Introduction to the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
The G9 is Chinese brand Xpeng's all-electric flagship, a large SUV that wants to tempt buyers away from the likes of a BMW iX or Audi Q6 e-tron with a combination of size, comfort, tech and some fairly thrilling electric performance. Can a brand most people haven't heard of really cut it in the upper reaches of the premium sphere?
Pros & cons of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
Pros: Tech, charging, comfort, refinement, quality, performance
Cons: Erratic range, likely price, firm low-speed ride
Exterior & design of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
• Genuinely handsome, with clean lines
• Performance model gets 21-inch alloys
• Influence from other cars is clear
Is it a surprise that the G9 is a properly handsome large SUV? Chinese cars are generally better known for looking acceptably bland rather than actually gorgeous, but I reckon this is one of the most successful styling jobs to come out of China yet.
It's true that the big Xpeng pinches some ideas from other cars - there's a strong hint of BMW X7 about the nose, of the Merc GLS at the rear and of the Mazda CX-80 down the sides - but the styling gels into a cohesive whole, and it manages to look imposing without looking vulgar (take note, BMW iX...).
There are a few nice details too, such as the frameless door glass which adds a touch of coupe-like glamour to something that's about the size of a tower block, flush-fit door handles and tasteful 21-inch alloys.
The G9 is a plus-sized car with overall dimensions of:
Length: 4,891mm
Width: 1,937mm (mirrors folded)
Height: 1,670mm
Wheelbase: 2,998mm
That makes the G9 a little smaller in most dimensions than, say, a Hyundai Ioniq 9, but the G9 is a car that, unlike the Hyundai, emphasises its height, so subjectively it looks bulkier and more imposing.
Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
• Superb comfort
• Unexceptional space
• Genuine premium feel
The Xpeng G9 is a little different from most Chinese cars that you might have come across. The likes of most BYDs and MGs are aimed at value-conscious buyers, and so while they're fine cars, they're not really luxurious.
The G9 is luxurious. This is a premium brand. Never mind that Xpeng only started making cars in 2014; it wants to be taken - deadly - seriously as a rival to the likes of BMW and Audi and so the interior designers have ladled on the lux with a pearl-handled trowel.
Screens, unsurprisingly, dominate the cabin and our range-topping AWD Performance model had a brace of 14.9-inch touchscreens on the dash, one in the centre, and the other ahead of the front-seat passenger. Both have software that takes clear and obvious inspiration from Tesla, and both are responsive and fast to use, and not as confusing as some others.
However, it seems like a bad idea to abandon physical buttons almost entirely and place such items as headlight controls and mirror adjustment on the screen, where they're fiddly and distracting to use. You'd think a company of Xpeng's financial strength could stretch to some buttons... At least the driver's instrument screen is clear and crisp.
While that's a demerit, the cabin's overall sense of luxury is definitely a merit. The front seats, swathed in slightly rubbery-feeling Nappa leather are exceptionally comfortable, and come with heating, cooling and massage functions - as do the rear seats if you tick an option box or two. There's a genuine sense of high-quality materials being used even if overall you'd say the Germans are still a step ahead.
There's copious storage space under the bi-directional front armrest and under the centre console. On top of which are two high-speed wireless phone chargers with cooling, while there's another ultra-fast 180-watt USB-C connector too.
However, there's no glovebox, which just seems odd. Equally, while the door bins are big, they're unlined and all the stuff which will rattle around in there does detract a bit from the premium image.
In the back, the outer rear seats are as comfortable as the ones in the front, and there's a sense of airiness thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof (which is also heat absorbing, taking some of the strain off the air conditioning, which anyway has a heat pump system).
However, space in the back isn't as generous as it at first appears. Headroom is excellent, but legroom is only fine, rather than generous and the centre rear seat is quite narrow.
At least the boot capacity - often a stumbling block for Chinese cars - is good, with 660 litres available up to the luggage cover, and another 71 litres in a handy 'frunk' in the nose.
In fact it seems like there'd be enough space for seven seats, but that's apparently not happening for the G9. Xpeng will leave that job to its new X9 MPV, which goes on European sale next year.
Performance of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
• Savage straight-line pace
• Smooth and refined at speed
• Suspension gets clunky around town
We've become used to electric cars deploying great wodges of torque and power to achieve spectacular 0-100km/h times, and that's exactly what the G9 AWD Performance does. Presumably, no-one truly needs to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds in a big 2.4-tonne luxury SUV, but you can, and it's certainly fun the first few times you try it out. There's also abundant overtaking urge, which in fairness is very useful at times.
When it comes to its handling and ride, though, the G9 is a bit of a disappointment and that's in spite of having a sophisticated suspension system that mixes air springs and adaptive dampers, and which gets a 10mm reduction in ride height compared to the standard single-motor versions.
Once you're up to speed, the G9 is pretty good. It's very quiet inside and feels well-controlled and stable through corners. However the steering is just too light and over-assisted to provide anything but vague directions to the tyres. This is not a 'press-on' car, in spite of its massive power - it's more of a sit back and relax cruiser, really.
Which makes it stranger still that the suspension then clunks and stumbles around town, making the G9 feel rather awkward at times. Even switching into Comfort Plus mode on the main screen didn't seem to make much of a difference.
The brakes are good, though. Xpeng says they're based on sports car setups, and they feel nice and confidence inspiring even if most of the time you'll use the adjustable, and very effective, regenerative braking.
The G9 also comes with a whole host of safety systems that are only partially effective. The adaptive cruise control is good, but the first thing you should disable is the lane-keeping steering - this can become incredibly obstructive, especially on narrow roads where the steering can actually push back doggedly against you even if when you know better than it does.
The surround-view camera system is excellent, though the G9 doesn't get the handy digital rear-view mirror of the smaller Xpeng G6.
Range, battery & charging of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
• Confused range indicator
• Massively fast DC charging
• Includes Vehicle-To-Load tech
The Xpeng G9 AWD Performance gets the same lithium-iron-phosphate battery chemistry as the updated G6, and with it so-called '5C' charging which allows up to 525kW of charging power. That's way ahead of any charger currently available in Europe or Ireland, but Xpeng says that such chargers will come and it's happy to be ahead of the curve for now.
If you could find a 525kW charger, you could top the big 93kWh battery (that's the gross rating, Xpeng doesn't quote useable capacity for some reason) to 80 per cent charge in just 12 minutes. Which is kind of ridiculous.
Officially this AWD Performance model has a WLTP range of 540km, which is OK but nothing special, certainly compared to the incoming 2026 BMW 'Neue Klasse' iX3.
I'd love to be able to tell you what the real-world range is, but the range readout on our test car was bouncing around like a demented space hopper, one minute telling us we could do 380km on a full battery, the next telling us we could do more than 500km on an 80 per cent charge. Going by our energy consumption I'd say a realistic range is around 450-500km, which is arguably plenty.
There is a more sensible single-motor, rear-drive 'Long Range' model, with a 282hp motor and a quoted range of 585km, and that will likely be the one most will buy.
Irish pricing & rivals of the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
• No prices yet for Ireland
• Performance model will be expensive
• Irish sales not likely for at least a year
There's no official confirmation that the G9 is even coming to Ireland, but it seems a safe bet that it will do so eventually. When? Probably towards the third quarter of next year, if you want to take a shaky bet on it.
The thing is that this Xpeng probably won't be very affordable. A starting price of between €60,000 and €70,000 seems pretty likely and this top-spec AWD Performance model will be more again.
Xpeng is serious about being a premium brand, but will Irish buyers take it seriously as such? There are plenty of high-end, long-range German competitors for this Xpeng, including the BMW iX and the new iX3, the new Mercedes GLC and EQE SUV, and Audi's e-tron models, not to mention the brilliant duo of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, both of which offer the six- and seven-seat layouts that the Xpeng lacks.
Verdict - should you buy the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance?
Well, that's a moot question for now because you can't, certainly not until well into 2026. When that day comes around? I think it's a qualified yes. The Xpeng G9 could do with some sharper dynamics or a softer ride, one or the other, and as a brand it will need to work hard to convince buyers of its premium status. However, it does have some deeply impressive tech, solid range, rapid performance and a true sense of luxury and comfort inside.
FAQs about the Xpeng G9 AWD Performance
What is the real range of Xpeng G9?
It's a little hard to tell at the moment, as we haven't yet been able to test one on familiar Irish roads, but around 450-500km seems achievable.
Is Xpeng owned by Volkswagen?
No, Xpeng is very much its own company. However, it does have a joint venture to build cars in China with Volkswagen, and as part of that deal Volkswagen did invest around €700 million in Xpeng, giving it a small 4.9 per cent stake in the Chinese firm.
Who makes the battery for XPeng G9?
The Xpeng G9's battery is made by the China Lithium Battery Technology Co. Ltd, also known as CALB.
How many child seats can I fit in the Xpeng G9?
There are two ISOFIX points in the Xpeng G9's rear bench seat, but none - alas - in the front passenger seat, and not really enough width in the centre rear seat to fit a booster cushion, unless it's a very narrow one.
Want to know more about the 2026 Xpeng G9 AWD Performance?
If there's anything about the new Xpeng G9 AWD Performance we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
