Car Review: The Xpeng X9 is Straight Out of Science Fiction

When it comes to luxury multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), the Toyota Alphard has pretty much dominated the market here for ages. This year, though, the game may have changed. With many new brands arriving in Singapore, the choice of high-end MPVs is no longer just limited to the Alphard.

Most luxury MPVs the likes of the Denza D9, Zeekr 009 and Maxus Mifa 9 have stuck fast to the Alphard formula, perhaps improving on it in many areas. However, only a rare handful have tried something different.

The Xpeng X9 doesn’t just break the mould; it obliterates it.

It’s a Spaceship

Many MPV makers keep to the familiar boxy design and ended up being shaped very similar to Toyota Alphard.

The Xpeng designers completely broke away from the traditional MPV shape, creating something that looks deceptively shorter, with smooth, sloping windshields at both the front and back. The end result is that the X9 has an undeniable futuristic vibe like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie or a spaceship from the future.

When I picked up my young son in the X9, he commented he feels like he’s about to board a spaceship, ready to set off on the next grand space adventure.

The X9 would not be much of a spaceship if all association with futuristic sci-fi ends the moment you step in, would it? Fortunately, the XPeng didn’t just gave the car a great exterior and call it a day. The sci-fi, spaceship-like feel of the car extends well into the cabin.

The captain seats that greet you the moment the door slides open have just been upgraded a new months ago, with the latest facelift. Now called “Zero-gravity” seats, these seats have been drastically elevated in terms of comfort from its earlier iteration, making you feel like you are floating in space. There is a full suite of posture and seat adjustment options, all accessible from the buttons below the armrest.

Beyond just being a wonderful place to be, the seats also come packed with modern creature comfort, such as wireless Qi charging for your phones, massage and ventilation features. While the seats in our review car are from the “Premium Seats” variant, there is also a “Grand Seat” variant that offers even plushier feel with nappa leather. It is wider and obstruct access to the third row from the centre aisle.

The shotgun passenger and driver are not missing out much compared to those on the captain seats, as they too enjoy ventilated seats with massage functions and access to Qi charging and large storage spaces.

What the driver and shotgun passenger lose out on is the 21.4-inch display that appears magically out of the headliner for the enjoyment of the middle and third row passengers with a press of a button. This multimedia screen comes with various streaming services already installed and ready to go, such as Youtube, Spotify and Netflix. You can also screen mirror your own devices, which allows you to connect even gaming consoles such as Nintendo Switch.

What good is a multimedia experience without decent speakers? The 23-speaker Xopera setup should be more than sufficient for any movie of gaming needs.

To top it all off, there is a built-in fridge that is capable of both cooling or heating, allowing you to have food and drinks hot and cold on hand anytime.

And if you need a mobile work space to get some work done while on the go, both second row seats have access to a tray table.

Finally, the third row seat isn’t shabby either, with decent head and leg room, USB C charging ports, and even electric recline features.

Beyond those quality of life accessories, those “unfortunate” enough to be located third row seat will not feel claustrophobic either, unlike in some other MPVs. The view from the third row is bright, airy and spacious, thanks to its dual sun roof and window design, despite being located so far back on this 5.3-metre car.

And despite the spacious third row seats, there’s still decent boot space to fit luggage and large items.

Truth be told, I spent 99% of my time in the Xpeng X9 as a driver, so the people commenting on the passenger cabin would be my children in the second and third row. At the end of my weekend experience with the X9, their key takeaway was “Papa, our own car is so boring, please buy this.”

As with my tradition, here’s a 360-degree view of the Xpeng X9, for you to pinch, pan and swipe around.

The Drive

Driving the Xpeng X9 is surprisingly easy despite its bulk, thanks its specifications and thoughtful engineering.

In terms of straight line motion, the X9’s acceleration is brisk, even in comfort mode, thanks to its 315 bhp electric motor powering the front wheels putting out a range topping 450 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 kmh sprint in just 7.8s. While this isn’t lightning speed, it is impressive that the X9 is able to accelerate this fast pulling its 2590kg curb weight.

And despite this performance, the Xpeng X9 is engineered to be range efficient for its bulk. With a 101.5 kWh battery, it has a WLTP range of 590km. And during test drives, the stated range are accurate, as I constantly see the estimates on my instrument cluster fluctuate between 560km to 599km during my drive. You will not have to worry about being stranded on the road, so long as you keep an eye on your battery level once in a while.

But what good is a car if it is only great in the straight line? Motoring enthusiasts would probably scoff at my earlier mention of 5.3-metre vehicle length. With a wheel base of 3.16 metres, this car does not sound nimble at all on paper.

In fact, you might assume that steering this car is akin to steering a pick-up truck and that you would have difficulties in smaller roads and tighter carparks. You might also further assume this car might not even clear some three-lane U-turn spots in Singapore, as some cars shorter than this already require 2.5 lanes to turn.

You are wrong. Because, this car comes equipped with rear-wheel steering.

Not to be confused with rear-wheel drive, rear wheel steering enables the rear wheel to steer in the opposite direction from the front wheel at lower speeds, allowing the X9 to have a much tighter turning radius than otherwise possible. In fact, its turning radius of 5.4 metres is firmly in the hatchback and sedan territory, allowing it to complete a U-turn within just two lanes.

Ok, so the X9 has decent acceleration, and corners as well as much smaller cars. What about ride comfort and handling?

The X9 answers this question by being equipped with adjustable air suspension as standard. If you are ferrying passengers who prefer a more comfortable ride, you can increase the suspension height and set the stiffness to ‘Comfort’ or ‘Comfort+’. However, if you are on your own, simply drop the suspension height to its lowest setting and set the stiffness to ‘Sport’ for a more engaging drive.

During my test drive, some of my passengers felt that the ‘Comfort+’ or ‘Comfort’ stiffness made the X9 feel overly floaty, which inevitably made them feel sightly carsick. When I dialled up the stiffness to ‘Sport’, they suffer none of the same effects. Suspension feel is highly subjective however, and I could imagine most passengers would enjoy the softer suspension settings.

Personally, I would prefer an even stiffer setting beyond what ‘Sport’ offers for better handling feel, but that is just me nitpicking and asking for something that such a car isn’t really meant to do.

The naysayers among you might be thinking that with so many bells and whistles, there has to be a compromise somewhere. I’m sorry to burst that bubble, because beyond the impressive specs and feature list, the Xpeng X9 is also built to an incredibly high standard.

First, the interior trims are beautifully put together and feel genuinely premium. Almost everything from your waist up is padded or wrapped in quality materials. Press on the panels and nothing creaks or flexes. This is interior solidity you would typically expect from a Lexus, something even German luxury brands struggle to maintain these days.

Out on the road, the X9 continues to impress. Even over badly paved roads, you would think a vehicle this size might show some chassis flex. That usually translates into a slightly unsettled drive and the occasional interior squeak. None of that happens here. The X9 feels planted, the chassis is rock solid, and there is a complete absence of flexing or creaking as you drive.

Speaking of sound, the insulation is excellent. You get a bit of road noise from the wheel wells, but that’s about it. The cabin feels isolated from the outside world and you hardly hear other vehicles unless someone decides to be loud for no reason. The double laminated glass panels clearly play a big part in this calm, cocoon-like experience.

If I had to point out a small Achilles heel, there was wind noise under really strong wind conditions, which briefly disrupted the otherwise tranquil cabin.

Overall, the build quality of the Xpeng X9 is outstanding.

The Xpeng X9 is truly a spaceship on wheels. It sets itself apart from the competition with cutting-edge tech, from advanced safety systems and intelligent assist features to rear-wheel steering and air suspension. These innovations work in harmony to deliver a business-class experience for your passengers, while keeping the driving itself easy, effortless, and downright enjoyable. If you’re looking for a luxurious MPV that will spoil your family, the X9 should definitely be on your radar.

What’s to like Impeccable build quality Height of just 1.785 metres means the X9 can enter most carparks here with ease, compared to other similar MPVs that are generally taller Packed full of technology Air suspension provides ride height and handling customisation Rear-wheel steering makes for incredible agility on the road “Zero-gravity” seats are truly comfortable and lush WLTP range is accurate and sufficient Easy and effortless to drive

What’s holding it back An even stiffer suspension setting would be welcome

Key Figures

Battery Capacity	101.5 kWh
Range (WLTP)	590 km
Torque	450 Nm
Power	235 kW (315bhp) 7.8s (0-100km/h)
Boot Space	755 L
Price (with COE)	Premium Seats: S$ 334,999 Grand Seat: S$ 349,999 (as of November 2025)