The electric vehicle market has a new serious player. The XPeng G6 Performance brings an 800-volt architecture, 451 kW of peak charging power and the promise of a full battery in just twelve minutes. With 480 horsepower and European assembly in neighboring Graz, it poses a direct threat to the market share of the Tesla Model Y. Despite the exceptional specifications on paper and aggressive pricing policy, a practical test reveals that sheer technological superiority does not guarantee perfect driving character.
First, what bothers most people about the name XPeng: sounds like an app, not a car. And yet this is one of the most serious stories in electric mobility. The brand was founded in 2014, today it sells more than 190,000 vehicles per year, and even Volkswagen has a stake of about five percent in the company. In other words: when a German giant decides to invest in a Chinese newcomer, it's time to stop giggling. This time, the XPeng G6 Performance test.
And even better – at least for European self-confidence – the G6 we drive doesn’t come straight from China. It’s assembled at Magni Steyr in Graz, just a stone's throw from the Slovenian border. Chinese technology, European assembly and a price that can hurt traditional brands.
Watch the full test in the video
Below is the full, uncut episode of the Macarol Show — more than an hour of driving, charging, and thinking out loud on the road. The article gives you a quick verdict; the video shows how we get there: from a cold start at an ultra-fast charger, through a walkaround and a test of nerves inside, to the moment when the declared 451 kW collides with a real European charger. No assembly shortcuts, no embellishments — even when the XPeng G6 Performance impresses, and when it leaves us searching for a compartment that doesn't exist. Grab a coffee (the car will pour it faster than you can) and watch until the end.
We tested the most powerful version: XPeng G6 Performance AWD with two motors and all-wheel drive. The numbers are as follows: 358 kW (480 hp) of power, 660 Nm of torque, acceleration from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 4.1 seconds and terminal velocity 202 km/h. All this for 55,500 euros. For comparison – for this money you get less equipment with the Tesla Model Y. But you don't get a badge that your neighbor recognizes. This whole story is about whether it's worth it to you.
Beautiful, clean – and almost soulless
There is a Test in front XPeng G6 Performance smooth and progressive. No aggression, no big mask, because it's an electric vehicle and it simply doesn't need a radiator. The light strip now runs the entire width and the car looks wider and more expensive than it really is. The effect is pleasant – but also a bit anonymous. Cover logo and you won't know what car you're looking at. Beautiful, clean, soulless, ... Which is definitely not a bad thing if you look at a car as a tool.
From the side XPeng G6 Performance comes to life. The hatchback silhouette, long wheelbase, short overhangs, hidden pull-out handles and retractable coupe roof. This is not an SUV that stands upright like a cupboard – it is an SUV-coupe. It measures 4758 millimeters in length, 1920 in width and 1650 millimeters in height, and the wheelbase is 2890 millimeters. This puts it right next to the Tesla Model Y, which is only four centimeters longer but lower. In short, the Xpeng G6 is among the largest and most confident in its class.
The most recognizable thing about the entire car is actually the color. Our test unit wore “Stellar” purple, which costs 550 euros. Only white is free, all others cost 550 euros. And honestly – this color is what saves the car from being average.
An interior that no longer asks for permission
The interior is modern, inviting, and well-put together. The stitching is nearly perfect, everything fits. For the price, you get nappa leather, 256-color ambient lighting, a sixteen-speaker sound system, and a 15.6-inch center display that's sharp and snappy. It looks premium from a distance.
Up close, the Chinese origin is still recognizable. Gray synthetics dominate, and the wood decor feels like cheap plastic when touched with a finger. Nothing terrible – just not what you would expect for 55,000 euros. Maybe a little more daring in the juxtaposition of different materials in the interior.
That's why the seats erase many a grudge. The front ones are heated and ventilated as standard, the driver's is electrically adjustable with memory, and on the Long Range and Performance versions you even get front seat massage - as standard. This is the moment when you realize that Chinese cars don't come asking for permission anymore. They come with a list of equipment.
But here's the biggest sin of the interior: the G6 doesn't have a head-up display on the windshield. Not even for an extra charge. A car that boasts technology doesn't show you the speed in front of your eyes. At this price, this is a drawback that you notice every time you take your eyes off the road. Otherwise, if you're not used to a head-up display in your car, this won't be a bother.
A camera that silently improves every lane change
And now what surprised us the most. When you turn on the turn signal, the image from the camera on that side automatically appears on the dashboard – it accurately shows the blind spot, cyclist, pedestrian or car. Nothing special on paper. But magical in practice.
Interestingly, we started using this feature completely subconsciously. We didn't decide "I'm going to look at the camera now" - we turned on the turn signal and the eye just slid to the image. This is the kind of technology that doesn't scream, but quietly improves every lane change. For us, one of the best details in the whole car. Otherwise, the G6 has a full range of assistance systems - from adaptive cruise control to automatic emergency braking - but no, the car doesn't drive itself. The driver remains responsible.
The heart of the car: An impressive 451 kW and lightning-fast charging
Now, let's get to the point. The G6 is built on the SEPA 2.0 platform and features an advanced 800-volt architecture with silicon carbide electronics. The battery has a capacity of 80.8 kilowatt-hours (gross), its chemistry is lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and is designed for extremely fast energy transfer.
What does this mean in practice? Thanks to 800-volt technology, the system allows you to push significantly more energy through the cable without overheating. The result is an impressive peak charging power of 451 kW. This means that the battery is 10 to 80 percent fill in only twelve (12) minutes. It's no longer time for lunch, but just time for a quick cup of coffee.
But you have to be realistic: 451 kW is the theoretical maximum, which is rarely supported by current European infrastructure. Nevertheless, practical tests are impressive. On rare 400-kilowatt charging stations (for example, in the British test by Autocar magazine), the car achieved top speeds 372 kWAt Ionity charging stations, the system maintains stable power between 230 and 280 kWThe real charging power at fast charging stations is therefore around 300 kW, which ensures lightning-fast stops and proves that the G6 is ready for the charging stations of the future today.
Despite record speeds at public charging stations, there is disappointment when charging at home. The built-in alternating current (AC) charger can only 11 kWCharging an empty battery at home or in a shopping mall will take more than nine hours. From a car that charges at such extreme speeds at fast chargers, we would rightly expect more power, 22-kilowatt home charger, which would cut this time in half. So it's a rocket around the world, but a snail at home, or a slug. (The car has a heat pump built in as standard, which is a great help in range and battery preparation in the cold.)
And speaking of range: according to the WLTP standard, it is 510 km, but in reality, expect about 420 to 425 kilometers. Absolute efficiency is not the greatest virtue of this car - Tesla remains the master here. Although Xpeng did not consume more than 20 kW in normal driving. But XPeng clearly answers: it may consume a little more, but it is much faster to get back on the road at the charging station.
Brutally fast – but not sporty
And now the answer to the question from the beginning. You press the gas pedal – 4.1 seconds to 100, two engines, 660 Newton meters – and the car pushes you deep into the seat. Brutally fast, without a doubt.
Is it sporty too? No. And that's where the "fast" and "sporty" differ. The car weighs 2,220 kilograms and has no adaptive dampers. In Sport mode, the steering becomes sharper and the throttle more aggressive, while the suspension remains soft. It's stable in fast corners and holds the road well, but it never tempts you to play. The lungs of a race car, the chassis of a sedan.
On the highway, the G6 completely transforms and shines. The suspension softens, the ride becomes smooth, the bumps disappear. It's quiet - only from 110 km/h onwards does a slight gust of wind sound at the window. This is not a racer. This is a comfortable touring car with brutal acceleration. The word "Performance" refers to numbers, not feeling.
Trunk, front trunk and mysteriously missing compartment
Practicality is a mix of advantages and odd omissions. It boasts 571 liters of space in the rear, and 1374 liters with the seats folded. That's more than many competitors. A towbar is available for an extra 1000 euros and can pull up to 1500 kilograms - so a bike rack or a small trailer is no problem.
The Tesla Model Y has a larger trunk on paper, but it measures up to the ceiling, not to the window line like most, so the difference in practice is not as big as it sounds. One thing remains, though: the Tesla has a front trunk, the G6 doesn't. And we really miss that, because the front trunk is ideal for wet, dirty charging cables. In the G6, everything fits in the main trunk under the double floor.
And here comes the curiosity of the year. The G6 doesn't even have a glove compartment in front of the passenger. Yes, you read that right. Testers spent several minutes searching for it on the screen until they were told that it simply wasn't there. A car for 55,000 euros, in 2026, without a glove compartment. A special achievement.
Prices, versions and brains versus heart
The price range is as follows. The Standard Range with rear-wheel drive and 185 kW (248 hp) costs 43,900 euros and already charges with an impressive power of up to 382 kW. The Long Range with the same 80.8-kilowatt battery, the same 451-kilowatt charging and the longest range costs 49,500 euros. The Performance with two motors and four-wheel drive costs 55,500 euros. The Black Edition package with dark details adds 1,000 euros, and colors, with the exception of white, cost 550 euros each.
So common sense says: Long Range. Same charging technique, longer range, six grand cheaper. Performance is a purely emotional choice – for those who are more convinced by 4.1 seconds to a hundred than by sound calculation.
Verdict: A tough engineering job that lacks heart
XPeng G6 Performance is a car of contradictions, and in the most interesting way possible. On the one hand, it's an engineering masterpiece for the money: 800-volt architecture, 451 kW of peak power on paper and around 300 kW in reality (thanks to our charging stations), twelve minutes to eighty percent, a wealth of standard equipment from massage to panoramic roof and that excellent blind spot camera that quietly improves every drive. As a package of technology for this price, the G6 is a tough bargain – and a clear reminder to Europe that it must no longer smile, but must respond.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks that sting at this price: there is no projection on the windshield, no front trunk, not even a compartment in front of the passenger, and alternating charging can only handle 11 kW. And the "Performance" is fast, not sporty. Tesla remains more efficient, but in terms of safety assistance, according to the assessment Euro NCAP better – 98 percent versus 75 for the G6.
Would you have it at home? As a second car for long journeys – I'd be happy to, but in the Long Range version, not the Performance. As the only car, we'd probably choose something with more character. Hand on heart: The Xpeng G6 is one of the most rational electric SUVs on the market. It does almost everything right. It only lacks what cannot be written in the price list. It lacks heart and a little more character (which Tesla also lacks) ... and of course some storage.
