Zeekr 7X Reviews

In a milestone market share breakthrough vehicles manufactured in China accounted for one in five new cars sold in Australia in October this year.

Why Australia is becoming a battleground for Chinese premium brands.

Zeekr says there are too many brands already available in Australia to risk offering yet another one, but we'll get its cars anyway.

Zeekr's updated flagship four-door coupe can charge up in nearly the same time it takes to refuel.

Electric cars have come a long way in a short time, and China’s EV market has shown us just how far they’ve come.China is the world’s largest electric vehicle market — and the source of the majority of Australia’s EVs — and the latest data shows a remarkable stat.According to the China Passenger Car Association, the average driving range of an electric car on sale in China is 528km.That’s an increase of about 25 per cent in half a decade, according to the data.Those driving ranges are calculated via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC), rather than the benchmark WLTP used in Europe and Australia.The data still shows that electric car driving range has improved by about a quarter in a short time.In Australia the default range for a new EV is generally around 500km, dispelling the range anxiety myth.New EVs from China and sold in Australia, such as the Zeekr 7X have a driving range from between 480km and 615km, and Tesla has just launched a new Chinese-built Model 3 RWD Long Range with up to 750km of range.Deepal’s new E07 ute-SUV mash-up has a driving range of up to 550km and Kia’s China-sourced EV5 can be driven up to 555km, depending on the variant.There are even more on the way if China is a guide, with the data showing more than 30 EVs on sale there with a driving range of more than 600km and 26 more with a range of more than 500km.500km is the new expectation for buyers in Australia and manufacturers have responded with a wave of new models at or exceeding the range, with Chinese brands or China-sourced vehicles leading the charge.The massive jump in electric driving range isn’t reserved to EVs. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs).EREVs use a petrol engine purely as a generator to charge the battery, with the wheels driven only by electric motors. PHEVs use a combination of a petrol engine and electric motors fed by a battery to drive the wheels.In China a PHEV with 100km of driving range is the new expectation with the majority boasting an EV-only driving limit of more than the century mark.EREVs are even more, with the vast majority claiming an electric-only driving range of more than 150km.This kind of performance hasn’t been fully realised in Australia where PHEVs and to a lesser extent EREVs are starting to gain traction.Several new options from Chinese brands, such as BYD, Chery and MG are pushing the boundaries of the new tech.Chery’s new Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid has a driving range of up to 170km in Australia.What is even more astounding is China is doing it at a lower cost than rival makers, which is helping to boost the technology Down Under.

Newcomer brand Zeekr says it will engage with local engineering firms Walkinshaw and Premcar to investigate local suspension tuning for its vehicles in Australia. 

Zeekr has just revealed its 9X large plug-in hybrid super SUV in China along with its price, and it’s clear Range Rover is in its sights.

The 7X Long Range might just be the sweet spot in the family, serving up the longest driving range and enough real-world power for everyday driving. Sure, its ride isn't as competent as it is on the AWD's air suspension, but sacrifices must be made somewhere.It's $63,900 – almost $10K less than the flagship Performance grade – and it builds on the strong standard kit of the entry-level model with a better 21-speaker stereo and a head-up display.While the cheapest 7X variant scores a 75kWh LFP battery, this Long Range nabs a 100kWh NCM unit. It has an 800V architecture, allowing for mega charging speeds of up to 420kW and it should travel up to 615km between charges on the WLTP cycle.

The zippy 2026 Zeekr 001 has hit the market in China as a rival to the Tesla Model S.

The entry-level Zeekr 7X model misses out on some of the good stuff, with less power than the AWD, and a smaller battery than the Long Range model. It is the fastest-charging of the lot, though, with up to 450kW DC charging possible.It's $57,900, before on-road costs, and standard kit is pretty impressive across the board, with the entry-level model scoring 19-inch alloys, LED lighting all around, a powered boot and a glass roof with a powered shade. and ambient interior lighting, too. Tech is handled by a 16-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there are two 50W wireless charge pads. You also get a digital dash, tri-zone climate and a 10-speaker stereo.It gets a 75kW LFP battery, which should deliver a 480km driving range on the WLTP cycle.