Zeekr plays hard on its European connections. The brand does not boast that the X is developed and designed in Sweden on European roads and with German engineering.
Zeekr tries to appear more European than they actually are. (Photo: Zeekr)Zeekr aims high
The brand has put a lot of effort into design and durability. According to Zeekr, the X should appeal to technology-interested families in the city, and 55 percent of the brand’s customers are said to be first-time electric car buyers.
Just X will offer a more luxurious package but with favorable financing, as well as a focus on making electric car ownership as easy as possible – not least thanks to the brand’s app.
Zeekr continues to offer an 8-year and 20,000-mile battery warranty, all with the aim of making a potential purchase as safe as possible.
The brand also has plans to penetrate markets in Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Zeekr’s ambition is to make life with an electric car easy. (Photo: Zeekr)The thought that counts?
Externally, the Zeekr X resembles an origami sculpture. For those who think that Zeekr is very similar to Lynk & Co, it is no coincidence – it was the same brand until 2021, but Geely then chose to snap off Zeekr from Lynk & Co in order to make the brand more luxury-focused.
Inside, you are greeted by a stripped-down and airy interior, where the infotainment screen takes center stage. All functions are controlled by the screen – including the adjustment of rear-view mirrors – which is a trap many Chinese have fallen into.
The interface is very similar to that in both Nio and Xpeng. The system responds quickly, but is not very intuitive.
In our test car – a pre-series car – there were also large panel gaps (pictured) and the high door panel was not symmetrical with the rest of the interior.
The back seat is on the tighter side, while the trunk can at its height swallow packing for a weekend trip. Instead, it’s the cabin that has been prized when it comes to space, especially up front.
The ceiling is high, but the front seats lack some thigh support. On visual inspection, most things look very good – not least the color combination on our test car – but there are a number of quality flaws.
One example is that the test car had scuff marks on the driver’s door, roughly where you have your elbow, even though the car had only driven a few hundred miles.
On the right you can see how the door panel is not symmetrical with the rest of the interior. (Photo: Zeekr)Driving dynamic shortcomings
We test drove the top version – the all-wheel-drive piece with a whopping 428 horsepower. Like other Chinese manufacturers, there is no lack of power, the crux is that the chassis can’t handle it.
The result is a sprawling driving experience, which feels anything but reassuring. Zeekr boasts that the X has been developed on European roads, but the suspension handles bumps with the confidence of a bouncing ball.
Zeekr X is incredibly soft, which causes the car to bounce around on country roads. The gas at the bottom is met with an inability to get the power down the hill effectively, and it’s really not a car that either invites or wants to drive more dynamically.
Fortunately, there is a rear-wheel drive variant with “only” 272 horsepower available, a car with performance that is more in line with what the Zeekr X can handle.
Giving the Zeekr X 428 horsepower is a bit like putting bicycle wheels on a Ferrari – the result is far from pleasant..
If you drive the car at a slow pace, however, the experience is different – it is possible to limit the Zeekr X’s acceleration in the infotainment system, which makes the driving experience more pleasant.
Zeekr X continues to be on the noisier side, while a lot of wind noise seeps in from the rear-view mirrors.
It doesn’t do the trick for the brand’s commitment to being more premium, but our test car was, as I said, a pre-series car, which is why parts of the car’s shortcomings can still be remedied.
In terms of driving dynamics, the Zeekr X is nothing to hang on the Christmas tree. (Photo: Zeekr) The Zeekr X leaves a lot to be desired
At first glance, the Zeekr X appears as a decidedly promising alternative in the compact SUV jungle. On closer inspection, however, it is a product that does not fit all the way into the finish, something that drags down the overall impression.
The driving experience is ruined by the completely miscalibrated suspension, which together with the excessive amount of power means that the Zeekr X does not bring a reassuring feeling behind the wheel. The chassis has an inability to handle the car’s power, not least in the four-wheel drive version.
When driving more calmly – especially on the motorway – however, the Zeekr X feels more at home.
The infotainment system is responsive but crammed with too many functions. The feeling of quality is generally high, but with some unacceptable mistakes. Furthermore, both the back seat and the luggage compartment are cramped.
The Zeekr X starts at SEK 550,000 for the rear-wheel drive variant and SEK 595,000 for the four-wheel drive, which is more expensive than the Volvo EX30 sibling. If you order your car today, you can count on having it delivered towards the end of the year.
Zeekr X has a design that stands out. (Photo: Zeekr) Rating of Zeekr X: 2.5/5
Zeekr X Long Range RWD (2024)
Engine: Rear electric motor, 272 horsepower, 343 newton meters.
Transmission: Single-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive.
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
Top speed: 180 km/h.
Electrical range: 440 km.
Weight: 1855 kg.
Dimensions: (length/width/height): 4432/1836/1566 mm.
Award: from SEK 550,000
Zeekr X Privilege AWD (2024)
Engine: Two electric motors, 428 horsepower, 543 newton meters.
Transmission: One-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive.
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Top speed: 180 km/h.
Electrical range: 400 km.
Weight: 1960 kg.
Measure: (length/width/height): 4432/1836/1566 mm.
Award: from SEK 595,000