22/02/2026

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY FEB 22, 2026

The wraparound-style air vents are near silent, but extremely effective at cooling.

Like the competition, there’s a fridge.

Rear entertainment screen is just as responsive and crisp as the front screen.

BUSINESS CLASS, MINUS THE BOARDING PASS On the move, the X9 feels exactly like what it is – a large, heavy, elec tric MPV, engineered for comfort above all else. The air suspension does an excel lent job here. Compared to the Denza D9, which I found suffered from noticeable vertical movement espe cially in the rear rows, the X9 con trols body motion far better. There’s still compliance over bumps, but without the constant bob bing and heaving. It feels more tied down, more composed, and more confidence-inspiring for passengers. That light-footed poise over undu lations is a big win. You feel the sus pension working, smoothing things out without making the car feel floaty. Steering, as expected, offers no feedback. It’s accurate enough, pre dictable, and completely synthetic. But that’s par for the course in this segment. There are no surprises, no awkward moments. It just does what

ment, and day-to-day usability over badge prestige or sheer extrava gance, the Xpeng X9 might just be the most convincing option in the seg ment right now – if you can accept the looks, that is. SPECIFICATIONS Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive (FWD) Motor output: 315PS/450Nm Battery: 101.5kWh (NMC) WLTP range: 590km Top speed: 200kph Charging (AC): 11kW (5–100% in 11 hours) Charging (DC): Up to 317kW (10–80% in 20 minutes) Price (as tested): RM 314,708 (OTR without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia) We like: Excellent ride control and composure for a big EV MPV and clean, fast infotainment with no odd transla tions. We don’t like: Interior ergonomics take time to get used to and too many func tions buried in the touchscreen.

better than expected.

you ask, without emotion. Brakes are another improvement over the D9. Pedal modulation is eas ier and less jumpy, even though you’re still dealing with regenerative braking. There’s no real feel, but at least it’s consistent and easy to man age in traffic. Performance-wise, it’s effortless rather than exciting. Plenty of power to get up to speed without drama, and that’s all it needs to be. At nearly 5.3m long, the X9 is rather sizable. The long dashboard and bonnet mean it’s not the easiest car to instinctively place on the road, especially in tight urban environ ments. This is where rear-wheel steering and the excellent 360° camera system come into play. Tight turns, U-turns, parking manoeuvres, all become far less stressful than you’d expect. The turning circle feels genuinely compact for something this size, and the camera system does a lot of heavy lifting when judging clear ances. Drivability, despite the size, is

ELECTRIC MPV THAT FEELS FINISHED

The Xpeng X9 isn’t the flashiest or most opulent electric MPV on the market. It doesn’t overwhelm with chrome, and it doesn’t try too hard to feel “luxurious” in a traditional sense. What it does instead is feel resolved. The ride is better controlled than the Denza D9. The infotainment is cleaner and more polished. The sound system is excellent. The Adas works smoothly (enough) without feeling as intrusive... and the overall package feels cohesive, like every thing has been tuned to work together rather than just ticking boxes. It’s not perfect. The interior ergo nomics could be more intuitive, and some physical controls would go a long way. But once you adapt, the X9 makes a very strong case for itself. If you’re looking for an electric MPV that prioritises tech, refine

No frunk.

Futuristic design is bold and distinctive.

DC charging 10%-80% in 20 minutes.