mReview: Xpeng X9 – Spaceship Show With Spaceship Go

The Xpeng X9 is a futuristic MPV that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie, with the gizmos and gadgets to match, too.

What’s Great

• The X9 would look right at home in any sci-fi movie, with striking looks that make it stand out in traffic.
• One of the most equipment-filled cars on sale today, with every manner of amenity you could need or want.
• Despite its size, the X9 actually drives very well, with up to five degrees of rear-wheel steering allowing for ease of manoeuvrability. 

What’s Good

• The second-row seats are some of the best in the market, with massaging, heating, cooling, and even a TV to serve as relaxation and entertainment.
• The car's 800V architecture is capable of up to 317kW of fast charging, useful for filling up the hefty 101.5kWh battery pack.
• The infotainment system is zippy, full of features, and has no lag at all. 

What’s Not Great

• The steering wheel is not the most comfortable to hold at the 9-and-3 position.
• More physical buttons in the centre console would've been nice to see.

The X9's functions are handled primarily through the huge 17.3-inch central infotainment display, though some functions are also accessible through the multi-function steering wheel (with physical buttons) or via voice control.

On this facelifted X9, the second row boasts zero-gravity captain's chairs with electrical adjustment, lumbar support, heating, cooling, massage, cup holders, 50W wireless charging for your mobile phone, and even folding tables.

The X9 features a single electric motor on the front axle that outputs 235kW (315hp) and 450Nm of torque, enough to get this 2.6-ton behemoth from zero to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds. Buckle up, kids.

Yeah, that's a full-on TV. The X9 comes standard with a 21.4-inch ceiling-mounted TV that can stream videos and play music. You can also plug in an HDMI cable to stream movies from a laptop or even connect a Nintendo Switch to play games.

The third-row seats can be folded or raised with a push of a button, and you can even lower the rear end to make it easier to load stuff into and out of the boot.

As part of the facelift, the refreshed X9 has some updated trim pieces on the front bumper as well as 20-inch rims with floating centre caps a la Rolls-Royce.

The last row can theoretically fit three, though whoever gets designated the middle seat is preferably rather small. Two adults can fit back here without squeezing, though, and you can easily access the third row either by using the one-touch button to move the second-row seat forward or by simply walking up in between them.

Perhaps the most radical-looking angle of the X9. Its sharp-edged rear end can be rather polarising, with opinions on how it looks ranging from spaceship-esque to bug-like.

755 litres of boot space with all seats up is nothing to scoff at, thanks to a deep floor. The third row can also fold flat into that recessed area to provide up to 2,554 litres of cargo space.

Here's a handy feature to keep drinks and snacks ready for your family. The X9 has a built-in fridge that can be set anywhere between 0°C and 50°C, so it can keep items both hot and cold.

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