likes of the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Skoda Peaq, and then the Volvo EX90 above it.

Xpeng would dearly like to be considered a genuine alternative to full-on premium brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes and, yes, Volvo, so if the Chinese firm prices the G9L well against the EX90, it could be on to a winner.

When do you think the G9L will arrive in Ireland?

Not sure, but certainly not until well into 2027. The G9 it is based upon will have to arrive here first, while Xpeng is currently in the midst of rolling out the L03 to European markets.

Probably a good way through next year, we’ll be getting more information – and a first drive – of the G9L, following on from its Paris debut.

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