OPINION:
XPENG G9P IN-DEPTH LONG-TERM REVIEW; Is It the Ultimate Family EV?
Written by SmartGrandad – BEV enthusiast and BEV owner for over 7 years.
I BOUGHT AN XPENG G9P IN 2024, WAS IT THE RIGHT DECISION?
I have been driving since the 1970s and have had many car ownership experiences, some good, some bad. In this article, After 27 months of ownership and over 65,000 km, I give my honest views on probably the best car of all, the XPENG G9P. Journeys have included three round trips from Stockholm, Sweden, to Málaga, Spain, alongside regular summer and winter driving in Sweden.
Having had 2 other BEVs for 5 years, a Kia e-Niro, followed by a Kia EV6 GT-Line, in 2024, I bought the Xpeng G9P. At the time of my decision, I had test-driven the Mercedes EQE, Zeekr 001, Tesla Model Y, and Polestar 2. In 2024, XPENG had very few service centers but seemed highly ambitions.
So, did I make the right choice? Read On and see what I really think of the G9P after over 2 years heavy usage.
To give you a clearer overall ofmy experience with the XPENG G9P, I have broken my views down into 4 areas.
1. XPENG G9P – DAILY EV USABILITY (RANGE & CHARGING)
Optimal EV usability occurs when real-world range and charging speeds align with your driving distance needs—especially on long motorway journeys where both are essential.
- Real World Range:
Two main factors influence range and efficiency: temperature and speed and you need to take both into account when trying to work out what your range will be.
- Temperature: EV batteries perform best between 20°C and 25°C.
- In hot conditions (35°C or over), real-world range reduces as EV batteries require cooling systems to prevent overheating.
- In warm conditions (20–25°C), real-world range is around 430 km (270 miles).
- When it is cold (-10°C to +10°C), internal resistance spikes and ion mobility slows down, and the real-world winter range drops to around 350 km (217 miles). reducing available power by around 10% -20%.
- Speed: Higher speeds reduce efficiency because aerodynamic drag increases exponentially. The optimum driving speed to maximize electric vehicle efficiency is typically between 70 and 90 km/h (45 to 55 mph).
- Temperature: EV batteries perform best between 20°C and 25°C.
- Low motorway speeds (up to 100 km/h) yield around 470 km (292 miles).
- Medium motorway speeds (100–130 km/h) yield around 430 km (267 miles).
- High motorway speeds (130–170 km/h) yield around 340 km (210 miles).
- Charging Experience:
There are also 2 factors here, first, Max charging speed, where the G9P can take up to 350 kw/h and second, the charging curve, i.e. does the charging stay high across the duration of the session.
- Charging at home has been an absolute breeze.
- The 11 kW charging speed is more than enough for overnight top-ups and gives plenty of flexibility to schedule charging during the cheapest rate hours.
- Charging on the Go: This has been outstanding.
- Charging has worked seamlessly at every charger I have used—primarily Ionity, alongside Tesla Superchargers and various European motorway chargers. With 350 kW chargers, a 10% to 80% charge takes about 20minutes, while 10% to 100% takes roughly 30 minutes. That is just enough time for a snack, a restroom break, and a quick 5-minute walk.
- Port Placement: The charge port placement rear right is great for most chargers, making it simple to reach with the cable.
- Charging at home has been an absolute breeze.
Overall, the XPENG G9P on long journeys you can expect to drive for a minimum of 2 or 3 hours at a time and then recharge to 80% in around 20mins and to 100% in around 30mins. The range is highly predictable and all XPENG’s have these top rate charging characteristics.
2. XPENG G9P – TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE
Today, most cars are more about their software and the driver assistance aids. Although my G9P is from 2024, the range of technical features is large, many of which I use on a regular basis.
- Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates:
- In 2024, many features felt like a work-in-progress—self-driving, navigation, and radio performance were particularly poor. However, as promised, OTA updates came thick and fast and are now polished. Updates have always installed smoothly, and I usually run them overnight.
- Navigation System:
- Built-in navigation is very usable, though not quite perfect. For me it lacks the depth of information about my location as there are very few town or village names shown. On a long journey it is difficult to know where you are.
- More importantly the map does not show the Charging stations on the map. It would be great to see where they are, their availability and price per KW/h.
- Fortunately, if you are buying a new G9P today, you also have the option of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto where you can get this info in real time.
- Driver Assistance:
- Self-driving features, including lane assist and adaptive cruise control, are now almost flawless. Generally, they feel smooth and provide a secure sense of confidence at high motorway speeds (supported up to 150 km/h). I use this all the time when on motorways.
- Despite the G9P being a large SUV, the self-parking feature is exceptional. Even though I can park in most spaces myself, I now prefer to let the car handle it, trusting it for a safe and quick parking experience every time.
- Sound System, Radio & Apps (You Tube, etc):
- The quality of the sound system is the best that I have ever heard, voices clear and sharp and bass powerful without being over powerful.
- The range of DAB stations and streaming from my phone is much improved and provide a reliable connection and quality.
- On the passenger screen, we often stream You Tube content, mainly listening. Controls for the massage seats are clear and concise.
- XPENG App Integration:
- The XPENG app is very practical and used frequently for locking and unlocking the car, checking remaining range, monitoring charging progress, and remotely manoeuvring the car out of tight parking spaces.
- Booking Services and showing service history are basic, but work giving you one place to find you service info and contact XPENG for help.
- In particular, I have set up XCOMBO routines to prep the car for washing and to turn off those annoying speed warnings.
XPENG prides itself on having an extensive and useful set of technical aids and delivering improvements on a frequent basis. The G9P has certainly exceeded my technical expectations.
3. XPENG G9P – PERFORMANCE, HANDLING & RIDE QUALITY
- So, what is the XPENG G9P like to drive, is it a motorway king or a comfortable city SUV?
- Performance, Power Delivery & One-Pedal Driving:
- Power is delivered smoothly, and the G9P is fast, hitting 0-62 km/h in 3.9 seconds with plenty of reserve acceleration from 110 km/h to 160 km/h, plus top speed of over 200 km/h.
- Regenerative braking and X-pedal driving are also implemented very smoothly.
- Cabin Comfort & Ergonomics:
- Seats:
- The heated seats get warm, though they take a little time to reach maximum heat.
- Cooling is a great option when the car has been baking in the sun, although turning on the cabin AC 15 minutes before departure easily solves this.
- The massage options, while not the strongest on the market, are more than adequate.
- Noise & Visibility:
- Cabin noise is extremely low, with minimal wind and tire noise even at high motorway speeds, which really helps on long journeys.
- Visibility is good, particularly out of the large rear window, which is very helpful when reversing.
- Ride & Handling:
- Being a large SUV, there is some natural body roll, but the dual chamber air suspension smooths out road bumps. Even over the deepest potholes the chassis feels stable.
- Whilst on the Germany motorway, travelling about 130km/h there was suddenly, what looked like a wooden pallet, that was impossible to avoid or slow down for, but the G9P kept its cool and although there was a load thump, we carried on safe and unscared.
- Manoeuvrability & Size:
- Very tight multi-story parking garages can present a bit of a challenge, but the self-parking system handles almost every tough situation. Surprisingly quickly it calculates and performs excellently.
- So well, that sometimes you need to use the Remote Forward and Reverse to move the car out of the space so that you can open the doors!
- Another help are the 360-degree cameras, which are a lifesaver, allowing you to see the front, rear and side spaces.
- Seats:
Summing up the performance, handling and ride comfort, simple enough to say that over the last 27 months it has been so good, that we doubt that we could find a similarly priced alternative.
4. XPENG G9P – PRACTICALITY, QUALITY & RELIABILITY
- Cabin & Cargo Space:
- The cabin is large and comfortable for 4 to 5 adults, offering generous legroom, seat adjustments, and smart storage spaces.
- The cargo area is massive and flexible, featuring electronic folding rear seats that easily accommodate large flat-pack furniture and IKEA boxes. There is under-floor storage for infrequently used items.
- The frunk is perfect for cables that can be easily accessed without unloading the trunk.
- Build Quality & Durability:
- The Nappa leather seats and interior materials feel high quality—at the time, certainly a step up from Mercedes or Audi interiors.
- There is little reflection onto the windscreen from the dashboard.
- The lack of headsup display has never been an issue as the info is available on the drivers screen.
- Everything still looks fresh and new, with no sagging in the seats or loose switchgear. My only real complaint is the interior ambient lighting, which is, frankly, pathetic.
- Exterior & Maintenance:
- The exterior paint has held up remarkably well, showing only one minor stone chip. Body panel fit and finish remain first-class.
- With service centers growing in number, servicing is relatively easy, and loaner cars have been provided during appointments. Servicing for the first three years was prepaid as part of my company lease, meaning zero out-of-pocket maintenance costs so far.
- Backed by a 7-year vehicle warranty and an 8-year battery warranty, I have zero anxiety about sudden high bills. In Sweden, the car runs on dedicated summer and winter tires, which show very even wear and have not needed replacement yet.
- Reliability:
- For me, the most important factor with any car is reliability, keeping garage visits to a minimum. With over 65,000 km on the clock, we have completed three standard services and encountered zero mechanical issues.
Lets summarise this section up that, we had had no experience of Chinese cars, but the XPENG G9P is a quality car, with minimal servicing requirements and so far ZERO issues. What other make can you say that about?
5. XPENG G9P - HONEST PROs & CONs
Like all cars today, they are complex beats full of hundreds of features. But here are my thoughts on the key plusses and minuses.
- CONs:
- A large SUV that can occasionally make judging the outer corners tricky.
- Driving aids take some time to get used to.
- The interior reading lights are so dim you sometimes need your phone out to read in the dark.
- Built-in navigation system is not quite as intuitive as Google Maps, Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay.
- Distance to the nearest service center can be far, especially if assistance is needed mid-road-trip.
- PROs:
- Exceptionally comfortable ride and seating.
- Real-world driving range is more than adequate.
- Fast charging speeds in real-world conditions.
- Driver assistance aids work reliably and reduce driver fatigue.
- High-quality interior and exterior material finish.
- Flawless reliability.
- Positive experiences with service centers.
6. XPENG G9P – SMARTGRANDADS VERDICT
The Ultimate Question! Would I Buy It Again?
“YES”
although not perfect, but I would find it really hard to find another make / model that, for the same money, can outshine the XPENG G9P. Its comfort and reliability are truly outstanding.
So overall, the gamble I took on XPENG and the G9P back in 2024 has more than paid off. After 27 months and 65,000 km, I remain genuinely delighted with the car’s performance and find it hard to imagine swapping it out anytime soon.
But of course this is only my view, please let me have your views in the Contact Form below.
Whats your view?
If you have any other thoughts or comments on this or any other 100% EV topic please leave them in the Contact Form below.
Written by SmartGrandad – BEV enthusiast and BEV owner for over 7 years.
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