Zeekr 009 vs JAC Hunter

What's the difference?

If Rolls-Royce was to make a Kia Carnival then the Zeekr 009 would probably be it, but without the stratospheric price tag.

Zeekr is Volvo’s sister from China under its massive Geely parent company and the 009 is a fully electric, luxury people mover that arrived in Australia to join the small X hatch and the forthcoming 7X mid-sized electric SUV.

The Zeekr 009 we tested is the seven-seater version and with a price of $135,900, before on-road costs, it's double the price of the fanciest Kia Carnival. Then again, the 009 is about $85,000 cheaper than the Lexus LM500h hybrid people mover.

If you are a family with more than two or three children, or a chauffeur service operator, then the 009 could be a much more practical and luxurious alternative to a high-end SUV. And, as I'll show you, even at this price it's a bargain.

While the local motor industry is engaging in much hand wringing and brow furrowing over the rapid influx of new makes and models, experts are busy predicting what may happen in the longer term. What brands will still be here in 10 years? Or even ten months…

It’s a bit of a lottery, really, but in the short term, one thing is for absolute certain: Cars are getting cheaper to buy.

That’s despite a never-before-seen level of technology and sophistication, too, and we’re now seeing full electric vehicles hitting the market at $30,000 or so - a number unheard of just a year or two ago when front-loading an EV’s ownership costs was a given.

But it’s happening in the dual-cab ute world, too. Disruptors like the BYD Shark 6 and the GWM Cannon Alpha have taught us that a turbo-diesel driveline is not necessarily the way forward for all of us. And now there’s this vehicle, the JAC Hunter dual-cab which stretches the concept of fries-with-that across an even tighter budget.

The Hunter is not just an off-road capable dual-cab: It’s also a plug-in hybrid with a sophisticated driveline that offers a claimed 100km of EV-only running from a full battery. But the Hunter is not just a techno statement, it also hits the market at under $50,000.

Interested? So were we.