When I saw the wooden fish and “tighten” in the upper right corner of the screen, I couldn’t help but laugh. Xiaopeng Motors understands young people’s mindset and preferences. They have even gone beyond expectations.
The interior has more “explosive” appeal than the exterior. During the shoot of the Xpeng MONA M03’s exterior, many media outlets noted that young people would likely prefer its design. The shape, lines, and colors all reflect the energy and tech feel of this era. This is also Juanma Lopez’s first work since joining Xpeng.
When I saw the interior, the youthful vibe intensified. The design focuses on technology and simplicity. However, the M03 offers some changes from the previous style. It feels less like Xiaopeng. The official design concept has a name: “AI Quantitative Aesthetics.” It balances aesthetics and functionality.
The new car features clear functional zones. The steering wheel, central display, and central armrest each have their roles. The 15.6-inch central display integrates almost all vehicle functions without physical buttons. The gear shift mechanism remains Xiaopeng’s signature design. The hidden air conditioning vents blend seamlessly into the central console. Their slim shape is unobtrusive. This design balances functionality and overall harmony.
The D-shaped steering wheel has a simple design. It feels slim in the hand. Each side features a roller. Drivers use the rollers to control some car functions. The overall quality is good. The operation logic is straightforward.
The center console features two cup holders and a wireless charging panel. Matte chrome trim and embedded 256-color ambient lights decorate both sides. The armrest compartment reveals one large and one small storage space.
The door panel features two interesting designs. First, it uses fabric to create a hidden built-in speaker. This design merges function and aesthetics.
The second part is the door handle. It does not use a traditional inward-pulling mechanical switch or a button-type electric switch. Instead, it features a pull-up switch placed next to the window buttons. It feels convenient in actual use.
Like many pure electric models, the new car features a panoramic sunroof. The sunroof measures 1.22 square meters. For sun protection and heat insulation, it uses Low-E laminated glass. The visible light transmittance is less than 3%. It blocks 99.9% of ultraviolet rays and 97.6% of infrared rays.
This compact electric sedan features spacious and sturdy front seats. The side support feels strong. Overall, it offers a good ride experience compared to similar models. The front also includes two independent headrests. The rear seats prioritize ergonomics. They provide individual support for the lumbar and shoulder areas. This design deserves praise for Xpeng.
This level also emphasizes sound systems. Young people value smart features and entertainment. The Xiaopeng MONA M03 exemplifies this with its sound system. The new car uses a 7.1.4 channel layout. It delivers a maximum power of 840W. The sound supplier, PSS, is an acoustic giant. This supplier also works with brands like Maybach and Tesla. The independent DSP amplifier ensures high-fidelity sound. The mixing algorithm creates a surround sound effect from standard stereo sources.
The new car offers a sky sound system with four ceiling speakers. This system expands sound into three-dimensional space. It provides an immersive auditory experience. It enhances the depth of sound and adds height to the audio dimension.
The new car audio system features an intelligent tuning function. It adjusts sound parameters automatically. It matches the best playback effects for different music genres. During playback, the ambient lights and screen coordinate visually. For example, the bottom of the dashboard pulses with music. It displays effects like falling leaves, light circles, and musical notes. The ambient lights change color, brightness, and flashing according to the music.
Flexible and Functional Space The Xpeng MONA M03 measures 4780mm in length, 1896mm in width, and 1445mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2815mm. It qualifies as a standard mid-size electric sedan. The front row feels good overall. The seats offer excellent comfort.
In the back row, the staff member stands 173 cm tall and weighs 60 kg. He sits comfortably with ample legroom. The seat cushion offers good length and support. However, the hatchback design of the M03 limits headroom in the back. Taller passengers may hit their heads.
After getting used to the flat design in the back of electric cars, it’s hard to adjust to the high hump in many fuel cars.
When I saw a large stack of boxes on the empty space beside me, I knew Xiaopeng would show off in the trunk.
The new car has a standard trunk volume of 621L. Folding down the rear seats expands it to 1603L. It can fit a large suitcase, four 21-inch carry-on bags, and a gym bag without folding the rear seats. The hatchback design provides a wide opening, making loading easy.
When the rear seats fold down completely, the space becomes highly practical. You can fit items up to 1.8 meters long. Laying down a mat for a quick rest is easy. For camping, moving, daily trips, or shopping, this new car proves to be a reliable helper.
The new car features clever designs for spatial flexibility. It offers “Comfort Co-Driver” and “Spacious Rear” modes. With one button, it adjusts the co-driver seat. When the rear is empty, the co-driver seat reclines 70% and moves forward. This provides a comfortable reclining experience. When the rear is occupied, the co-driver seat moves forward 50%. This creates more space for the rear passengers.
Will intelligence be the M03’s secret weapon? The Xpeng MONA M03 targets young buyers. It does not compromise on smart cockpit and vehicle systems. This area is a key battleground for automakers. Hardware and interaction experience are critical. All companies compete fiercely.
The Xiaopeng MONA M03 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. It has 16GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This setup ensures smooth and rich performance. The 15.6-inch ultra-HD central display boasts an 88.5% screen-to-body ratio and a 8.9mm ultra-narrow bezel. It reaches a brightness of 800 nits. The surface includes a low-reflection AR layer and an anti-glare AG treatment to handle bright light conditions.
Many people are familiar with Xiaopeng’s in-car system. During the test drive, I experienced the Xiaopeng MONA M03 for an hour. This system inherits many features and advantages from its predecessors. It is simple to use, responsive, and comprehensive. Many in-car systems now include a bottom Dock bar. The Xiaopeng MONA M03 also has a mature customizable menu. This menu includes maps, parking models, music, air conditioning, and central locking. It is very convenient to use. Like smartphones and tablets, this in-car system supports card-based interactions and multi-finger gestures. It allows for side-swipe back, multi-finger swipes, pinches, and other multi-touch actions. The side-swipe back and upward swipe home functions resemble mobile interactions. This design significantly reduces the learning curve for young users, enabling a seamless transition in usage habits.
In the past, smart voice assistants were new in cars. Now, multi-zone smart voice assistants are standard. The Xiaopeng MONA M03 features a four-zone voice assistant with over 200 controllable functions. It supports 20 seconds of continuous voice dialogue and processes multiple commands simultaneously. This greatly enhances practicality. The car’s app store includes popular audio and video entertainment programs. Mini-programs like knocking on a wooden fish and stringing beads cater to young people’s tastes.
