Zeekr 7X Reviews

Zeekr’s new model roll-out for 2026 and 2027 has kicked off with a refreshed version of its X small SUV.The X arrived in 2024, but didn’t make as much of an impact as Zeekr perhaps hoped, with buyers looking for a more mid-sized rival to the Tesla Model Y, which has since eventuated with the arrival of the 7X.Now though, Zeekr has made key improvements to the X range to help bolster its chances in an extremely competitive luxury small SUV space.Still starting under $50,000 for the base rear-drive version, the X scores a range of upgrades including new heated first and second row seats, refreshed steerin gwheel controls, and a 13-speaker Yamaha surround sound system.In addition, the range has been updated to include the latest version of the brand’s active safety suite, which includes five cameras, five radars and 12 ultra-sonic sensors, which also allows the car to be able to auto-park.Aesthetically the new X isn’t much of a facelift from the outside, but it does score an overhauled interior, with a new and more luxurious bridge-style console replacing the floating console from the outgoing car.The biggest improvement to the base rear-drive variant is the upgrade to Zeekr’s signature “Golden Battery”, which allows up to 230kW DC fast charging and reduces the quoted 10 - 80 per cent charge time to just 18 minutes.Meanwhile the top-spec all-wheel drive version of the car scores message functions for the front seats, and an onboard fridge. It is also able to be chosen in a new Khaki Green Matte and Onyx Black colour schemes, with new 20-inch wheel designs and the option to add automatic doors.The all-wheel drive variant carries over its previous battery, meaning it has a lower DC fast charge speed of 150kW allowing a 10 - 80 per cent charge in a less impressive 30 minutes.Both cars also score a 50kW boost to their electric motors with what is claimed to be best-in-class acceleration figures of 5.6 seconds for the rear-drive version, or 3.7 seconds for the all-wheel drive version.Zeekr will look to capitalise on its incoming product portfolio to boost its sales in Australia. Thus far the new 7X mid-sizer has more than doubled the brand’s footprint in our market, and the next new model could be the much-hyped 8X plug-in hybrid luxury large SUV which just launched in China.The brand has also earmarked the 7GT Euro-style wagon, possibly as soon as the end of this year, with the 9X flagship SUV due in 2027.As for the existing line-up, the 009 people mover will see the addition of its flagship variant in China, dubbed the 009 Grand, as a fully electric rival to the top-spec Lexus LM. It scores just four seats with a VIP-transport-style rear seat and huge entertainment screen mounted on a bulkhead between the front and rear seating positions.Stay tuned for more on Zeekr’s refreshed line-up later in the year, and for the international debut of the 8X at the Beijing Motor Show in late April.

Zeekr has revealed an updated version of its 7GT electric wagon over in China, and it is scheduled to land in Australia next year.The current model is only on sale in left-hand drive markets, including China, as well as Germany, the Netherlands and other European markets.The 7GT has already been shown off in Australia, but it remains down the line for the brand, with several models launching before its speculated 2027 arrival.It will be a rival to other popular family EVs including the Tesla Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7, looking to build on the early success of the 7X SUV.The big change on the updated 7GT is the addition of a 900-volt platform, up from 800-volt to give it even speedier charge times.Official charging and driving range figures have not been revealed yet.The current 800-volt platform is capable of charging from 10-80 per cent in around 10 minutes, so expect a bump on that figure.The previous model of the 7GT offered a driving range of more than 800km, according to the generally more lenient China Light-Vehicle testing cycle (CLTC).The 7GT comes in rear- and all-wheel drive variants, which have both received a boost to power.The single rear-mounted electric motor variant produces 370kW, while the dual electric motor adds a 215kW front-mounted unit.It can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in less than three seconds.It measures up at 4858mm long, 1900mm wide, 1445mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2925mm, making it generally bigger than the Model Y, but more similarly sized to the Sealion 7.The 7GT is expected to launch in China in the second quarter of this year, before heading Australia next year.Zeekr's 2026 Australia plans include an updated version of its X small SUV, and the introduction of the 009 people mover and 8X large premium SUV.

Will the current war in Iran mean a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles? My view is no, it won’t directly cause a ban on combustion cars. But the ban is still coming and the Middle East conflict will fastrack it. For starters a date has already been set for ban on petrol and diesel cars in the United Kingdom, where from 2030 sales of new vehicles with combustion engines will cease. The European Union has a 2035 ban but previous to the Iran war this was watered down.China, which in February was our main source of vehicles, is also focused on building and developing electric cars.As for Australia, only the ACT has set a goal of phasing out the sale of new combustion powered cars by 2035.That could all change now and by this I mean be fastracked.Until now the reasons for switching to electric vehicles were mainly ethical and environmental, with emissions and cleaner air being the carrot. The problem is nobody really  wants to eat a carrot, even if it’s good for us. But faced with the prospect of not eating at all because the weekly fuel bill for two cars is now $300 and the price of groceries is going up because of the soaring cost of transport, that really changes things.Interest in electric vehicles has never been this strong. We can see it in real time by the traffic coming to carsguide.com.au and we know our competitors are witnessing the sharpening of this focus on EVs, too.Towards the start of 2025 there had been a slow down in global interest in EVs and a renewed take up of hybrids. The price premiums attached to electric cars, the limited driving range and lengthy charging times were to blame, but all things early adopters, and even slightly later ones, were willing to endure. The rest of the car buyers were too put off by the downsides of EVs and stuck with the convenience and familiarity of petrol or perhaps bought a hybrid. But now the price of convenience appears to be reaching a point where suddenly an EV sounds like a good idea. At the time of writing 95 RON premium unleaded was $2.70 per litre. An increase of about $1 per litre or 60 per cent in the space of a month. The prohibitive cost now of petrol combined with the looming threat of Australia running out of it in less than three weeks, plus reports of servicing stations already running dry now make an electric car suddenly seem like not such a bad idea after all, even to the most hardcore fans of fossil fuels.The problem is bigger than just consumers not being able to afford petrol, it’s the soaring cost of goods, which are distributed through Australia’s enormous freight network that relies on diesel.The Australian government is responsible for setting such low minimum fuel reserves all in the name of a free market. The current situation could see it either mandate that the industry maintain a higher level or reduce the risk entirely of being held hostage like this again and ban petrol and diesel car sales in favour of electric ones, which can be powered by a fuel we can produce ourselves.The second option wouldn’t be the choice of the $6 trillion-a-year global oil and gas industry. And an industry that’s worth that much has enormous sway.But then the collapse of entire economies wouldn’t be the choice of most governments.Decoupling from oil and gas is impossible in less than 50 or even 100 years. Whether we like it or not the industry pervades every part of our lives. Killing the industry would also see the collapse of entire economies.Plenty of car companies are ready for electric vehicles, especially new Chinese brands, but for many vehicle manufacturers EVs are a side hustle.This scenario play into the hands of new electric brands such as Zeekr with the 7X mid-szied SUV, BYD with the Sealion 7 SUV and even the established Koreans such as Kia with the EV3 small SUV.Does it mean the end of diesel SUVs such as the LandCruiser? Possibly, unless Toyota has an electric version up its sleeve ready to be pulled out in the next 10 years.So what you'll probably see is the EU and UK setting new firm deadlines for the discontinuation of sales for new cars with combustion engines at about 2035 or sooner. Australia will likely follow suit.Industry, freight and agriculture will be exempt until hydrogen infrastructure is in place and that will take much longer.What we may see in the short term is a temporary ban on the use of petrol and diesel passenger cars in order to preserve fuel stock for industry, freight and vital services such as emergency vehicles. That’s a real possibility if the war moves into an uncontrolled phase.So while the permanent ban of new petrol and diesel cars won’t be directly caused by the Iran war, it will be a catalyst for the ban. In the meantime, it’s probably wise anyway to purchase an EV anyway and provide a bit of security and future proofing for your own household, not to mention saving thousands in fuel bills each year.

In month two of ‘owning’ a 2026 Zeekr 7X RWD, it has proven to be very easy to live with, which is something you can’t say about a lot of new cars these days (hello, annoying safety alerts).I introduced the all-electric mid-size SUV last month in part one of this three-part long-term review, covering its pricing, features (including safety), powertrain, efficiency, warranty and servicing.But in this second instalment, I will be deep-diving the 7X’s design inside and out, as well as its all-important practicality.Without further ado, let’s get to it!From certain angles, you could mistake the Zeekr 7X for any number of Chinese electric SUVs.That said, its signature design element is arguably the ‘eyebrow’ that connects its LED headlights together and wraps around the front wheelarches.This black panel is more apparent if your exterior paint isn’t also black, but it helps to break up the otherwise grille-less, concave wall of body colour.A full-width daytime running light (DRL) bisects the eyebrow, providing even more visual punch.Look a little closer and you’ll notice the 7X has a clamshell bonnet, which is seldom seen.Its haunches are muscular, a theme that carries over to the side, which has mostly smooth door panels with the obligatory pop-out door handles.For the RWD, the latter automatically opens the doors slightly when a hand is placed on them, significantly reducing the effort to open them fully.The windows are frameless, adding to the luxury feel, while the arms of the side mirrors are unusually separated and stacked to accommodate some cameras and sensors for the safety systems.Underneath the RWD’s well-defined wheelarches are a nice-looking multi-spoke set of 19-inch alloy wheels.The roofline avoids the headroom-reducing ‘coupe’ trend and remains relatively boxy, although its C-pillars spruce things up with floating elements.At the rear, the 7X is at its most anonymous with its full-width LED tail-lights and large, black bumper insert, although the former sits just below a ducktail spoiler of sorts, which is borne of the rear wheelarches and contributes to the concave theme that carries over there.Inside, the 7X RWD makes a very strong first impression.Instantly, you’ll find yourself searching for the spec sheet to double check its sub-$60K price, such is the high level of its perceived quality.This genuine sense of luxury carries all the way through the cabin, with soft-touch materials used on seemingly every surface.Covering the seats, armrests and door inserts, the RWD’s artificial leather upholstery is so supple that I initially thought I’d accidentally picked up the keys for the flagship Performance, which has high-end Nappa coverings.A textured vinyl is the secondary material, which is applied to the dashboard, centre console and door inserts.The door shoulders and cards are even stitched to make things that little bit fancy.Rubberised bottoms and felted sides elevate the door bins, while layered LED ambient lighting links the dashboard with all four doors, creating a wraparound effect.The general interior design is otherwise full of straight lines and features plenty of layers, resulting in a structured feel.And then there’s the technology, with a 13.0-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver, providing all the key information they need, but without the level of customisation that some may want.Located to the left, the 16.0-inch touchscreen draws eyes with its ‘floating’ style and relatively thin bezels.However, the large display misses the mark with its positioning, as in most driving positions the left side of the steering wheel conceals the far end of its right side, which is where a number of shortcut buttons are displayed, whether you’re using the default multimedia system or wirelessly smartphone mirroring. Whoops.The multimedia system itself is easy enough to use once you’re familiar with it.Specifically, you will find yourself having to learn Zeekr’s names for some common functions, but once you are there you can confidently find what you need.It is great to see Zeekr include a row of physical controls below, but it is a shame that none of them are for operating the dual-zone climate system.Granted the touchscreen’s controls are omnipresent in its bottom row, but nothing beats the ease of something physical, which is a big reason why the increasingly rare steering wheel buttons here work so well.Another climate-related annoyance is the fact that the direction of the front air vents can only be controlled via the touchscreen.There are a multitude of options, but it would be nice to physically move the air to just the right spot – like the good, old days!I would also like it if the indicator stalk clicked into place when in use, as that physical feedback is currently missed.Visibility is also compromised via the wedge-shaped side mirrors and letterbox-shaped rear window, which is further compromised by the protruding second-row headrests.And then there is the square-shaped key fob, which inexplicably lacks an attached point for a key ring or the like, making it easier to lose than it should be.Other than that, the 7X’s interior is a practicality masterclass for a mid-size SUV.Up front, the seats are extremely comfortable. Perhaps Zeekr tapped into some of the expertise of its sister brand, Volvo.Amenities wise, the door bins accommodate up to three regular bottles, while there are two cupholders in the centre console, complete with a sliding lid.Behind them is a very deep central storage bin, which has a lid that opens from either the driver or passenger side.In front are two wireless smartphone chargers, which complete the bridge design, with a large, open storage tray located below, alongside two USB-C ports.The wide but shallow glovebox can only be opened via the touchscreen, which is becoming a bit of a trend these days.There is no overhead sunglasses holder in an otherwise faultless first row.In the second row things are arguably even more impressive, with a ridiculous amount of legroom available behind my 182cm driving position.Headroom is also generous, at more than two inches with the panoramic sunroof’s sunblind in place.Three adults can sit abreast in relative comfort, too, with the almost flat floor affording them plenty of foot space, while the availability of power reclining is a rare win alongside the B-pillar air vents that deliver vastly better upper-body ventilation.Three top-tether and two ISOFIX anchorage points are on hand for fitting child seats, a task that is made easier with the rear doors, which open up to a handy 90 degrees.When it comes to amenities, there are map pockets affixed to the front seat backrests, while the rear of the centre console features a small, pop-out cubby.The door bins can accommodate two regular bottles at a pinch, while the fold-down armrest features two cupholders and USB-A and -C ports.Behind the power tailgate is a generous 539L boot, which can expand to a cavernous 1978L by stowing the 60/40 split-fold rear bench, an action that can be done from behind with the available pull tabs.Either way, the boot floor is flat, with the lack of a load lip making loading bulkier items that little bit easier.Underfloor storage is also present and accounted for, with the front section featuring a deeper bin that happily swallows up EV charging cables, while the rear area is shallower but still useful.Loose loads can also be secured with either the four tie-down points or two bag hooks, while a 12V power outlet is on hand for a vacuum to clean up any messes.And there’s even more storage space in the 7X RWD’s 62L frunk, which can be accessed via the touchscreen inside.There is no additional latch to open, while gas struts mean the bonnet holds itself up. Nice.In my second month with the 7X RWD, my average energy consumption was a slightly higher 15.9kWh/100km, which equates to a real-world driving range of 447km.That is just 33km shy of its WLTP claim, which is seriously impressive considering my 932km of driving for the month included a long, relatively inefficient highway drive from Melbourne to Phillip Island.And with that we’ve reached the end of this second instalment of my long-term review of the 7X RWD.The third and final part will see me deliver my long-awaited driving impressions in full, as well as my overall verdict.See you then!Acquired: January 21, 2025Distance travelled this month: 932kmOdometer: 4760kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.9kWh/100km

Zeekr has confirmed its future plans in Australia, outlining an expanded catalogue of hyped-up models, and updated versions of its current cars by 2027.The brand’s local Managing Director Frank Li said Zeekr would have several models coming this year and next year.Read on to see what they are.2026 Zeekr X faceliftThe Zeekr X, which the brand originally launched with in Australia in late 2024, will receive a major update.While the brand no doubt had big hopes for the small SUV as a more keenly priced and tech-heavy alternative to the Volvo EX30 it shares a platform, sales so far have been lacklustre. An update due this year will seek to make the model an even more attractive proposition, according to Mr Li.“We will have the Zeekr X facelift, which will come in the first half of this year. It will score some very good improvements when it comes to battery and interior features, as well as new colours,” he said.An update to the X already exists in China. While it looks identical from the outside, it features an overhauled interior, with a more practical and contemporary raised console design, as well as new seat and door trims. Interestingly the Chinese market model also features fold-up rear seats similar to Honda’s “Magic seat” set-up it uses in the HR-V to transform the second row into a second cargo space.Stay tuned for more details on which features might make it to the Australian market soon.2026 Zeekr 009 GrandThe X won’t be the only current model in the Zeekr line-up to receive an upgrade, with the 009 luxury electric people mover slated to receive a range-topping flagship variant.“In the second half of the year, we will be welcoming a very luxurious model, the 009 four-seater.”“In China this is called the 009 Grand and it will have even better features than the current car,” Li said.The 009 Grand takes aim at the likes of the Lexus LM as an ultra high-end people transporter. With only four seats, the 009 feautres a similar high-end set-up to the top-spec LM, with a giant entertainment screen bulkhead separating the front seats from the rear.It also scores gold badgework in its Chinese home market, with gigantic chrome-style wheels. Whether this fully electric model will undercut the hybrid LM Ultra Luxury’s $223,520 price-tag remains to be seen.2027 Zeekr 8XWhen queried on the topic of future models, Mr Li told CarsGuide: “Three models will be coming across next year, 7GT, 9X, and 8X, but we haven’t had final date for which one will come first, or in which month or what quarter.” he said.This is the big exciting news. While some were probably hoping for the much-hyped new hybrid and electric models to arrive sooner to bolster Zeekr’s range, the confirmation that they will be joining the right-hand drive arsenal alongside the 7X as global models is big.The just-launched-in-China 8X is perhaps the most hyped of the options. A new rival to the likes of the Range Rover Sport, Audi Q6, and Lexus RX, the 8X large SUV looks set to offer buyers a larger format of the same luxury and value on offer in the 7X, but this time with a plug-in hybrid twist.It’s no average plug-in hybrid either, combining a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine (205kW) paired with electric motors, producing a combined 660kW in dual-motor form, or 1080kW in top-spec tri-motor form, allowing a 0-100km/h sprint time in as low as 3.7 seconds. On top of that, it has the option of two EV-sized batteries, either 55.1kWh or 70kWh with a 900-volt architecture the brand says can charge from 10 - 80 per cent in just 9 minutes on a charger capable of outputting the right speed. Total EV range sits at 256km or 328km according to chinese specs depending on battery size, with combined range landing at 1416km to the same measuring standard.2027 Zeekr 9XThe 9X is also on Mr Li’s hit list for models aiming at our market. This flagship three-row SUV measures in at 5239mm and over two meters wide, making it a similar size to the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and full-size Range Rover.It offers much of the same style as the 8X, but with a larger, boxier, and more chrome-embossed overall design.It is offered only in an ultra-luxurious six-seat layout for the Chinese market, with the second row ‘captain’s chairs’ able to fully recline and even fully rotate to face the rear seats.It also shares its peak powertrain with the 8X, offering a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid system with a peak output of 1030kW, mated to a 70kWh battery with a 9 minute charging time and 1250km of combined driving range.Even the most affordable version of the 9X in China costs the equivalent of A$100,000, giving this monster SUV a real shot of being the most expensive Chinese car on sale in Australia when it arrives in 2027.2027 Zeekr 7GTThe Zeekr 7GT has already been shown in Australia (albeit in left-hand drive form) at several EV shows around the country as the brand’s potential next model, although Li’s comments suggest it may now arrive after either the 8X or 9X depending on what HQ back in China decides.Regardless, the 7GT is an unusual and exciting proposition by a Chinese automaker, offering a Euro-styled go-fast wagon in pure electric form.Offering an 800-volt battery, up to 825km of driving range (according to the lenient CTLC cycle on the biggest 100kWh battery pack), and a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 2.95 seconds, the 7GT looks to give some of the European performance metal in our market a run for their money.Like other Zeekr models, expect luxury trims on the inside, swish software and cabin tech, and either a rear-drive 310kW variant, or a 475kW AWD variant.Other performance enhancements include an air suspension system and adaptive damping.Interestingly, the brand has had less to say on the 7GT’s sedan variant (dubbed the 007 in its Chinese home market), making the potentially wagon-only line-up a bit of a statement in the Australian market.

This Chinese brand is doing something special for Australians.Hot on the heels of the launch of the special edition Zeekr 7X Black Edition, the local arm's Managing Director Frank Li said constant communication with its buyers would allow even more “co-creation” specialised for the Australian market.“Zeekr is a brand which is moving very fast, usually the facelift comes within one or two years, and the very strong research and development team and design team give us the capability to move with that kind of speed,” said Li.“The key point is co-creating with our customers. We’re not only trying to sell products here, but we’re trying to build a community. We’re trying to get more engaged and listen to customer demand and suggestions, and we take that on board for the product."Zeekr said when launching the new 7X Black Edition, that the new variant was based expressly on customer feedback that there should be a blacked-out version of the car, which was previously missing.But Mr Li said the constant “co-creating” with its buyers was happening more frequently behind the scenes and reached beyond just new variants.“For software, we’re doing over-the-air updates based on customer feedback, and on the hardware front, we’re trying to push for even more features .”One thing that wasn’t a problem in customer feedback, Li says, was anything to do with range or power.“With powertrain, battery and electrification, our customers are actually quite satisfied” he said.Li added that the 800-volt platform used by the 7X was already enough to “have the highest charging capability” on Australia’s fast-charging network. Li revealed what Aussie fans are screaming out for.“The biggest feedback is on software, features like auto-parking, these are the kinds of capabilities we will be improving in the future,” he said."Customers want more choice. Some don’t get a lot of use out of the auto door feature, but they want all-wheel drive, so they’re asking for the ability to separate those two features out, so this is one example of something we have under discussion.”The 7X is also notable for having an animated LED light bar in its Chinese home market, which adds a degree of character to its design missing from Australian-delivered vehicles.Because of more strict Australian Design Rules (ADRs) around frontal lighting features, the animated bar is replaced by a gloss panel on locally-delivered versions.Li said while the brand was always in discussions on these types of limitations, it seemed the regulations would still stop some popular features from its Chinese home market.“If we could bring these features to the Australian market, we would love to do so,” he said.Many other Chinese brands also have an element of rapid turn-around, which allows them to bring updates, facelifts, or even deeper upgrades to Australia in usually never-before-seen timeframes.While this generally means a much more competitive new car landscape, it can also sometimes mean rapid depreciation for early adopters. On the flip side, these early adopters can also be rewarded with significant software fixes while getting in at a lower initial price-point.As often a global launch-pad for Chinese brands though, feedback from the Australian market is taken very seriously by even the biggest players, such as BYD, Chery and GWM.The 7X has been a resounding success for the Chinese premium brand.The new EV has more than doubled its sales after only a handful of months since launch, and now accounts for the lion’s share of the brand’s volume Down Under. With 1046 units delivered in the first two months of this year, it has also rapidly shot to near the top of the category for similarly-sized SUV rivals, or similarly-priced EVs.This comes as no surprise to Mr Li though, who said the product will speak for itself.“Zeekr brings customers an option where they don’t need to compromise between tech, luxury, drive experience, and the cost,” he said.“Before 7X came along these four elements have been in conflict. It’s very hard to get them all, so usually you have to compromise.“So, we have very strong ambitions and forecasts for 7X, but the product and time will tell.”

Despite a slow start in Australia in 2025, Chinese luxury brand Zeekr says it is unsurprised by the success of its third product, the 7X mid-size electric SUV.The 7X launched in Australia in late 2025 to some fanfare, more than doubling the brand’s yearly sales tally in just a few months, and in 2026 it now accounts for more than 60 per cent of its volume.When asked about the 7X's relative runaway success had come as a surprise to the local division, Zeekr Australia’s managing director Frank Li told CarsGuide success was the brand’s “assumption”.“The 7X is not just popular in Australia, but also it is the first Zeekr global model, so we’ve had very good achievements in both the domestic and international markets including Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia,” said Li.Li also noted the 7X was particularly suited to the Australian buyer, suggesting that as a reason that it was more popular than the rest of the brand’s line-up, and also why it is getting the just-announced Black Edition pack especially for our market.“ is perfect for the Australian customer archetype so that’s also why we’re bringing the Black Edition based on customer feedback,” he said.Mr Li added the order bank for 7X was significant, and deliveries will remain high, at least for the first half of 2026 as the order books are filled.“Initially we were facing some challenges on supply last year, especially in December from the global battery shortage, but this has been resolved. There are several thousand 7Xs currently on a ship right now, so supply isn’t an issue at the moment,” he said."Last month we delivered 628 7Xs, which is good momentum, and next month the delivery number will be higher.“We’re still a new brand so we’re focused on how to deliver as much as we can as fast as we can so we can get our pre-order customers into the car earlier.“So that’s our first priority. We’re also working on a better customer experience which includes sales delivery and after sales.” he said, hinting at a wider showroom footprint and more service locations."Are there storm clouds on the horizon for Zeekr as it fills the initial surge of demand for 7X? Mr Li was quite candid.“Honestly, we’re not pushing too hard on new orders,” he said, adding that Zeekr’s strategy would be bolstered by both customer satisfaction and rising fuel prices.“First of all, for EVs, the market penetration has been climbing up and petrol prices are now climbing higher. I think Zeekr brings customers an option where they don’t need to compromise between tech, luxury, drive experience, and the cost.”“Before 7X came along these four elements have been in conflict. It’s very hard to get them all, so usually you have to compromise.”“So, we have very strong ambitions and forecasts for 7X, but the product and time will tell,” he said.Zeekr’s numbers are on the rise in 2026, with the brand delivering 1046 units in the first two months of the year.This puts the electric mid-sizer ahead of some heavy-hitting luxury segment contemporaries including the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and the Lexus NX, whilst also staying well ahead of some electric price competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota bZ4X, and Kia EV6.Zeekr will  build on its momentum later in 2026, with Mr Li adding there will be updates for its Zeekr X small SUV and a new variant for the 009, while also confirming the just-revealed 8X is very much on the cards for Australia in the future, although maybe not until 2027.

Zeekr will follow-up its popular 7X electric SUV with the just-revealed 8X large plug-in hybrid SUV.The 8X was just detailed in China ahead of its domestic launch, and speaking to CarsGuide, Zeekr Australia’s Managing Director Frank Li confirmed it would come to Australia next year.“We’ll have the 8X official launch event in April in China,” he said. “Three models will come across next year, 7GT, 9X and 8X, but we haven’t had the final date for which one will come first, or in which month or what quarter.The 8X will sit above the CarsGuide Car of the Year award-winning 7X mid-size electric SUV, but below the brand’s flagship 9X three-row large SUV. At over five-meters long it is still in the large SUV category despite being a five-seater, which puts it up against the Range Rover Sport, Audi Q8 and Lexus RX.It is closer in design and styling to the 9X and the 009 people mover, featuring a chrome grille and big alloy wheels, although has softer edges than the more boxy flagship 9X.The 8X will use a 205kW 2.0-litre petrol turbo plug-in hybrid set-up producing 660kW in dual-motor AWD form, or even up to 1030kW in tri-motor Performance form, which is plotted to have a 0-100km/h sprint time in the realm of 2.0 seconds, according to regulatory filings with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.It is equipped with either a 55.1kWh or a 70kWh battery offering a purely electric range of either 256km or 328km, and sports an 800-volt electrical system to allow for ultra-fast charging.On the performance front, the car will feature active anti-rollbars, dual-chamber air suspension, and adaptive damping, along with what appears from pre-release images to be a sport-oriented Michelin tyre package.The just-revealed-in-China interior also shows the 8X will carry across many of its interior features from the 9X as well, including two huge dash-spanning multimedia screens, a separate digital instrument cluster, and even a rear entertainment touchscreen for the second row.Elsewhere, the large luxury SUV features plaid interior leather, reclining outboard rear seats and at least the option of a roof-mounted screen and a panoramic sunroof.Zeekr will be looking to capitalise on momentum from its successful 7X launch, after a slow launch in Australia with the X small SUV and niche 009 electric luxury people mover.Despite only being on sale for a few months, the 7X managed to account for over 60 per cent of the Chinese luxury brand’s sales in 2025, a streak which is more than continuing in 2026. The brand also recently added the Black Edition specified based on "customer feedback" specifically for the Australian market.Expect to learn more about Zeekr’s roll-out plan for the remainder of 2026 and its new models plotted for 2027 and beyond shortly, as the company gears up for the Beijing Motor Show in April.

Is the ‘uncool’ people mover on the verge of a renaissance?New arrivals and rising sales suggest the once daggy family transport could become the new battleground in the Australian market.While large, seven-seat SUVs remain the preferred option for Australian families, people mover sales were up 9.2 per cent in 2025 and have started 2026 with a surge, a whopping 41.1 per cent jump on last year.While the Kia Carnival remains the undisputed champion of people movers, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of its market, there is a new wave of more premium rivals that are catering to a specific audience looking for spacious and luxurious travel.The Chinese brands are, unsurprisingly, leading this charge, as people movers are a much more popular choice in its native market. The likes of the Zeekr 009, LDV Mifa, GAC M8 PHEV and upcoming Denza D9 are all offering space and premium features for both family and business buyers.These add to the likes of the Lexus LM, which is available with an opulent four-seat layout, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class, giving buyers more choice.Meanwhile in the more family/fleet-orientated segment of the market, the Carnival competes against the Hyundai Staria, new Ford Tourneo and Volkswagen’s new-generation Multivan and Caddy.And, if that’s not enough, there are the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Mercedes-Benz EQV to expand the appeal of the people mover even further.So what makes people movers so popular, especially the Carnival?According to Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s head of product planning, it’s the simple fact they are bigger and more practical than a seven-seat SUV for families that need the space.“I think our dealers do a pretty good job of conveying that while there might be a high desirability of an SUV, because everyone has got one… but for most families a Carnival is a better proposition,” explains Rivero.“For a family, fundamentally a Carnival does a better job.”The combination of more interior space, especially in the third row and a practical boot, as well as the sliding rear doors, are the standout areas where a people mover has the edge over an SUV, says Rivero.“For the most part dealers are able to convey the benefits of the Carnival over an SUV, unless the buyer has a need for four-wheel drive,” he said. “It’s probably the marketing that has driven that SUV popularity.”Rivero added: “Those that discovered the benefits of a people mover, those who have a family, realise quickly how good it can be.”Speaking to CarsGuide in August 2025, Zeekr Australia boss Frank Li admitted he was surprised by the initial slow uptake for the 009 given its popularity in overseas markets but expressed confidence in its long-term prospects.“Before actually, we valued the Australian market very much as well, but you know previously we only had two models and that is quite a niche segment in Australia,” Li explained.“Even though 009 performance is very good – it’s brilliant in south east Asia, like Hong Kong, Malay Thailand, we’re dominating this segment in this market – but the Australian market is obviously not a traditional people mover market. We believe that slowly, slowly our customers will love 009, but that takes time.”The more premium end of the market is a growing space for these more luxurious people movers, and it’s a key reason why Denza (BYD’s luxury sub-brand) is going to launch the D9 in Australia.Paul Ellis, spokesperson for Denza, said the brand’s move into the market is less about attracting fleet buyers and instead a more corporate audience, smaller operators that do luxury transfers and upmarket hotels, as well as families looking for space and comfort.“They’re a niche product, but within that niche there is quite a lot of demand for them,” Ellis told CarsGuide.

The Zeekr 7X has been given some sharp new design elements as part of a special edition upgrade for the premium electric mid-size SUV in Australia. The ‘Black Special Edition’ 7X starts from $75,900 (before on-road costs), which is a $3000 increase on the most expensive Performance all-wheel drive variant.The car gets some major exterior changes, including a gloss black body paint, differing from the Performance grade's ‘Onyx’ black as well as green, blue, grey and white body colour options. The gloss black finish continues elsewhere on the car, including front and rear lower bumpers, lower door exterior trims finished and roof rails. It rides on 20-inch alloy wheels and gets a 7X black badge on the rear of the car. On the inside, there is Black Nappa leather interior trim, contrasting the white trim usually found on the top-grade model. Zeekr has introduced this car off the back of sustained demand from buyers for a darker and more bold overall design on the 7X.Performance-wise, the car keeps the same figures as the range-topping 7X, which has 475kW and 710Nm, with the 0-100km/h sprint taking 3.8 seconds. The 7X has had a blistering start to its life in Australia with more than 1000 sales in 2026, catapulting it one of the best selling EVs in the country. It also earned the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year Best Medium SUV under $60K, up against regular favourites such as the Toyota RAV4. Despite its solid sales so far, its key rival the Tesla Model Y has sold more than 4000 units in 2026This new range-topping 7X, however, is still cheaper than the comparable Model Y, which starts from $89,400, before on-roads. The Sealion 7 remains the budget pick of the segment, with a price of $63,990, it has amassed 1327 sales so far this year.2026 Zeekr 7X pricing Australia