Chinese electric car brand Xpeng has established itself in Norway – and is doing so with very ambitious plans. As recently as last year, they were taken under the wings of MotorGruppen – the many years left behind with brands such as Renault and Mitsubishi.
At a press conference regarding the unveiling of the top-of-the-line P7 Wing Edition – they talked about the goal of being among the top three electric cars in Norway, by the end of 2025.
Time flies there fast – and at the time of writing, it’s a long way off. So far this year, they’ve registered just over 450 cars. Tesla sold 5,376 – only Model 3 and Model Y.
But investment has been increasing along the way. It hasn’t been long since they opened new offices in central Oslo. And now Xpeng is releasing a new model – the P5.
seductive on paper
We already know the SUV G3, G3i (facelift) and the P7 sedan. With the P5, they are entering a chapter in which there are almost no relevant competitors.
We are talking about a sedan with a length of 480 cm – with a declared range of 465 km – and a starting price of less than 380 thousand kroner.
It’s undeniable that she looks very alluring on paper, at least.
This is what the Xpeng P5 looks like. The red paint and black roof give it some life – but the proportions look a bit strange with the “small” wheels.
Delivery problems
But then there is a challenge here. Xpeng struggles with many of the same challenges as many others in the industry: delivery time.
We have learned that due to “supply chain and challenges related to the Coronavirus”, the delivery time has not yet been confirmed.
The question is whether you should feel sorry for yourself, or whether it really doesn’t matter. we want to know. So we test it:
What is the form of leadership?
Xpeng P5
Plus:
Low price and good package
minus:
Not as comfortable as some competitors
price:
From 379,000 kroner
The P5 feels screws correctly together. Solid. When driving on uneven ground, there is no rattling or loud banging. It doesn’t change if you hit a deep dump. Then the shock absorbers may seem a little overloaded.
In normal driving mode, it’s not particularly smart in terms of throttle response. But if you put it into sports, things will happen. Not least, acceleration from 60 to 100 km / h is convincingly fast.
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.9 seconds. It’s in the middle of the tree these days. But not so long ago, she was very fast. The fourth generation Golf GTI (1998-2003) achieved a speed of 0-100 km / h in 8.5 seconds. Then you have that perspective…
But there’s one thing in particular that we bother about — and we’ve had problems with that on other Xpeng models as well: the alerts that keep popping up. Either the car thinks you have slept (when you sit down with your eyes on the leg!), you mean to wobble (without doing so!) or it thinks you are going to crash. It drops and “talks” at once. In addition, the seat belt is pulled back – almost arbitrarily, sometimes. It’s so annoying, that we ended up shutting down several security systems. And then they didn’t have any target anymore…
Another annoyance was that we were unable to play audio from the phone via bluetooth. It simply did not work.
But back to perhaps the biggest advantage the car has: range. Thus, the P5 is reported to have a range of 445 kilometers with 17-inch wheels. And if you increase it to 18 inches, the range will go up to 465 kilometers, Xpeng tells us.
The digital gadgets are good and have crisp graphics – but you don’t get as much information about the phone and media as the Tesla.
Consumption is set at 14.8 kW. Before setting out on the regular test track, we’re excited about how close we are. Conditions are close to ideal: dry asphalt, 19°C and little traffic.
After 70 kilometres, we have to look twice to make sure we see correctly: 12.3 kW per 100 kilometres is one of the lowest we’ve measured in any test car. We ended up at 12.9 – but it’s also pretty low. And not least: much less than official consumption.
Here it is important to emphasize that there is only one person in the car, we drive in a normal (not Eco) driving program and have a/c at 22 degrees. We follow the speed limits – which range from 40 km / h to 100 km / h.
This should indicate that the range is quite realistic, as long as the conditions are the same as when we drove the test car.
Part of the explanation is sufficient that the car is equipped with a heat pump. However, it will be critical when using the car in winter.
When it comes to driving characteristics, we note that the level of comfort is high. Steering is light and a bit “nameless” – even when in sports. It’s convenient when you go to park and drive normally (as you do most of the time) – but not very attractive if you want to drive actively.
As mentioned, it does hit a bit in the dampers when the bumps are deep, but as long as the surface is flat or a little squiggly, this works great.
The noise reduction is also good. We’re not afraid to go on a long ride with the P5.
Charging speed is far from the best. Here a maximum of 70 kW. Most of them now have more than 100 kW – I prefer up to 300 kW – to put this into perspective a bit.
Given that the battery is 66 kW, it is a bit rare. But as long as you can fill a little in order to get all the way through, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Xpeng also fits into the range that allows the car to be a powerhouse. Thus, you can plug in a car electrical outlet and use the power in a vacuum cleaner, coffee maker or charging other cars.
Space and Practical Solutions:
It is a spacious luggage compartment. But skiluka is the solution to the crisis.
What do you get with you?
Luggage compartment 520 liters – divided into two “compartments”. It’s basically abundant for most people. But we’re talking about the sedan here, so you don’t have a chance to pack up at the height.
The rear seats also can’t be folded down – but you do have a small ski hatch. The latter, however, is a crisis solution. If the family loves to skate – this is not something that works well.
The P5 also doesn’t have a pull rod – and you can’t put anything on the surface. Thus, some obvious restrictions have begun for those who like to be active.
It’s not empty, so the charging cables have to be in the trunk, as it steals some space.
Class-leading space in the back seat. By a good margin.
Life in the back seat
Here it’s like sitting in a limousine. Kids will love it. Even adults have more than enough space here. Xpeng prides itself on having “neck supports” – which practically means they’re wider than regular rear seats.
In addition, there is plenty of space for children’s seats. The only thing we really miss is the table, which will really be the icing on the cake.
There are separate air vents for those sitting in the back, seat heating and armrests in the center with cup holders.
The interior is bright and spacious – the glass roof helped it well.
Both big and small can have fun in a class-leading space.
The permanent screen works fine mostly. Stylish graphics and clear “buttons”. But DAB radio sometimes “explodes” and we struggle to play music/podcasts over bluetooth.
behind the wheel
The driver’s position is nice and clear. The P5 has large window areas and it is easy to get an overview. The seats are good and they have good adjustment options. But the steering wheel can only be adjusted in height – this is frustrating.
There is a good, high center console between the seats – which has a spacious armrest, cup holders and a smart mobile phone placement for wireless charging. The latter is at the bottom of the main screen. There is also a storage room up front in the center console itself.
The buttons on the steering wheel aren’t the most user-friendly, but in the end they just sit back.
The P5 also has a fun little party trick – the front seats can be fully folded. So that you actually have about two beds.
If you remove the headrest, you have the option of rebuilding the front seats into two small beds.
Design: outside and inside
The P5 is not what we would call elegant. Here the functionality seems to be of much higher priority than it appears. Honestly. At the same time, we like the concept in bright red with a black roof. Then at least it sounds more fun.
17-inch rims are no longer enough to look large in such a car. On the P5, it simply looks a bit small and messy. 18″ gives both a better look.
We think the most successful part of the design is the front. Which looks a bit sporty and challenging.
The interior has few surprises. But there’s good leather seating, a huge screen and a Tesla-style menu — and pretty big digital gadgets. Quality and finish are well tried – here nothing creaks or squeaks. All cars in this price range contain some hard plastic.
Nice little hello to those who think the charging cable should be plugged in from the passenger side. This is used, however, if you are going to be getting power from the vehicle.
tech factor
Based on the price level, Xpeng offers a lot of advanced equipment. The P5 Xpilot 2.5 uses 5 high-precision millimeter wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 4 driving cameras and 9 high-perception cameras to support autonomous driving, automated parking, and safety.
It has an upgraded and advanced infotainment system on the inside – including voice control – and a surround system that includes noise cancellation.
Xpeng also has its own air purification system.
conclusion:
Xpeng is an exciting new addition to the Norwegian fleet of cars. The P5 is for many – with an extra-wide rear seat, good luggage space, plenty of equipment and the best range in the class.
But it has some weaknesses as well. Annoying “alerts” when driving and the inability to tow are two of them. The biggest problem is, of course, the uncertainty surrounding delivery. If you can’t deliver, it won’t help how good the product is…
The right car for you if:
Want the most accessible seat and back for your money
Not the right car for you if:
You need towbar or bothered by warning sounds
This car can become a familiar sight on Norwegian roads. But then the delivery mode must be arranged.
Owners believe
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It’s inside Xpeng fireRatings – but so far none of the P5 brand new.
Xpeng P5
Engine and performance:
Motor: Single motor electric
Power: 211 HP / Nm
Acceleration from zero to 100 km / h is 7.5 seconds.
Maximum speed: 170 km / h
Consumption (WLTP): 14.8 kW/ml
Battery / Charging:
Battery pack: 66.2 kW
Range: 465 km (WLTP)
Fast charging: 70 kW
Internal charger: 11 kW
Dimensions, weight and size:
L x W x H: 480 x 184 x 152 cm
Luggage compartment: 520 / l
Weight: 1715 kg
Trailer weight: 0 kg
Ceiling load: 0 kg
price:
The price starts from 379,000 kroner
The price of the test car: 379,000 crowns
Mentioned vs Sized:
Measured consumption * 12.9 kW / 100 km
*= We drive all test cars on our test track, which includes highway, small driving and country roads, and we try to make them as similar as possible.
Note: Consumption is still affected by external factors, such as temperature, weather, driving conditions, traffic and driving style.
Video: Here’s the first Xpeng model launched in Norway:
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