I test drove XPeng's electric minivan. Its back seats are the business class of the road.

Business Insider

2 days ago

Last year, over 17 million EVs were produced globally, and China made most of them.
Our reviewer drove the XPeng X9, a seven-seater EV minivan, around Singapore for three days.
The back seats felt like business class, and it made him rethink what a people mover can be.
Chinese EVs are coming in every shape and size — including luxury minivans.
I spent three days driving the XPeng X9 around Singapore to find out what this futuristic people-mover is all about. I was seriously impressed.
XPeng, founded in 2014 and based in Guangzhou, isn't just making EVs — it's also dabbling in flying cars and robotics, making it one of the more ambitious players among a cutthroat global battle for transportation dominance.
"Competition in 2025 will be fiercer than ever," XPeng's CEO, He Xiaopeng, wrote in a letter to employees last year. He added that the next two years mark the "elimination round."
In 2024, over 17 million EVs were produced globally, a 25% jump from 2023. Over 70% of them were made in China, per the International Energy Agency.
As of March 2025, XPeng is selling cars across Asia and Europe, with plans to expand to the Middle East and Africa.
The X9 was inspired by the CEO's experience balancing family life with his role as an entrepreneur and a "hands-on father," Alex Tang, the head of XPeng's international sales and service division, told Business Insider in a statement.
"He envisioned a vehicle that drives with the agility of an SUV, carries the sleek silhouette of a coupe, and delivers the comfort and practicality of a premium MPV," Tang said.
On the outside
The seven-seater X9, first released in October 2023, is priced between 359,800 and 419,800 Chinese yuan, or $50,185 and $58,550.
It grabbed my attention right away, mostly because of its shape. Instead of following the usual luxury minivan formula, XPeng gave it a bold, trapezoidal twist.
It feels like the Tesla Cybertruck of the EV multipurpose vehicle world: sharply styled, tech-packed, and built to rethink what a people mover can be. The proportions and lines are spot-on, topped off with sleek 20-inch alloys.
Getting behind the wheel
The X9 is big — really big. At 208 inches long, 78 inches wide, and 70 inches tall, it's the longest of any Chinese electric minivan on the market. While it's not the slimmest in width, its overall dimensions still make it one of the most space-efficient in its class. For perspective, it's even longer than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
But the real surprise was how easily it maneuvered into tight parking spots, even parallel ones. XPeng has equipped it with an easy-to-use park assist system.
It can park itself if you want it to. But if you're like me and prefer doing it yourself, the network of cameras and sensors makes the job stress-free.
The system is named XPilot Parking. While it's not a function that's unique to the XPeng, no BYD models — the world's largest electric vehicle maker — offer the same feature.
Another neat party trick: rear-wheel steering. It gives the X9 an edge in maneuverability — a feature typically reserved for high-end luxury sedans like the BMW 7 Series. It really shines on winding roads or when a hot hatch is tailgating and you need to stay sharp.
XPeng says the X9's WLTP range exceeds 350 miles on a single charge. I couldn't validate it, as I only covered 160 miles during the three-day drive.
On the inside
The X9 comes fitted with standard air suspension, which you can set to Comfort, Standard, or Sport for your different driving moods.
I found that for a luxury minivan like this, Sport seemed unnecessary.
The setting stiffens the suspension. While it reduces body roll and improves overall handling, it also transmits more bumps and road imperfections, compromising ride comfort for everyone on board.
This suspension allows drivers to raise or lower the car at the touch of a button on the 17.3-inch touchscreen. Lift it when there's flooding, or drop it for easier access when passengers are getting in or out. No other EV minivan offers this feature.
The Chinese have really nailed the art of crafting luxurious interiors, and the X9 is no exception.
Many Chinese cars, including the X9, now come standard with massive screens, premium materials like leather and high-quality plastics, and even reclining rear seats with massage functions. Features that were once reserved for top-tier German brands are now common in the latest generation of Chinese vehicles.
One of the coolest touches of XPeng's minivan: The rear air conditioning vents are seamlessly integrated into the ceiling, like something you'd see in a convention hall.
Ride in the back
A car like the X9 makes calling "shotgun" pointless — the best seats are in the back. A pair of captain's chairs offers plenty of controls to find your sweet spot, plus a third row that's honestly the most comfortable and well-cushioned I've seen in my 23 years of reviewing cars.
Once again, XPeng shows serious attention to detail: The third row, usually where you stash someone you'd rather not hear yapping the whole ride, is not only easy to access but actually comfortable for adults.
Since this is a luxury minivan, passengers in the back get pampered with perks like a built-in fridge to keep drinks chilled and a 21.4-inch entertainment screen.
And if you've got teenagers, you can hook up an Xbox to keep them entertained instead of listening to them confuse you with their Gen Alpha slang.