Reviewed: Zeekr 7X electric performance SUV
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The Zeekr 7X Performance is priced from $94,990. Photo: Zeekr NZ
While Zorro made a mark with the iconic 1950s television series and later movies, another Z is ready to cut through the competition: meet Zeekr and its premium electric SUV, 7X.
Zeekr itself is a relatively young brand. Established in 2021, it is part of the huge Geely automotive group, which also has Volvo, Polestar and Lotus under its umbrella.
That means Zeekr may be new, but it has access to considerable engineering, technology and manufacturing resources. Its vehicles use Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), an EV platform developed for high-performance electric vehicles.
The Zeekr 7X use Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture. Photo: Zeekr NZ
With a high-tech 800-volt electrical architecture, the 7X is taking direct aim at established European, Korean and American brands (we’re talking about you, Tesla!).
The 7X is available in three versions in New Zealand, starting with the $69,990 RWD, followed by the $79,990 Long Range RWD and topping out with the $94,990 Performance AWD, which I reviewed.
The entry model uses a 75kWh LFP battery, producing 310kW and 440Nm and offering a claimed 480km WLTP range. The Long Range has a 100kWh battery and stretches that claimed range to 615km.
Then there is my test vehicle, the Performance AWD. It uses a 100kWh NCM battery and dual electric motors producing a remarkable 475kW and 710Nm. Its claimed WLTP range is 543km.
Those figures put the 7X firmly into performance-car territory. The vehicle will accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds, which is extraordinary for a large SUV weighing more than 2.4 tonnes.
But its speed is only part of the story. How does the Zeekr 7X Performance drive?
The first surprise is how refined the 7X feels. Despite its ability to deliver supercar-like acceleration, it is fundamentally a luxury SUV rather than a sports car.
The Performance gets air suspension with continuous damping control, allowing it to absorb the bumps, ridges and coarse-chip surfaces that are common on New Zealand roads. In Comfort mode, the ride is impressively smooth, while Sport mode gives the body more control without turning the suspension unnecessarily harsh.
The steering is nicely weighted and the 7X feels planted through corners. There is plenty of grip and the low centre of gravity, courtesy of the battery pack mounted beneath the floor, , helps keep body movement under control.
The Performance model is at its best when treated as a rapid luxury SUV rather than a giant sports hatchback. Independent testing has also praised its steering, grip and overall body control.
Overtaking is effortless, while the AWD system provides excellent traction.
The party trick: where are the door handles? One of the most talked-about features of the 7X is also one of its strangest, and I loved it. There aren't conventional exterior door handles; instead, there is a button incorporated into the B-and C-pillars for the doors.
Press it, and the door automatically swings open to the setting of your choice; be is just a quarter open or fully.
The system uses cameras and sensors to monitor surrounding obstacles, helping prevent the powered doors from hitting nearby vehicles or objects. It gets even more theatrical once you're inside. Press the brake pedal, and the driver's door automatically closes.
There is more fun to be had when the car is parked; you have an assortment of exterior noises you can make, from “I’m here” to horse neighing and a tractor starting up. And yes, I used them, especially when on Muber (Mum Uber) duty picking up my son Henry for work, and yes, I may have hit “I’m here” 10-plus times until he got in the car.
When Muber took Henry to his horse riding lesson, I activated the horse button - and cried laughing when the horses tethered nearby all turned to look at the very strange “horse”. Yup, we were using horse power in the 7X!
Who are the competitors of the Zeekr 7X? It enters one of the most competitive parts of the EV market. Depending on which version you choose, its rivals include the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV6, MG IM6, Polestar 3 and, at the premium end, models such as the BMW iX3.
