Priced at 119,800 yuan with a wheelbase of 2815mm, the Xpeng MONA M03 boasts a massive hatchback and ample trunk space.
From these features alone, it's clear that the expectation of volume sales placed on the MONA M03 is no empty claim.
As a family car with a starting price of under 120,000 yuan, the MONA M03 presents as a large vehicle, measuring 4.8 meters long and 1.9 meters wide, with a wheelbase exceeding 2.8 meters, perfectly targeting the primary demographic—young people buying their first car.
Starting with the driving experience, the handling and sophisticated chassis feel are not the primary focuses of the M03. As such, it does not utilize Xpeng's latest "Fuyiao Architecture," nor does it incorporate high-end designs like integrated die-casting processes, front double wishbones, or rear multi-link suspension. Instead, it features the most common front MacPherson and rear torsion beam suspension typically found in mainstream economy sedans, along with conventional body construction.
The M03's drive and steering modes are not linked, making it user-friendly for those who enjoy customization.
In actual driving, the M03's chassis tuning is commendable. Regarding the much-discussed comfort level, the suspension is quite resilient when traversing bumpy surfaces and speed bumps—though it absorbs impacts slightly more than competitors like the Nissan Sylphy or Toyota Corolla, which are aimed primarily at comfort, it does not come off as harsh. Additionally, the M03's suspension movements are very swift, with no unnecessary vibrations to speak of. Crucially, when driving over seams and bumps, the chassis feels solid, and the "thud" noises from the front and rear wheels reaching the cabin are relatively light and soft, giving a hint of a superior chassis feel.
However, compared to its sturdy chassis, the M03's steering lacks a sporty feel. In terms of tuning, there’s a notable difference in the steering assist characteristics between comfortable and sporty modes. The comfort mode is particularly light, while the sport mode provides a heavier resistance and more linear feedback. Yet, the feedback is limited, making it hard to match the chassis's resilience. Perhaps for a sedan with a generous size, prioritizing comfort over handling aligns better with the M03's intended positioning.
Nonetheless, while the comfort level is satisfactory, the M03 is not a "weakling" in terms of power. The M03 features a single electric motor front-wheel-drive layout across the lineup, offering both high and low power variants of permanent magnet synchronous motors. The low-power version has 140kW and 225N·m, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of approximately 7.8 seconds; the high-power version delivers 160kW and 250N·m, achieving 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 155 km/h. The actual driving experience is quite nimble, particularly in single-pedal mode, where the energy recovery strength and the transition between acceleration and deceleration are handled exceptionally well. Of course, you can also fully disable the energy recovery feature.
Regarding range, the entire M03 lineup is equipped with BYD's lithium iron phosphate blade batteries along with a 400V voltage platform, and it offers both standard and long-range versions. The standard range version has a battery capacity of 51.8 kWh, paired with 18-inch wheels, providing a CLTC range of 515 km. The long-range version carries a battery capacity of 62.2 kWh, also with 18-inch wheels, for a CLTC range of 620 km. As for charging performance, under DC fast charging mode, the M03 can charge from 30% to 80% in 26 minutes. Thanks to Xpeng's consistently excellent energy consumption tuning, the M03 achieves an urban energy consumption rate of 12-14 kWh/100 km, making its range efficiency quite commendable among electric sedans.
Having discussed the driving experience, let's move on to the exterior and interior design. The M03 features several smooth lines in its exterior design, creating a futuristic visual appeal. Paired with split headlights and smoked tail lights, it is easy to recognize at a glance.
The uniquely styled front and rear headlights.
The design of the rear end serves a dual purpose, focusing on aerodynamics both in overall shape and details.
However, opinions vary on the design of the headlights and taillights, especially on lighter-colored paint, where the shape is distinctive. Elements like the headlights, closed-wheel designs, small ducktail, streamlined silhouette, and the C-pillar's small airfoils are primarily intended to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.194Cd.
Of course, if one opts for a color such as black, which diminishes contour visibility instead of the advertised beige, the M03 tends to appear more cohesive and aligns better with the aesthetic preferences of most people.
As for the interior design, the wraparound cockpit and minimalist style clearly signal that this vehicle is not overly extravagant; its core purpose is simply to meet everyday commuting needs effectively.
At the heart of the interior, the M03 is equipped with an 8155 chip, providing a smooth experience for the car's system that resembles the operating logic of a tablet. It supports mainstream features such as full-lane level 3D perception rendering maps, four-zone voice recognition, online music, and videos, as well as little functionalities that bring a smile, like an electronic wooden fish.
In terms of comfort and advanced driving assistance features, the M03 comes equipped with 256-color ambient lighting, an 18-speaker audio system, intelligent parking, and includes 360-degree panoramic imagery as standard, along with basic Level 2 driving assistance capabilities.
Regarding the basic Level 2 driving assistance features, Xpeng consciously opted for a visual algorithm without laser radar assistance. This basic No-Map Navigation All-Weather (NOA) employs BEV visual model fusion navigation to recognize and control lane markings. Xpeng has indicated, based on user research, that about 80-90% of traveling conditions for M03 users occur on highways and overpasses, thus this basic NOA should adequately fulfill their needs.
In practical experience, this system demonstrates good accuracy in recognizing highways and overpasses, enhancing travel efficiency. Although it cannot provide end-to-end autonomous driving capabilities due to cost and pricing considerations, it is sufficient to ease daily commutes and mitigate fatigue during longer trips.
In addition to the relatively basic Level 2 driving assistance features, Xpeng has developed an intelligent parking system based on user feedback, designed to handle complex scenarios. Given that many users are first-time buyers, Xpeng has equipped the M03 with a system capable of accommodating intricate spaces like fishbone or dead-end parking. This system can recognize such complex situations and automatically adjust the car's front direction for sideways parking next to a limited barrier, maintaining about 20 centimeters of space with the rear wheels to enhance comfort and prevent discomfort inside the vehicle.
We also had the opportunity to experience this system first-hand; its automatic parking is impressive in both speed and accuracy, with real-time path planning displayed clearly on the screen. Particularly regarding parking speed, it arguably rivals that of many seasoned drivers, making this a very beginner-friendly feature.
Designed for young and family-oriented users, the M03's seating features stand out remarkably. The front and rear seats offer generous cushioning and back support, effectively conforming to the body. Additionally, the seats are well-padded, providing a certain degree of rebound. High-end models also support ventilation, heating, and memory functionality for the front seats.
However, the well-cushioned seats come with a slight drawback: the lack of space beneath the front seats limits rear passengers' ability to stretch their legs, which may affect rear seat comfort. Yet, this is a common issue with electric sedans.
Regarding trunk space, thanks to its well-organized design and spacious hatchback, the M03 offers a default trunk volume of 621 liters, capable of accommodating one 28-inch suitcase and four 20-inch suitcases simultaneously. By folding down the rear seatbacks, the volume can be expanded to 1603 liters, even sufficient for simple moving needs.
Overall, with its precise product positioning and competitive pricing and capabilities, the Xpeng MONA M03 stands out as a compelling and attractive option among electric family sedans in its class.
