2025 Zeekr X Review: Why This Car Will Wake-Up Every Luxury Car Brand

It’s been four years since I drove my first Chinese-made EV and I still remember it vividly for all the wrong reasons. I picked up a first-generation MG ZS EV on a Friday and by Sunday its painfully uncomfortable seat, terrible driving position, and light-switch accelerator pedal had seared itself into my mind. It was the first time in a long time that I’d driven a car so unimpressive that I couldn’t bring myself to write about it.

What I did do was share some constructive criticism with the brand, and a few months later they had rectified all the issues and re-released the car at a more affordable price point.

To this day I can’t believe how fast the Chinese car brands can fix problems, innovate, and make the cars cheaper to buy in the process. Each one I get behind the wheel of is infinitely better than the last, and we’re not talking the industry-standard 3-year product cycle here, we’re talking 6-12 months. The MG 4 felt like a seismic leap over that MG ZS EV, and more recently, the Lotus Emeya proved that Chinese brands could compete with the likes of Porsche when given the resources to do so. Sadly, they’re too boundary-pushing (and expensive) to be considered by most and you could count their Australian sales on one hand.

Now, back to the vehicle at hand. More than 10 new Chinese-made electric car brands are coming to Australia this year, and to kick-start my research I’ve just spent time behind one of the most exciting luxury options. It’s called a Zeekr, and the model I’m testing is called the Zeekr X. It’s designed to compete with the Tesla Model Y, but it also has lofty aspirations to challenge the Chinese-made, but German-owned, BMW iX1. Here’s exactly why those aspirations may not be so lofty after all.

How Much is the Zeekr X?

Zeekr X is priced from AUD$56,900 plus on-road costs in Australia, and this will get you the entry-level RWD model with up to 540km of range (ADR 81/02). Here’s a list of standard features for the RWD:

• Two-tone body colour – Black tone roof
• Panoramic glass roof
• Frameless exterior mirrors, that are heated, folding, memory, auto dip in reverse
• Charcoal Black/Stone Grey interior
• 6-way power driver seat
• 362 ~ 1182L cargo capacity (ISO)
• 8.8” Full HD instrument cluster
• 14.6” Central touchscreen
• Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8155 processor chip
• 7-speaker ZEEKR Sound Audio system
• Connected Service Network: 5G/WiFi/WiFi Hotspot
• Vehicle OTA upgrade capability
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto – wireless/wired
• Digital Key – Mobile Zeekr App remote control
• Auto-dimming frameless inside mirror
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Mobile phone wireless charging
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear air vents – B pillar mounted

If you don’t want the extra power of the AWD model, there’s an Optional Convenience Package ($4,000) for the RWD car that adds:

• 6-way power front passenger seat
• Driver seat memory
• 4-way power lumbar support for front seats
• Driver & front passenger seat heating
• Driver & front passenger seat ventilation
• Heated steering wheel
• 13-speaker YAMAHA Surround Stereo
• “Ice Block” LED ambient lighting

I tested the top-of-the-range Zeekr X AWD with 315kW of power and 470km of range, priced from AUD$64,900 plus on-road costs. The $8,000 price premium over the standard car gets you more power and performance, but also a handful of additional premium features such as:

• 24.3-inch Augmented Reality (AR) heads-up display
• Intelligent B Pillar Display
• 6-way power front passenger seat
• Driver seat memory
• 4-way power lumbar support for front seats
• Driver & front passenger seat heating
• Driver & front passenger seat ventilation
• Heated steering wheel
• 13-speaker YAMAHA Surround Stereo
• “Ice Block” LED ambient lighting

It’s a significant step up price-wise from the RWD to AWD Zeekr X, but I would highly recommend it. The Yamaha premium 13-speaker audio system is amongst the best on the market, and the Head-up display (HUD) is a must-have in any new car you’re buying today. The heated and ventilated front seats and heated steering wheel are things you would expect to find in a luxury car, and let’s not forget you’re getting 315 kW of power and a 0-100 km/h of 3.8 seconds.

What Does the Zeekr X Compete With?

If you’re considering the Zeekr X, also look at the following vehicles:

• Tesla Model Y – from AUD$63,400 plus on-road costs
• BMW iX1 – from AUD$78,900 plus on-road costs
• Volvo EX30 – from AUD$59,990 plus on-road costs
• Polestar 2 – from AUD$62,400 plus on-road costs
• Mercedes-Benz EQA – from AUD$85,800 plus on-road costs
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 – from AUD$69,800 plus on-road costs
• Kia EV5 – from AUD$56,770 plus on-road costs

You could also consider other top-selling, but cheaper EVs like the MG 4 (from AUD$37,990 plus on-road costs), BYD Atto 3 (from AUD$37,990 plus on-road costs), Deepal S07 (from AUD$53,900 plus on-road costs), Xpeng G6 (from AUD$54,800 plus on-road costs), and Leapmotor C10 (from AUD$45,888 plus on-road costs). However, these cars can’t compete in material quality. The Zeekr is quite obviously aiming at the European brands, where the others are fighting amongst themselves.

If you were cross-shopping the Zeekr X with any of the cars on the list above, I would first jump into the BMW iX1, then the Hyundai Ioniq 5, then the Kia EV5, and finally the Volvo EX30.

What is the Zeekr X Like On the Inside?

I returned from the launch of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II in November and the Zeekr X might have the highest quality materials inside any car I’ve driven since. Everything you touch is soft, and premium, and even the “fake” leather was enough to fool me until I studied the press release and found it’s not from a cow.

Of course, it isn’t in the same ballpark as the Rolls-Royce or the custom-order Aston Martin Q interior inside the DBX. However, it’s certainly better than any BMW, Audi, or Mercedes-Benz at this price point.

There are three interior colours to choose from:

• Charcoal Black & Stone Grey (standard)
• Midnight Blue & Polar White (optional)
• Mulberry & Rose (optional)

My test car was optioned with the Midnight Blue & Polar White and it’s very good looking. Sit down and the first thing you notice is the comfort of the front seats. These seats are 6-way power adjustable with memory, they feature 4-way power lumbar support and have both heating and ventilation. Heck, even the steering wheel is heated.

It’s a minimalist place to sit, but you still get all of the typical niceties like ambient lighting and more USB-C ports than a gamer’s bedroom.

You also get some weird ones, and the Zeekr X’s rear speakers are quite confusing. Controlled through the screen (turned off while driving) they let you play sounds outside the car. Why? Well, I’m not sure, but they’re quite hilarious.

Like so many EVs the cabin is dominated by the 14.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and a wireless charging spot for your phone. It’s outrageously large, but this is the standard now. There’s a sharp learning curve for those who have not used a screen like this before, but after a few hours with the car, I figured out where all the controls were and which way to swipe the screen to find various shortcuts and menus.

The heated steering wheel has controls for the volume on the right side and the left is used to make cruise control adjustments.

While it shares the same platform as the Volvo the interior of the Zeekr X is noticeably higher quality and there are fewer (or less obvious) shortcuts taken to save cost. The window switches are on the doors (not on the centre console) and a human being will fit in the rear because it’s on a longer wheelbase (+100mm). This also makes it easier to put kids in the rear with two ISOFIX points and three top-tethers.

This extra legroom hasn’t compromised space and you can comfortably fit two cabin-size bags into the boot that has a measured capacity of 362 litres with the seats up and 1182 litres when you fold them down.

Lastly, the biggest con for the interior of the Zeekr X is that the large panoramic glass roof doesn’t have a blind to cover it.

Does the Zeekr X Have Good Performance?

That depends on which model you choose. The top-of-the-line Zeekr X AWD uses a dual-motor system with 315 kW of power and a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds. Meanwhile, the entry-level RWD model uses a single electric motor that produces 200 kW of power and a 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds.

Here’s the power and performance numbers of the Zeekr X:

• AWD:
  • Dual-motor system (front + rear)
  • Total power: 315 kW
  • Total torque: 543 Nm
  • 0-100 km/h: 3.8s
  • Driving configuration: All-wheel drive (AWD)
• RWD:
  • Single rear-mounted motor
  • Power: 200 kW
  • Torque: 343 Nm
  • 0-100 km/h: 5.6s
  • Driving configuration: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)

Performance is a given in the EV segment and neither of the Zeekr X models lacks power. Nor does any car in this segment really, and compared to the BMW iX1, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV5, and platform-shared Volvo EX30 it’s even in terms of straight-line performance. If you want outright power, have a look at the Tesla Model 3 Performance or the significantly more expensive Hyundai IONIQ 5 N that can drift.

How Fast Can You Charge the Zeekr X?

When it comes to battery and charging, the Zeekr X is about average. Both models can charge at a maximum DC fast charge rate of 150 kW, which helps them recharge from 10%-80% in 30 minutes, and we achieved this on multiple occasions during our test drive, which took us from Sydney to Mollymook on the New South Wales South Coast.

If you don’t want to waste time and want the fastest-charging car in the segment check out the Hyundai IONIQ 5, which can charge from 10%-80% in less than 20 minutes on a 350kW charger. That said, there’s only a handful of these 350kW chargers in Sydney and most of the time they’re broken. You’ll mostly find chargers that peak at 150kW, so anything more is usually pointless.

When charging at home, the Zeekr X AWD has a faster maximum AC charge rate of 11 kW (full charge in 7h 30min) vs. the RWD’s standard 7.2 kW (full charge in 11h 30min). This will only really be a problem if you’re driving long distances every day or only have one charger for multiple EVs as both cars provide an “overnight charge.”

Here are the battery and charging specifications for the Zeekr X:

• Both models have 66 kWh battery capacity.
• AWD:
  • AC charging: 11 kW (full charge in 7h 30min)
  • DC fast charging: 150 kW (10%-80% in 30 min)
• RWD:
  • AC charging: 7.2 kW (full charge in 11h 30min)
  • DC fast charging: 150 kW (10%-80% in 30 min)

What is the Driving Range of the Zeekr X Like?

The flagship AWD model is more powerful with two motors and this means it achieves less range than the single-motor RWD model (470 km vs. 540 km). Still, when you consider that it retains the smaller-than-average 66 kWh battery, 470 km of estimated range is quite good, even though it’s tested on the less-stringent (ADR 81/02) scale.

During my test, I averaged between 16.6 and 20.2 kWh per 100 km. That indicates a real-world range of around 350 km, which is what you would expect to achieve from an EV in these tested conditions.

Here are the driving range specifications for the Zeekr X:

• Both models have 66 kWh battery capacity.
• AWD:
  • Range: 470 km (ADR 81/02)
• RWD:
  • Range: 540 km (ADR 81/02)

How Does the Zeekr X Drive?

The Zeekr X doesn’t value driving dynamics as heavily as BMW, but that does make it the most comfortable in its class. Unlike petrol cars, the battery in EVs adds a large amount of weight and stiffness to the chassis. The brands then have to spend a lot of money engineering this out of the car and most don’t bother doing this to the extent that they should. Imagine a brick with suspension and wheels attached to it because that’s what an EV chassis looks like.

So many brands don’t bother, but Zeekr has gone the extra step to balance all of the key dynamic ingredients while removing uncomfortable stiffness. The steering is responsive, the suspension manages the 1,960 kg of weight, the brakes are strong, and the accelerator isn’t jerky.

It’s right up at the pointy end of the class with the BMW iX2 and Tesla Model 3 in terms of striking a balance between comfort and performance.

Where it doesn’t do so well is in managing the various driver assistance features. This is more of a regulatory issue than a Zeekr X issue, but they’re not tuned very smartly in this car, and it will read a sign incorrectly and then proceed to beep and bong at you to say that you’re doing 20km/h over the limit in a school zone at 10 pm. It needs work, but they should be able to fix this in an over-the-air update.

Here are some key driving-related stats for the Zeekr X:

Weight and GVM:

• AWD:
  • Tare mass: 1,960 kg
  • GVM: 2,510 kg
• RWD:
  • Tare mass: 1,855 kg
  • GVM: 2,410 kg

Suspension and braking:

• AWD Model:
  • Larger front brake discs (345 mm) vs 322 mm on RWD
  • Torque vectoring system for better handling
• RWD Model:
  • Lighter setup with smaller rear brake discs (317 mm)

Wheels and tires:

• AWD Model: 20” Forged Alloy Wheels (wider 245/45 R20 tyres)
• RWD Model: 19” Alloy Wheels (235/50 R19 tyres)

How Safe is the Zeekr X?

Despite the intrusive and downright frustrating safety systems, the Zeekr X is one of the safest new cars money can buy in Australia with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating. Here’s how it scored:

• 91 per cent for adult occupant protection
• 89 per cent for child occupant protection
• 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection
• 84 per cent for safety assist

Here’s a list of standard safety features across the range:

• 7 airbags, including front centre airbag
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Automated Parking Assist (APA)
• Automatic High Beam (AHB)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Door Opening Warning (DOW)
• Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
• Driver Performance Support (DPS)
• Evasive Manoeuvre Assist (EMA)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM)
• Front Cross Traffic Assist (FCTA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Parking Assist System (PAS)
• Parking Emergency Brake (PEB)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
• Rear Cross Traffic Assist (RCTA)
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• 360° Visual Park Assist
• Power rear child safety locks (doors & windows)
• ISOFIX (outboard rear seats)
• Top tether (rear seating positions)
• Seat belt reminder with pressure sensor
• Low-speed pedestrian warning sound

How Much Does the Zeekr X Cost to Run?

The Zeekr X comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers (less for fleet buyers) and roadside assistance in that period.

• Vehicle Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited km
• Battery Warranty: 8 years / 160,000 km
• Service Schedule: 2 years / 40,000 km
• Roadside Assistance: 5 years / Unlimited km
• Connected Services: 5 years

Man of Many’s Verdict on the Zeekr X

This is Zeekr’s first foray into the Australian market, and it’s an impressive one.

Despite the intrusive safety systems, they’re not any worse than those you’ll find on the Chinese competitors, and the driving experience, cabin materials, and technology more than makeup for any drawbacks in this regard.

It’s already the best electric vehicle we’ve driven this year at this price point, and we’ll be very interested to see how it compares to the new Tesla Model Y when it arrives on our shores imminently.

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