A new Chinese EV is gunning for the Atto 3 and it is not messing about
XPeng has confirmed its Mona L03, a mid-size electric SUV, is heading to Australia, with local arrival tipped for 2027 and possibly sooner. It slots below the XPeng G6 already on sale here. The L03 is the second model in XPeng's value-focused Mona sub-brand, following the M03 sedan.
The pitch is simple. XPeng wants to land the L03 at a price close to the Geely EX5, which points to a starting figure around $40,000 to $45,000 before on-road costs. In China it sells for the equivalent of roughly $31,000 to $34,000, so expect the usual import premium once it reaches local showrooms.
What you are actually buying for around $40,000
The L03 is a coupe-roofed SUV about the size of a Toyota RAV4 at 4650mm long. The sloping roofline is closer to a Tesla Model Y than a boxy family wagon, yet XPeng claims a healthy 539-litre boot plus a 102-litre front storage area.
Inside, it follows the modern Chinese playbook. There is a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, an oval steering wheel, a floating console with dual wireless phone chargers and a large head-up display in place of a traditional driver's instrument cluster.
In China the equipment list runs deep, with a 20-speaker sound system, heated, cooled and massaging front seats, seven airbags and a full semi-autonomous driving suite. Australian specification is not locked in yet, so treat that Chinese kit list as a best case rather than a promise.
Two ways to power it, and one kills range anxiety
Both versions use a single 183kW rear-mounted motor. The pure electric L03 gets either a 56kWh or a larger battery, with XPeng quoting up to 520km or more of range. Those numbers come from China's lenient CLTC test, so a real-world figure closer to 400km is the honest expectation.
The more interesting option for hesitant buyers is the range-extender. It pairs a 37.2kWh battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that works only as a generator and never drives the wheels. XPeng claims around 250km of electric range and a total driving range beyond 1000km.
That setup is aimed squarely at Australians who want to run on electricity around town but still take a road trip without hunting for a charger. It is the same logic behind the Leapmotor B05 and a growing wave of range-extender arrivals.
The charging catch worth knowing about
Unlike the pricier G6 with its 800-volt system, the L03 uses a cheaper 400-volt platform. DC fast charging peaks at 149kW, with a 10 to 80 per cent top-up quoted at roughly 19 minutes.
That is perfectly adequate for the price, but it is not headline-grabbing. If ultra-fast charging matters to you, this is one area where the budget positioning shows.
Why the timing should make you cautious
Here is the part dealers will gloss over. The L03 has been spotted testing in right-hand drive on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, which is a good sign, but a camouflaged test mule does not equal a locked launch date.
XPeng is only just switching to a factory-backed distribution model in Australia after a messy legal split with its former importer. That matters for warranty, servicing and parts, and it is worth asking hard questions before you put money down on a car still more than a year away.
There was also a second, unidentified XPeng model testing alongside the L03, possibly a hatchback. It suggests the brand is serious about volume here, but nothing beyond the G6 is confirmed on local roads yet.
How it stacks up against the rivals
At a target price near $40,000, the L03 would land right on top of the Geely EX5 from $41,990, the BYD Atto 3 from $39,990 and the GAC Aion V from $42,590.
The L03's trump cards are the coupe styling and, crucially, the range-extender option that none of those three offer. For buyers who like the idea of an EV but are not ready to give up petrol entirely, that flexibility could be the deciding factor.
Our advice at Carseekers is to treat the L03 as a genuine 2027 contender worth waiting for, not a reason to rush. Let the local pricing, warranty terms and real-world range land first, then compare it properly against the rivals already sitting in showrooms.
Image: XPeng Mona M03 by iMoD Official, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
When will the XPeng Mona L03 arrive in Australia?
XPeng is targeting a 2027 Australian launch for the Mona L03, and it could land a little sooner. The car has already been spotted testing in right-hand drive on the Great Ocean Road, which suggests local validation is under way. A firm on-sale date has not been confirmed yet.
How much will the XPeng Mona L03 cost in Australia?
XPeng is aiming for a starting price close to the Geely EX5, which points to roughly $40,000 to $45,000 before on-road costs. In China it sells for the equivalent of about $31,000 to $34,000, but Australian buyers should expect the usual import premium on top.
How does the XPeng Mona L03 compare to the BYD Atto 3?
The Mona L03 is expected to undercut or match the BYD Atto 3, which starts from $39,990. Its main advantages are coupe-style looks and the option of a petrol range-extender, something the Atto 3 does not offer. On price and size the two will be very close rivals.
What is the driving range of the XPeng Mona L03?
XPeng quotes up to 520km or more for the electric version, though that figure uses China's lenient CLTC test. A real-world range nearer 400km is a more honest expectation for Australian conditions. The range-extender version claims a combined driving range beyond 1000km.
Does the XPeng Mona L03 have a petrol range-extender option?
Yes. Alongside the pure electric model, XPeng offers a range-extender that pairs a 37.2kWh battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine used purely as a generator. It never drives the wheels, so you get around 250km of electric range plus petrol backup for long trips.
Should I wait for the XPeng Mona L03 or buy an EV now?
If you need a car soon, rivals like the Geely EX5 and GAC Aion V are already in showrooms with settled pricing and warranty terms. The L03 is a genuine 2027 contender worth waiting for if you want the range-extender flexibility. Just note XPeng is still bedding in its new factory-backed distribution here.
