What We Like
What We Dislike
There are cars that make you want to jump in and head straight for a twisty section of roads, and then there are those that make you wish you were on the unlimited section of the Autobahn, with the accelerator pinned to the floor. The XPENG X9 is neither.
The first thing that I wanted to do when I saw the X9 was to hop into the rear cabin and plunge into one of the plush captain seats. Because, when the car is a luxurious MPV such as this, the rear cabin is undoubtedly the best place to be.
Starship-inspired, futuristic MPV
However, I was taken in by the unorthodox design of the X9 before I'd even hopped in. Many MPVs and SUVs have generally been criticised for looking identical, but this sure isn't. The XPENG X9 is different - instead of the tried and tested two-box construction, the X9 has a tent-shaped greenhouse.
The car has a trapezoidal outline featuring sloping front and rear windshields, with a short bonnet that continues to slope down until it is broken up by a thin daytime-running light strip. Like the general shape of the car, the head lights are also trapezoidal, complementing the angular lines of the front end. I wouldn't call the X9 a beauty, but it sure looks unique, futuristic and imposing.
The side of the X9 is mostly flat, apart from a distinct shoulder line that connects the front to rear, and a crease on the lower half of the doors. But the rear greenhouse area is unprecedented. It has a sloping rear windscreen that meets the rear-quarter glass without any visible D-pillars, creating the illusion of a floating roof. You will never mistake another MPV for the X9.
I gave the button on the rear door handle a quick press and the door slid open, granting me the welcoming sight of the plush leather seats amidst the lounge-like cabin - undeniably, the best part of the X9.
The two captain seats in the second row offer electric adjustment from upright to almost entirely flat, and there's ventilation and even massage functions with various programs (the front-row seats also offers ventilation and massage functions). I got myself comfortable and deployed the 21.4-inch screen that folds down from the headliner without any hesitation.
The system is preloaded with various streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify, which allowed me to enjoy my favourite songs and music videos through the 23-speaker Xopera sound system that offers crystal clear highs, strong bass and a great surround sound experience - perfect for movies. However, as this display is connected to the sole infotainment system in the car, you can't have two different media sources running concurrently (i.e. front row listening to Spotify while the rear passengers watch YouTube).
Equipped with wired screen-mirroring functionality, external devices can be connected to the system - XPENG provided us with a Nintendo Switch, and I ended up playing Mario Kart with my friends for quite a while!
And you don't have to worry about keeping yourselves hydrated while gaming either - there's a fridge in the X9 that could be kept running for 24 hours, and controlled through XPENG's app.
Complementing the tech and features is a tastefully designed and well-built cabin. Almost everything you touch is either leather, soft-touch or suede-like, and there wasn't a single creak from anything over the entire three nights I had the car.
And to round it all off, the thoughtfulness of the design is clear to see - equipped with a wrap-around 'windless' rear aircon, the cavernous space is quietly, gently and very effectively cooled.
Even the third-row passengers weren't forgotten - the seats are spacious enough for long journeys, with the ability for the backrests to be reclined substantially, along with USB ports to keep everyone's devices charged on the go.
A solid structure suspended by technology
The X9's cabin sure is impressive, but the battle isn't over yet. To hit a homerun, comfort must be sustained even while the car is on the move, and this is where the X9 shone yet again.
The X9 presents the driver with four suspension settings, ranging from Comfort+, Comfort, Standard, to Sport, which is the stiffest of all. I found the Comfort and Standard settings to be the most enjoyable as the ride is plush enough to soak up almost everything (driving over speed regulating strips is almost unnoticeable), and yet it doesn't bob and bounce excessively like some of its competitors.
The pillowy ride can largely be chalked up to the Intelligent Dual-Chamber Air Suspension with an Intelligent Chassis system that pre-scans and adapts to road conditions in milliseconds that the car sits on. But that isn't all, built with die-casted aluminium front and rear sections, the X9 has a torsional rigidity of 46,000Nm/deg, which makes it stiffer than even the Porsche 911. The chassis rigidity would allow the suspension to work effectively, and it is also likely the main reason why there's absolutely no creaking from the interior even when the X9 is being driven hard.
Being an EV, the X9 is inherently silent on the move, and coupled with the well-insulated cabin, it truly is a relaxing car to be in - I’ve even jokingly said to my friends that I might enjoy spending the night in the X9's captain seats more than in my own room.
Being a product of a company that prides itself on high-tech solutions, the X9 is naturally very well-equipped, with a complete suite of driving assistance. In fact, the China domestic model is almost capable of autonomous driving from end to end.
The adaptive cruise control and lane centering features work smoothly and reliably. In low-speed traffic, it will even keep a reasonably-close following distance unlike other systems. Additionally, the car is also able to change lanes with just a flick of the signal stalk, under the right conditions (during cruise control).
From a driver's point of view, a car as large as the X9 sure is daunting to drive and park (it is after all almost 5.3 metres long and 2 metres wide). However, equipped with 360-degree cameras, rear-wheel steering (U-turns into a two-lane road is completed with ease) and a truly capable park assist feature, it is much easier to live with than one would expect.
Being a large MPV that weighs more than 2.5 tonnes, it surely isn't the type of car for performance driving, but having 315bhp makes it an effortless drive. The steering is also precise and quick, while handling is neutral and easy to manage - even when you drive past the limits of grip, the X9 will gradually understeer without any surprises.
There aren't many EV MPV that does everything so well
Compared to its peers, the XPENG X9 isn't perhaps the fanciest or most luxurious one, but it definitely is the most resolved and well-rounded option. You won't find oddly-worded text and descriptions within the system and there aren't tacky chrome bits everywhere. But it also doesn't have individual touchscreen controls for the second-row passengers.
On the first glance, the X9 might not look too outstanding, but it checks all the boxes. Ease of driving, safety, features, well-built cabin, comfort, luxury, space, versatility - everything that you desire from such a car, you'll get it with the X9. And unlike many other popular MPVs, it even has a sizeable cargo space that is useable even with the third-row occupied. If you don't need the third-row, it will also electrically fold flat, allowing you to fit cargoes of all shape and sizes.
Priced at $335,999 for this long range variant, the X9 costs slightly lesser than the top-of-the-line Denza D9 Grandeur that costs $342,388, and the ZEEKR 009 Deluxe that costs $352,999 (the Flagship variant we reviewed costs $412,999). And having sat in all three cars, I would say the X9 presents a truly compelling case at its price point.
Interested in luxurious EV MPVs? Here are the others that you should check out:
The Zeekr 009 combines generous space and a long feature list
The D9 is a keen contender that should make waves in the premium MPV segment
The MG M9 EV is a luxe-MPV that silently reminds you that size does matter
