Family SUV face-off: Tesla Model Y v Kia EV5 v Xpeng G6

Ah, the Tesla Model Y. It came, it saw, it conquered, and it’s now the best-selling electric SUV in the UK. The car we’re already familiar with is now known as the Premium, but Tesla has now introduced a lower-spec version for budget-conscious buyers. This has put it more in line with two other electric SUVs, the head-turning Kia EV5 and the futuristic Xpeng G6.

The Kia offers a very traditional take on the family SUV, while the Xpeng uses a similar recipe to the Tesla with futuristic styling and a minimalist cabin – but with some stand-out differences. The question is, which car should you spend your money on?

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. Xpeng G6: Exterior styling

There are no ifs-or-buts about it, the Kia drives away into the sunset with the points here, because it looks excellent when compared to the jelly-mould Tesla and Xpeng. Its tall, boxy silhouette, flat bonnet, long roof and upright lights at both ends make for a very handsome SUV. Those pronounced wheel arches are particularly fetching.

The Tesla and Xpeng, meanwhile, are two sides of the same coin. Both feature a super-slippery shape with (comparatively) low noses, but where the Tesla at least has sharp creases down its flanks and a small lip-spoiler worked into the tailgate, the Xpeng just looks like a well-used bar of soap.

At least the front light bar is funky, as are the low-mounted brake lights, but overall it’s the most forgettable car of the trio. So the Kia is the most handsome, but is it the same case inside?

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. Xpeng G6: Interior design and quality

Again, the Kia stands out from the trio by having the most traditional cabin, with plenty of physical controls, reasonably-sized displays and a funky, angular dashboard ahead of you. The displays are easy to navigate, the row of heater buttons is a joy to use and everything – aside from the idiotic climate control panel, obscured by the steering wheel – is well laid out.

The Tesla and Xpeng, meanwhile, rely on their enormous central displays for pretty much all of their controls. You won’t find a single physical button on the Tesla, minus the cruise control and volume rollers on the wheel, plus the window and door releases. It’s a good thing the touchscreen is so quick and responsive to your inputs, but having all of the drive information and menus in a single place is a bit overwhelming at times.

At least the Xpeng has a separate driver display, which is far more intuitive to glance at than the Tesla’s all-in-one setup. The infotainment screen is also rapid, if not quite as slick as in the American car; it’s infuriating to navigate at times. You really need to learn the shortcut swipes and prods to save you steps when adjusting the car’s settings. That being said, it’s a far more handsome cabin than in the Tesla, though it’s not as interesting as the Kia.

Overall, the Tesla clinches the interior crown when it comes to quality. It’s not laid-out as intuitively as the Kia, but almost every surface is upholstered in pleasant leatherette, the plastics are soft and it doesn’t feel like a noticeable downgrade over the Premium model.

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. X-peng G6: Space and practicality

Another close-run category here, as all three cars offer loads of interior space. There’s plenty of room up front in any of the trio, though the Kia and Tesla both offer more storage capacity than the Xpeng thanks to their open-plan centre consoles. That’s not a slight on the Chinese car, however, because I rather like a more snug, sporty-feeling cabin.

The Kia dominates for space in the back, thanks to its tall roofline. Not only is there lots of headroom but also more legroom than in the alternatives, while the highly-adjustable seat backs mean it’s easy to settle in on long journeys. You can even fit three-up with relative ease across the rear bench.

But the Tesla is untouchable for cargo space, with a whopping 854 litres to fill across the boot and capacious frunk. The boot lip is lower than in the Kia or Xpeng, and the low boot floor goes some way to making up for the sloping tailgate when it comes to carrying bulky items.

The Kia offers 566 litres of cargo space by comparison, while the Xpeng sits in between with a 571-litre boot.

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. Xpeng G6: what are they like to drive?

Keeping it simple: the Xpeng is the most comfortable of the three, if a little bouncy. The Kia is a well-rounded drive, but it’s quite boring, and the Tesla is the most capable from behind the wheel.

The Xpeng is close to being a great car around town, because it soaks up potholes and speedbumps with ease. Annoyingly, it soaks them up a bit too well, bouncing for a little bit too long over the other side. The soft suspension doesn’t translate to a smooth motorway journey, but it’s very well refined against wind and road noise. It leans far too much on country lanes when pressing on, especially compared to the Kia and Tesla.

Speaking of which, the Kia is a bit of a Jack of all trades, but master of none here. It’s rather comfortable around town, rather composed on the motorway and rather confidence-inspiring on a twisty road – without excelling in any of those categories.

The Tesla, meanwhile, comes out on top in driving terms. It isn’t as comfortable as the other two on a bad road in the city, and it’s not as quiet as the more expensive Model Y Premium on the motorway, but it makes up for that in a lot of ways. The excellent all-round cameras and supportive seats take the strain away in town and it’s still fairly quiet at a high-speed cruise, but it’s the most stable-feeling of the three when you venture out onto a country lane.

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. Xpeng G6: electric range and efficiency

The Kia EV5 has a single battery choice, while the Tesla and Xpeng come with different battery options, as follows:

As you can see, the Tesla offers the most range at 383 miles in Long Range guise, while the Standard Range model can only travel 314 miles on a charge. The Xpeng, meanwhile, can only travel 292 miles in entry-level trim, increasing to 326 miles in Long Range guise.

Kia EV5 deals

Kia keeps things simple with a single battery. The GT-Line EV5, with its sportier body kit, drops range down from the Air’s 329 miles to 313 miles, but you won’t really feel that in the real world.

Where the Xpeng excels is in its charging rate, as at the right station with a powerful enough charging rate you’ll be able to give it a rapid 385kW charge. That means more time on the road, and less time at the services.

Tesla Model Y v. Kia EV5 v. Xpeng G6: verdict

It’s a bit tricky to decide a winner in this case, but the third place car is easily the Xpeng G6. Sadly, its wobbly suspension means it never feels as sure-footed as the other two, while its lack of interior storage space hampers its family practicality – even if I like a wide centre console.

In a head-over-heart twist, the Kia EV5 comes second in this company. I love its styling, the interior space is fantastic and it’s the easiest of the bunch to simply get-in and go with its traditional cabin layout. Otherwise the EV5 is a bit dull, and it’s nowhere near as good to drive as Kia’s other cars at the moment.

Which leaves the Tesla as our winner in this electric SUV shootout. The superior range of the bigger battery model, enormous boot, interior storage and slick infotainment puts it in good stead. Add to that its badge desirability, Supercharger network and the fact it’s the best to drive – it’s a no brainer, really.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.