Driving the Zeekr X SUV – a small premium electrified SUV – a relatively new Chinese brand released last October in two models. Part of the Geely Group that also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk and Co. and Geely auto.

Zeekr is a rather unusual Chinese brand, for a start the widely acclaimed automotive designer Stefan Sielaff heads Zeekr’s global design operations in a state-of-the-art design centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. The European design influence in the Zeekr X SUV is immediately noticeable - and the more you examine this small SUV the more you see its design origins. A compact SUV with a premium feel in fit and finishes and unlike some of the opposition displaying stand-alone styling with great appeal. For example, the integration of the lights into the front of the car is very individual and distinctive. And much like the Renault Megane E-Tech I tested last week the large 20-inch alloy wheels shod with quality 45-series Continental rubber appear to be tucked well into the corners of the car.


Launched last October in two models – the Zeekr X RWD at $56,900 and the Zeekr X AWD at $64,900, both plus on-road costs. However, in April, answering the widespread discounting of slow selling EV’s, the duo was reduced – the RWD by $7,000 to $49,900 and the AWD by $2,000 to $62,900. The convenience option on the RWD remained at $4,000.

Early customers of the brand who paid the higher prices have been offered free servicing packages to cover the price difference, five years on the RWD, three years for the AWD. Interestingly, the Zeekr shares its platform with the Volvo EX30 which it undercuts by a reasonable margin.

I’m driving the Zeekr X AWD - step inside and you’re met with exceptional quality and an ambience that feels warm and inviting. Perhaps the most annoying feature is the plastic key, around 60mm square and slippery and it sits on a pad on the centre console - the key merely opens the doors, hop in and the Zeekr is ready to drive. Likewise, select park and it turns off and puts the handbrake on.
Seat comfort is immediately noticeable, well supported with power adjustment on both front seats. Even the synthetic leather trim looks quality and hard to pick from the real thing. And rear seat legroom and headroom offers good space for a compact SUV.

Power on the AWD model comes from dual electric motors producing 315kW of power and 543Nm of torque driving through a single speed transmission fed by a 66kWh nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion battery producing a stunning time of just 3.8-second 0-100km/hour. The exhilaration, particularly in sports mode, also heightened by the lack of engine noise and very polished. Range is quoted at 400kms under the WLTP standard which proved fairly accurate.

On a light throttle around town the consumption runs to around 16kWh/100km however on a fast-moving highway, where your tempted to use its brisk performance more, the consumption figure gets closer to 20kWh/100km which obviously limits your range. Charging from 20 per cent to around 80 per cent on my 11kW wall box charger took around five and a half hours.


The ride is on the soft side and along with its sheer quietness gives the impression you’re in a much more expensive car – and this is one of the benefits of an electric car. The quite nature of the drive means you arrive at your destination feeling very relaxed, the car very composed in all its does with a low centre of gravity and great steering and braking. Like many electric cars battery weight can penalize the suspension a little and on a rough surface the softly sprung nature of the Zeekr X can make it feel a little underdamped but at all times it remains comfortable. After a 400km trip the seat comfort also proved a high point, the power heated and cooled front seats extremely comfortable for long distance driving.

Whilst the interior offers a prestigious feel with great storage, wireless phone charging and several USB ports some elements let it down. In particular, the large central touchscreen, like many Chinese electric cars with no dials of buttons, giving the impression you’re driving a computer. Far from user friendly in selecting air conditioning and radio selection, and of course as soon as you activate the touch screen up pops a warning that you are being distracted whilst driving. By comparison, the rectangular instrument panel set forward in front of the driver and head up windscreen display is first class and very user friendly.


Most of the driver alert active safety warnings are far more subtle than many Chinese electric models, however the driver distraction alert is simply frustrating in application. The safety warnings, and chimes, like so many of the new Chinese electric cars, are generally overzealous in application and are calibrated for slow moving traffic conditions in Asian cities. As several competitors have already found here, they need recalibration to not be a driver distraction in themselves rather than a driver aid. One other gripe is the weak air-conditioning system which on a cold day had trouble maintaining cabin temperature at a comfortable level. Too high a temperature selection, or too cool, obviously also adds to the consumption level of the battery.

Of all the electric cars I’ve driven to date the Zeekr X has been the most appealing – in terms of style inside and out, driving comfort and performance. A most individual compact electric SUV, not the most affordable but well executed and thoroughly enjoyable to drive.

The Zeekr X received a five-star rating when independently tested by the ANCAP safety authority in 2024 – scoring 91 percent for adult occupant protection, 87 percent for child occupant protection, 84 percent for vulnerable road user protection, and 84 percent for safety assist systems.

Warranty not as good as some competitors at five-years unlimited kilometres which also includes five years roadside assistance and a five-year connected service subscription. Service intervals every two years or 40,000km at a cost of $690.