2018 Xpeng G3 47.6 kWh FWD (197 HP)

Vehicle Overview

XPeng unveiled the G3 compact crossover just four years after the company was established, proving that even a young automaker could perform well in a fast-moving EV market.

While other car manufacturers struggled more to develop new electric vehicles, XPeng had the advantage of starting as an electric-car manufacturer. With some help from other companies involved in technology, such as Xiaomi, the new Chinese automaker managed to launch several products in less than five years since it was founded.

The G3 is one fine example of what this carmaker could do. The design was characterized by the closed front panel, specific for most EVs on the market. On the front fascia, it sported angular-shaped headlights placed above the car’s midsection, while the lower bumper was adorned by the two vertical LED daytime running lights. But since even electric vehicles needed some cooling area, Xpeng installed a trapezoidal lower grille in the apron. From its profile, the compact-sized crossover featured a sloped-down greenhouse that ended into a racked-forward tailgate at the back.

The cabin was fitted with high-bolstered front seats and a 60/40 split-folding benchseat in the back. For the dashboard, the automaker completely dropped the idea of a center stack and replaced it with an oversized, portrait-mode touchscreen that controlled the car’s infotainment unit and other technical features of the vehicle. In addition, a TFT display was placed inside the instrument cluster and showed not just the regular info, such as speed and range, but it could also show the map for the navigation system.

Power came from an electric motor that offered 197 PS (194 hp) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque.