XPeng G6 Review: The Tesla Model Y Rival from China
Source: Xpeng Press
The question most people are asking in relation to the XPeng G6 is: can a Chinese SUV really trouble the Tesla Model Y? On the numbers, yes. The G6 undercuts the Model Y by around £5,000 at entry level, charges faster on paper, and carries a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Where it falls short is range, boot space and the UK dealer network Tesla has spent over a decade building.
This review draws on road tests from Auto Express, What Car, Carwow and Autocar to give employers and employees a clear, independently sourced picture of the G6's strengths and weaknesses, alongside what it costs to run through electric car salary sacrifice. If you're weighing it against XPeng's wider UK range, our XPeng UK launch guide covers the brand's broader plans.
XPeng G6 Review Verdict: The Model Y Rival from China
The G6 is the car that put XPeng on the map in Britain, arriving as one of the most credible of the best Chinese electric cars now sold here. The 2026 update sharpens its case considerably:
New 80.8kWh battery with Next-Gen 5C chemistry
800V charging architecture, up to 451kW peak
Dual-motor AWD Performance Black Edition, the G6's first all-wheel-drive trim
More than 20,000 incremental changes to suspension, steering and motor tuning
Road testers call the result a competent mid-size SUV rather than a cut-price curiosity, though it isn't a wholesale win over the Model Y. Autocar's testers called the styling "anonymous and derivative" and found the G6 less efficient than its ultra-rapid charging figures suggest, since the extra power doesn't always translate into extra range.
What the G6 does convincingly is undercut the Model Y on price while matching it on safety, which makes it a legitimate shortlist car for anyone comparing Tesla Model Y alternatives rather than a novelty import.
This price gap is where the G6 earns its place:
A £5,000 lower OTR price flows straight through into a lower net monthly sacrifice for every trim
Often the gap between affording the Long Range and settling for the Standard Range
Charging speed that roughly halves a typical motorway top-up stop
Net result: similar safety, faster charging, for meaningfully less each month
How Does The XPeng G6 Compare To The Tesla Model Y?
Buyers researching the XPeng G6 UK price and spec sheet are almost always cross-shopping the Model Y, and the two cars line up closely enough on paper to make the comparison worthwhile. The table below sets out the key specs side by side, using the RWD Standard Range G6 against the entry Model Y RWD, and the Long Range G6 against the Model Y Long Range RWD.
| Spec | XPeng G6 | Tesla Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (RWD Standard) | £39,990 | £44,990 |
| Long Range price | £44,990 | £48,990 |
| Long Range WLTP range | 326 miles | 387 miles |
| Peak DC charging | 451kW (10–80% in ~12 min) | 250kW (10–80% in ~32 min) |
| Boot space (seats up) | 571 litres | 854 litres |
| 0–62mph (fastest trim) | 4.1 seconds (AWD Performance) | 4.1 seconds (Launch Series AWD) |
| Euro NCAP rating | 5 stars (2024) | 5 stars |
| Warranty | 5 years / 75,000 miles | 8 years / 100,000 miles (battery) |
The G6 wins on price and charging speed, both of which matter for salary sacrifice budgets, but the Model Y still leads on range and practicality by a wide margin.
Which you deem better, Tesla Model Y or XPeng G6, comes down to priorities: employees who charge mostly at home and want the lowest monthly cost lean toward the G6, while those who need maximum boot space or cover long motorway miles still lean toward a Tesla.
Range And 800V Charging
Charging speed is the G6's standout technical achievement. The Next-Gen 5C battery pack, paired with XPeng's Full-Domain 800V High-Voltage SiC Platform, delivers a peak charging rate of 451kW and can take the Long Range and Performance models from 10% to 80% in around 12 minutes, adding roughly 133 miles of range in a 10-minute stop. That comfortably beats the Model Y's 250kW peak rate on Tesla's Supercharger network, where a comparable 10–80% session takes closer to 32 minutes.
Image source: Xpeng Press
Charging speed is the G6's standout technical achievement. The Next-Gen 5C battery pack, paired with XPeng's Full-Domain 800V High-Voltage SiC Platform, delivers a peak charging rate of 451kW and can take the Long Range and Performance models from 10% to 80% in around 12 minutes, adding roughly 133 miles of range in a 10-minute stop. That comfortably beats the Model Y's 250kW peak rate on Tesla's Supercharger network, where a comparable 10–80% session takes closer to 32 minutes.
Interior, Tech and Boot Space
Inside, the G6 majors on screen-led simplicity in a similar vein to Tesla, with a smart cockpit built around a large central touchscreen and a minimal physical control layout. For readers comparing full XPeng G6 specs side by side, reviewers rate cabin quality as solid rather than outstanding, with What Car noting a competitive but unremarkable interior finish against rivals like the Skoda Elroq and Smart #5.
Practicality is where the gap to Tesla is widest. The G6 offers 571 litres of boot space, which is generous for the segment but well short of the Model Y's 854 litres. A few practical points are worth setting out clearly:
Rear leg and headroom are competitive for a mid-size SUV, according to road testers
The touchscreen controls most vehicle functions, mirroring Tesla's minimalist approach
Three trims are available at launch: RWD Standard Range, RWD Long Range and AWD Performance Black Edition
Is XPeng Reliable? Warranty, UK Servicing and Safety
Is Xpeng a reliable car brand? It's a fair question for any manufacturer that only entered the UK in 2025, and it's one of the most searched questions about the G6. Here's what the evidence covers.
Warranty
Five years or 75,000 miles, whichever comes first
Reasonably competitive, though MG and Kia still lead the segment with seven years of cover
Safety
Five-star Euro NCAP rating, achieved in 2024
88% for adult occupant protection, 80% for safety assist
Three-layer battery anti-collision structure and seven airbags as standard
Servicing
Delivered through XPeng's UK partner, International Motors, also the distributor for GWM Ora, Isuzu and Subaru
Network expanded through 2025 and 2026 but still trails established brands
Employers considering a fleet order should confirm current servicing locations with XPeng UK before committing
What Are The Common Problems With The G6?
Because the model has only been on UK roads since 2025, there isn't yet meaningful long-term reliability or owner-survey data to draw on, and we'd rather say that plainly than guess. The strongest evidence available covers crash safety and warranty terms rather than long-term durability, and we'll update this section as independent reliability data becomes available.
For employers, the newer-brand question matters less than it might elsewhere, because Complete Employer Protection covers a G6 the same way it covers any other car in the scheme: redundancy, dismissal, long-term sickness and death from day one, and resignation after three months, with no excess and no usage caps. That removes the financial risk of an unfamiliar brand underperforming mid-contract, arguably the more relevant trust question for a business than reliability data that doesn't exist yet.
Price and Running Costs on Salary Sacrifice
The G6's biggest commercial advantage over the Model Y is upfront price, and that advantage carries through to salary sacrifice. The XPeng G6 price list runs from £39,990 to £49,990 OTR across three trims, and employees typically save 20–50% compared to a personal lease when they order through The Electric Car Scheme, with the exact figure depending on tax band, mileage and contract term.
Once those figures are confirmed, you can get a quote for the G6 to see the exact net monthly cost against your own salary and tax band.
The advantage over a personal lease:
Net monthly cost deducted from gross salary, saving income tax and National Insurance
No net cost to the employer to run the scheme
Complete Employer Protection removes the financial risk of an employee leaving mid-contract
Compare your own numbers using the salary sacrifice calculator.
How to Order
Ordering a G6 follows the same process as any other model on The Electric Car Scheme's platform. Employees browse available trims, generate a personalised quote based on their salary and tax band, and submit an order once their employer has approved it. There's usually no personal credit check involved, and the all-inclusive package covers insurance, servicing, breakdown cover and road tax.
| Trim | OTR Price | Indicative Monthly Sacrifice | BiK Rate (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RWD Standard Range | £39,990 | £457 | 4% |
| RWD Long Range | £44,990 | £464 | 4% |
| AWD Performance Black Edition | £49,990 | £500 | 4% |
Worked example assumptions: £60,000 salary (higher-rate taxpayer), 36-month term, 10,000 miles/year. Figures are indicative for this specific combination and will vary by individual circumstances.
If your employer already offers the scheme, you can check your specific numbers and place an order directly. Employers exploring electric car salary sacrifice for their team can find out how salary sacrifice works for employees before rolling it out.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Xpeng G6
Is the XPeng G6 a Good Car?
Yes, on the evidence of independent road tests. The G6 combines a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating with some of the fastest DC charging on sale and a starting price around £5,000 below the Tesla Model Y. It falls short of the Model Y on range and boot space, but it's a competitive mid-size electric SUV rather than a budget also-ran.
Is Xpeng Better Than Tesla?
Not outright, but it's competitive on specific measures. The G6 beats the Model Y on price and peak charging speed, while the Model Y leads on range, boot space and the size of its charging and service network. Which one suits you depends on whether upfront cost and charging speed or range and practicality matter more.
Is Xpeng a Reliable Car Brand?
It's too early to say with confidence. XPeng only launched in the UK in 2025, so there isn't yet meaningful long-term reliability data. What's verifiable is a five-star Euro NCAP rating and a five-year/75,000-mile warranty, which are reasonable proxies for build quality until more owner data emerges.
Which Is Better, Tesla Model Y or XPeng G6?
It depends on priorities. The G6 is cheaper to buy and faster to charge on paper, making it attractive for salary sacrifice budgets. The Model Y offers more range, significantly more boot space and a far larger UK charging and service network, which matters more for high-mileage drivers.
What Are the Common Problems with the G6?
There isn't yet enough UK ownership data to identify common faults, since the model has only been on sale since 2025. The strongest evidence available so far covers crash safety and warranty terms rather than long-term durability, and this section will be updated as reliability data becomes available.
The XPeng G6 earns its place on any Tesla Model Y shortlist. It undercuts the Model Y by roughly £5,000 at entry level, charges faster on paper, and matches it for crash safety with a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Where it loses ground is range, boot space and the depth of Tesla's UK charging and service network, both worth weighing carefully against your daily mileage and parking setup.
For most employees choosing a fixed monthly budget rather than a maximum range, the G6's lower price is the deciding factor: a lower net monthly cost than an equivalent Model Y, plus a shorter wait at a rapid charger. Compare both cars on the same tax band and term for a fair result. Complete Employer Protection covers the G6 exactly as it would any other model, so choosing a newer brand doesn't mean taking on extra financial risk.
Image source: Xpeng’s Instagram
Run your own numbers with The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice calculator to see how the G6 compares against Tesla and other Chinese electric cars.
You might also like…
Last updated: 31/07/2026
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
Copyright and Image Usage: All images used on this website are either licensed for commercial use or used with express permission from the copyright holders, in compliance with UK and EU copyright law. We are committed to respecting intellectual property rights and maintaining full compliance with applicable regulations. If you have any questions or concerns regarding image usage or copyright matters, please contact us at marketing@electriccarscheme.com and we will address them promptly.
