Review XPENG G9: why the Chinese electric SUV-D redefines the premium standard in 2026

The large electric SUV segment has become the real battlefield of European premium. And into it has stepped, confidently, a contender that nobody had on their radar just three years ago. The XPENG G9 arrives in the Spanish market in 2026 with a bold proposition: to take on the Tesla Model Y, the BMW iX3 or the Mercedes EQE SUV with an equipment-to-price ratio that, on paper, is hard to match.

From the earlier list of candidates we have ruled out the BYD Tang: we consider that, in the current conversation about Chinese premium alternatives in Spain, attention has focused on a very specific handful of brands —XPENG among them— and BYD is playing a different game today, geared more towards volume than towards a direct contest with European premium. This analysis therefore focuses on the G9 and its established Western rivals.

XPENG G9 2026: the Chinese arrival that really does unsettle European premium (from ≈€60,600)

There are Chinese cars that arrive in Europe, and there are Chinese cars that arrive in Europe to make noise. The G9 belongs to the second group. It is not a product designed to sneak in on price at the bottom of the segment — it is an almost five-metre SUV-D that takes its place in the showroom with finish, technology and performance worthy of rivals that cost fifteen or twenty thousand euros more.

In its entry version, the Standard Range, we are talking about 351 CV, a 79 kWh battery, 502 km of WLTP range and an indicative RRP from €60,600. Figures that, set beside what an iX3 or an EQE SUV asks in a comparable configuration, are almost provocative.

Design and presence: an SUV-D that doesn’t apologise

At 4.89 metres long and with a silhouette of clean lines, the G9 opts for restrained styling. There are no flourishes, no pastiches. It has a Scandinavian air that, in our view, suits it very well and sets it apart from the overloaded look of other Asian offerings. The muscular wheel arches, the continuous LED light signature and flush door handles complete a package that, on the road, passes for an expensive European product.

Interior and perceived quality: a major surprise

This is where the G9 claims its first victims. The 14.96-inch curved twin screen, the digital instrumentation, the soft-touch materials even in areas where German brands are already scraping hard plastic… The perceived level is, without exaggeration, comparable to that of an EQE SUV. The front seats come with ventilation, heating and massage as standard. Features that German premium brands charge extra for, and not cheaply.

That said, the Xmart OS software still has room for improvement. The menu logic differs from the European norm and some functions are buried in submenus that demand a learning curve. In practice, it is a matter of a week.

Range and charging: the real test

The 502 km WLTP of the Standard Range translate, in mixed real-world use, into around 380–420 real km depending on pace and temperature. An honest figure for a 79 kWh battery. The 800 V architecture allows high-power charging that takes from 10 to 80 % in just over 12 minutes on a suitable charger — something we already saw as a decisive argument in the ranking of premium electric SUVs with the most efficient charging on the Spanish market.

Dynamic behaviour: comfortable before sporty

The G9 does not seek to be a sports car, and it does well not to. Its adaptive air suspension (depending on finish) prioritises ride comfort, with notable composure on motorways. The 351 CV are delivered smoothly, without the abrupt lash of other electrics. It is quick, yes, but it does not expect you to enjoy it on a mountain pass — it expects you to arrive rested after 400 kilometres.

Price in Spain and direct rivals

With an indicative RRP from ≈€60,600 (a reminder: manufacturer’s recommended price, excluding dealer offers, campaigns or aid from the Plan Auto+), the G9 Standard Range undercuts almost all of its direct rivals.

Tesla Model Y from €40,990

The undisputed volume benchmark. Cheaper, more efficient and with the Supercharger network on its side. But it loses out to the G9 on perceived interior quality, standard equipment and visual presence. The Model Y remains the rational rival; the G9 is the emotional one.

BMW iX3 from €63,650

The new iX3 on the Neue Klasse platform is a technologically fierce rival, but it arrives at a clearly higher price in a comparable configuration. The G9 does not aim to match it dynamically, but it encroaches on ground where many premium buyers look: on-board technology and comfort.

Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV from €82,800

Here the comparison is almost cruel in terms of price versus equipment. The EQE SUV plays in a different league of brand prestige, certainly, but the G9 offers a cabin of a very similar level for considerably less money.

Audi Q6 e-tron from €66,370

PPE platform, 800 V architecture, quality Audi. Technically the rival closest to the G9 of the three German models. Even so, the price gap in an equivalent configuration approaches €15,000.

Verdict: a new standard for premium electric?

The XPENG G9 is not perfect. Its software needs refining, the service network in Spain is still growing and the five-year residual value is an unknown. It remains to be seen whether the Spanish market will accept paying more than €60,000 for a brand with no tradition here.

But as a product, it is a warning to the competition. The G9 Standard Range delivers what German premium promises at a price German premium cannot touch. And that, in 2026, matters.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the XPENG G9 cost in Spain in 2026?
The XPENG G9 Standard Range starts at an indicative RRP of around €60,600, without discounts or aid applied.

What real range does the XPENG G9 have?
The Standard Range version with its 79 kWh battery is rated at 502 km WLTP, which translates into a real-world range of 380–420 km in mixed use depending on conditions.

Is the XPENG G9 better than a Tesla Model Y?
It depends on the criteria. The Model Y is more efficient and has its own better charging network; the G9 wins on interior quality, standard equipment and presence as an SUV-D.

Does the XPENG G9 have a CERO label?
Yes. Being 100 % electric, the G9 qualifies for the DGT’s CERO environmental label and all the associated benefits in low-emission zones.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadXPENG G93 versions · from 60,600 €