XPeng L03 Electric Coupe SUV Launches in Thailand

XPeng, a Chinese electric vehicle brand, has gained considerable popularity in Thailand despite offering a limited model range. The brand's appeal comes from its distinctive design, combined with solid hardware and software reliability, earning strong support from Thai eco-conscious car enthusiasts.

The company is now launching the XPeng L03, an electric sport coupe SUV, allowing Thai buyers to pre-order soon. To familiarize drivers with its performance and full feature set, XPeng Thailand organized a test drive of the L03—among the world's first seven right-hand-drive units—on the Bangkok-Ratchaburi route covering more than 300 kilometers. Each vehicle carried two media representatives, though this journalist drove solo due to scheduling conflicts, which actually provided sufficient distance for a proper evaluation of the base Standard Range Plus model, priced at 899,000 baht.

Exterior Design: The L03 features a sporty fastback design with a sleek coupe-style roofline that slopes continuously toward the rear, conveying sportiness and dynamism. LED headlights in a "Starship" design pair with an active grille shutter. Semi-hidden door handles, frameless side windows, and full-width LED star-ring taillights running across the rear add visual distinction. The rear bumper carries unique styling.

Storage: The trunk holds 539 liters, expanding to 1,640 liters with the rear seats folded. The front "frunk" offers 102 liters with drainage holes, allowing drivers to keep beverages chilled during travel.

Interior: The cabin exudes refined elegance, with ambient lighting framing the driver. A multifunction steering wheel, 15.6-inch central touchscreen, and 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster display controls and entertainment functions. A heads-up display equivalent to 26.8 inches projects driving data and Google Maps navigation without requiring drivers to look away from the road, enhancing safety.

Driving Impressions: The driver's seat is remarkably soft—so much so that it initially surprised the reviewer. Unlike softer seats in other vehicles that cause fatigue on long drives, this seat strikes a balance, still transmitting feedback from potholes, bumps, and lane-change forces, reducing driver fatigue.

The staff explained the driving modes and battery regeneration well. The system allows independent control; even in economy mode, regeneration can be disabled—unlike most Chinese EV competitors that lock regeneration in certain modes. This provides more natural driving feel without unwanted drag when releasing the accelerator.

On congested Ratchadamri Road, with mixed traffic and periodic overtaking, the single electric motor driving the rear wheels delivered a maximum output of 222 horsepower and 280 newton-meters of torque. While not instant-acceleration thrilling, it proved responsive enough for smooth lane changes and overtaking.

On the relatively open M81 expressway, switching to Sport Mode via steering wheel buttons worked well, though only Economy/Eco and Sport options are available. The mode proved sufficient for acceleration, merging, and passing maneuvers.