Deepal, XPeng and Zeekr comparison test
Don’t want to drive a Tesla? Check out these interesting new EVs from unheard-of brands.
New Cars
Don't miss out on the headlines from New Cars. Followed categories will be added to My News.
So you want an EV but the Trumpian ways of Elon Musk have put you off a Tesla?
Don’t stress, because China has you covered.
About a dozen new brands have earmarked Australia as a place to do business – and it’s the circa-$60K SUV category that is the favoured battle ground.
Zeekr, Deepal and XPeng are three of the newcomers hoping to not only get people looking sideways from Tesla but also forgetting about Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai and others along the way.
Each uses a familiar formula: lashings of standard equipment, curvaceous jelly bean looks and the promise of never having to visit a petrol station. There’s a dose of Tesla influence, too.
Each also has a heavy emphasis on technology, from over-the-air software updates and vibrant infotainment screens to voice assistants – and the occasional gimmick.
MORE: The car tech driving Aussies crazy
There are similarities between the trio, from their touchscreen functionality and frameless windows to vast panoramic sunroofs, flush exterior door handles, buttons to open the doors from inside and convincing fake leather trim.
But which is best for EV silence?
Deepal S07
If you squint there are some Lamborghini lines around the nose of the S07, the first car from Deepal (it started building cars in 2022).
Part of Changan Automobile, Deepal is imported into Australia by Inchcape, which also looks after Subaru and Peugeot.
MORE: The new cars arriving in 2025
The S07 is a one-size-fits-all proposition, priced from about $58,500 drive-away.
It’s the only one of our trio that charges extra for two of its colours – the sunglass-inducing Cosmic Yellow and Sunset Orange cost $840 more – but with five others to choose from it’s a fair deal.
And it requires servicing every 10,000km.
You get a powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, cooled wireless phone charger, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, electrically adjustable front seats and a 14-speaker Sony sound system.
There’s also a head-up display and 15.6-inch central infotainment screen.
MORE: The car that takes selfies while driving
It’s the only one with a retracting blind for its panoramic sunroof, taking the sting out of the summer sun.
Some wood-look trim, orange stitching and seat quilting adds to the upmarket appearance.
The floating centre console incorporates a sizeable covered binnacle as well as a lower storage area.
There’s some Tesla thinking in the screen, which even includes adjustment to the direction of the air flow.
The S07’s boot is not only broad but deep and like all here the rear seats fold 60/40.
Don’t go looking for any underfloor storage though.
But the Deepal does get a useful 125-litre cavity under the bonnet.
Oddly, it’s also the only car here with a glovebox.
It’s also the least powerful here, mustering 160kW and 320Nm from its single electric motor (like the trio, it drives the rear wheels).
There’s thoroughly acceptable around-town thrust and instantly accessible pulling power, but it doesn’t muscle up as effortlessly as its electric rivals when you call on more.
The Giti tyres reach their limits sooner, especially in the wet.
And it doesn’t take many bumps or tightening corners to establish that the Deepal could do with some polish to its body control.
The steering is mushy and it can squirm, the rear-end occasionally reluctant to follow the front.
It’s comfortable when trundling around, less convincing once you dial up the pace.
But it’s biggest issue is with its driver assistance systems, which want to talk at you and beep.
The driver monitoring system is essentially unusable because of how eager it is to beep at you – often 21 times in a row – prompting you to turn it off.
XPeng G6
Born from a tech company (it’s a familiar theme) XPeng is tiny compared with rivals, but it has big aspirations (also a familiar theme).
The only car from the brand in Australia currently is the XPeng G6.
Priced from about $58,000 drive-away it packs plenty in, including dual cooled wireless phone chargers, powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, heated, powered and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a modest Xopera 18-speaker sound system.
For that money you get the Standard Range, with a 66kWh LFP battery good for a ho-hum 435km of claimed range.
Shell out another $5000 (most buyers are) for the Long Range and the battery capacity increases to 87.5kWh and switches to the NMC chemistry. The range also jumps to 570km.
That’s a long time between charges and makes the G6 a viable road trip companion.
Adding to its talent is an 800V electrical architecture that allows for DC fast charging at up to 280kW (215kW in SR guise), smashing its rivals.
XPeng says that’ll allow a 10-80 per cent charge – almost 400km of range – in 20 minutes.
The G6 also has size on its side.
Up front there’s a broad floating centre console and a lower section that’s terrific for bags or odds and ends.
The back seat is huge, with acres of headroom and thoroughly generous legroom.
A reclining seatback allows you to adjust the rake to your liking. Like all contenders here it has a flat floor to make life easier for the person in the middle.
The back seats split fold 60/40 and there’s some underfloor storage, but it’s the only one without under bonnet storage.
The single motor in the Long Range makes 210kW/440Nm (190kW/440Nm for the Standard Range), which translate to plenty of zip.
Riding on 20-inch Michelin tyres gives the G6 a good foundation dynamically and the XPeng quickly asserts itself as a competent machine.
While the Sport steering has an overweighted numbness, the lighter tiller works well.
There are some kilos to contain, but the G6 is also refreshingly capable, even bordering on fun.
It’s also relaxed over bumps, making for a competent all-rounder.
Zeekr X
The Zeekr X is smaller than its rivals here but sells for a similar price, starting at about $63,000.
That’s because the EV newcomer is positioning itself as a premium brand.
If you haven’t heard of Zeekr, it’s part of Geely, one of the giants of the Chinese industry that also owns Volvo (the EX30 shares plenty beneath the skin with the Zeekr X tested here), Lotus, Polestar and others.
It’s the rear-drive single motor model we’ve tested here, but those chasing supercar acceleration can choose the AWD dual motor for another $8000 (it also gets more equipment, including a head-up display).
Standard fare includes a contrasting black roof, powered driver’s seat, wireless phone charging, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.6-inch central infotainment unit.
A $4000 Convenience pack brings it closer to its rivals here; it adds a power adjustable passenger seat, memory function for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and a 13-speaker Yamaha sound system.
Despite the compact dimensions – it’s about 30cm shorter and almost 10cm narrower than its rivals here – the X has terrific great headroom throughout and even in the second row knee space is respectable.
The boot is compact, as is the frunk, although that underbonnet space can at least take care of charging cables.
The deeper you dig the more the luxury sales pitch holds true.
Perforations in the door trim create an interesting backdrop for the ambient lighting and metal highlights throughout the cabin reinforce the attention to detail.
There’s thoughtfulness too, such as the bag hook button that pops out of the dash and the metallic jacket hooks in the rear.
Even in single motor guise there’s ample thrust, the Zeekr zipping up to speed briskly.
Front seats hug nicely and the X tips into a corner with enthusiasm.
It’s the most athletic of our trio mid-corner, sticky Continental tyres adding to its repertoire.
There’s some trade off with the way it deals with bumps, but some jumpiness is not uncomfortable.
Mild creaking around the windows where the glass is rubbing against the rubber seals is a minor annoyance.
The lowdown
There’s impressive depth from three brands few have heard of.
But it’s worth pointing out after-sales support and residual values are unknown with each.
The first to fall here is the Deepal.
While it presents well, it lacks driving nous and is in desperate need of a software update to fix the wayward driver warnings.
The Zeekr is the best to drive but the premium price and smaller footprint relegates it to second.
That leaves the XPeng G6, which packages fast charging smarts and decent driving manners into a well equipped and spacious SUV.
While it may not tempt all away from their Toyotas and Teslas, for those willing to look beyond the big names it’s an impressive first effort.
Originally published as Deepal, XPeng and Zeekr comparison test
Monster truck Aussie roads can’t handle
This massive, loveable truck that’s new to Australia is also an ‘absurd, impractical masterpiece’ that our roads just can’t handle.
’Intimidating’ supercar thrills
Aston Martin took inspiration from James Bond when perfecting its latest supercar.