Zeekr X Standard RWD Review

This is the new Zeekr X, the first offering from yet another Chinese brand that has newly entered the Singapore market.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is all-electric. And, it also falls exactly within what might be the quickest-growing and most competitive segment today: The electric crossover segment.

Zeekr is the latest in a slew of new brands entering the Singapore market

Admittedly, cars these days have a slight tendency to be a little segment-ambiguous, but per my last count, there are currently 25 models on sale (including this Zeekr X) that fit this electric crossover mould, spanning the gamut from entry-level to premium.

And this Zeekr X sits almost squarely in the middle of all that.

The flush door handles retract when the car is unlocked, and opening the door is a simple affair

Looks different

I will at this point highlight that the Zeekr X is built on the same shared platform with other Geely Group models, which include the likes of the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, so there will inevitably be some shared sense of familiarity, and also the direct compare/contrast that potential customers will make.

That said, the Zeekr X makes a strong first impression to stand itself apart - bold, crisp exterior surfaces combine with a distinctive front light signature to create a distinctive look.

Move past the sharply creased flank (and the flush but recess-when-you-need-it door handles) and you'll find yet more interesting details at the rear. On either side of the 3D-effect brand moniker, there are sleek LED taillights that form an interesting light signature.

Pretty, this car isn't. However, there are multiple interesting shapes and angles that help set it apart in a segment that typically tends towards visual homogeneity.

With premium materials and high-quality finishing, the cabin definitely feels elevated 

Feels premium

Inside, the first impression is one of quality. Materials feel good, fit and finish is commendable, and especially with this white/blue interior it exudes an air of premium-ness.

It does help that the car also comes chock full of equipment, like an 8.8-inch digital cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment system that has plenty of functionality. Wireless smartphone mirroring, native navigation, on-board GSM that lets you access apps like Spotify, it's got all the features that you'd typically expect of a contemporary car. But there's more, like a camera function with auto-recording (15 seconds on either side of an incident), so you don't need a third-party dash cam.

As far as navigating the UI, it's generally quite straightforward. One UX touch I like - when you pull up the climate menu to make adjustments, it will automatically go away after about 10 seconds and go back to whichever screen you were on (CarPlay, for example), so there's no need for an additional keystroke. Good. Also, you can hold and drag on both the fan and temperature controls in the main shortcut bar, which is another neat touch.

Voice control is effective, as the AI-assistant is intelligent enough to recognise and execute specific commands like opening the windows 10%

Another interesting feature - the car has a face recognition system (using the driver monitoring camera), and will automatically toggle to the relevant driver profile based on who's on the driver’s seat. It's a nice high-tech feature, though drivers who have broader privacy/tech/AI scepticism may beg to differ.

The steering wheel controls are also worth commending. It's generally quite standard, but one feature I like is that you can toggle the right switch so that it can be used to adjust both temperature and fan speed. More brands should do this. There are also two shortcut switches, but their limited configurability means that you probably won't use them much (unless you want to regularly use the loudspeaker function that lets you literally talk to people outside of the car).

The available refrigerator accessory means that you can actually have ice cream on the move (tested and confirmed), but you will have to deal with additional heat generation in the cabin

The Zeekr X is also offered with a refrigerator. Not a chiller compartment, a full-on refrigerator, with both chilling and warming functionality. It works well, managing to keep our mini Magnums relatively solid (or you can keep your tabao food warm). The only problem is that it generates a bunch of heat (laws of physics cannot be broken) and the exhaust ports are on either side of the compartment, blowing hot air directly onto your left torso if you are in the driver's seat. So, unless you want you air-con on full blast all the time, I would suggest using it sparingly rather than have it on all the time. It also makes a notable amount of noise.

The cabin does offer quite a lot of space, thanks to the 2,750mm wheelbase. Rear passengers especially enjoy generous amounts of legroom. The only downside of that is that the boot, at just 362 litres, is on the smaller side.

But, there are also some odd design choices. I don't like the door opening button. It works fine, but just feels ergonomically awkward where it's positioned. Also, the window controls are (to me) upside down. Forward (which is up, right?) lowers the windows, and backwards closes them. And, there is seat ventilation available, but activating it is two-button presses away. It really should be one.

On the road, the Zeekr X is quick, comfortable, and exhibits a good amount of ride sophistication

Drives as advertised

Powering this rear-wheel drive Zeekr X variant is a 66kWh battery that feeds electrons to a rear motor that produces 200kW and 343Nm of torque. Pace is always brisk and effortless, which generally makes for a very easy drive.

The suspension setup is pretty good. It is on the softer side, so some body roll in corners is to be expected, but for general city driving, the chassis exhibits a fair amount of sophistication that befits the brand's premium positioning. It's also quiet (the fridge notwithstanding), which all in makes for a very serene and comfortable driving experience.

There's a good amount of settings that you can toggle to set up the car to your preference

There are a number of settings that you can adjust, from the acceleration to the steering weight, but I found my preference to be the most 'relaxed' setting I could find. This isn't a performance model - it's a daily runabout, and should be used as such.

As far as range goes, Zeekr claims 440km for this RWD model. I used 25% of battery and covered 110km - which translates to bang-on 440km. I have no qualms here.

Expectedly, you also get the full set of safety and assistance systems, most of which work as advertised. The fatigue warning is quite eager, and was quick to remind me to rest every time I yawned. (It was a long day of work, can you blame me for being tired??)

With ample performance and a generous feature set, along with a highly competitive price tag, the Zeekr X is a very compelling proposition for buyers looking to get into the electric crossover segment

Well-positioned

Founded just three years ago, Zeekr is as new a brand as you're going to find in the market. And while it is positioned as a premium offering, the X also enters a highly competitive and growing segment. So, is it really premium, and can it stand out?

The segment now spans your more entry offerings, all the way to the premium Continental makes. Zeekr is positioned somewhere in the middle of that, and the X feels like a product that squarely occupies that in-between space. It may not have the badge clout, but the overall feature set and quality is certainly competitive to your more established European marques - all things considered, it lives up to its premium claim.

One more important thing - this Zeekr X Standard RWD is presently priced at just about $200,000, a price tag that frankly I'm still surprised by. Yes, there are certainly more affordable choices in the market right now, but for the performance, features and quality that you're getting with this Zeekr X, I'm not sure you'll find better value for your money. So, if you are shopping in this electric crossover segment, the Zeekr X is definitely worth checking out. 

Looking for a premium all-electric crossover? Here are some others to consider: 

The Smart #1 has a pleasant exterior and an irresistibly charming interior

Cool design and agile performance make the EX30 a compelling proposition

The iX1 delivers with its pleasant ride and all-round usability

The EQA delivers on quiet motoring and badge appeal