Zeekr 9X Reviews

Zeekr has announced European details on the 9X flagship SUV ahead of its Australian launch later in 2026.This European-specification version of the Zeekr 9X is slightly different from the Chinese-specification version and it potentially gives a clearer indication of what to expect when it comes Down Under.In Europe the only powertrain available is a range-extender (REEV) hybrid that pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors. It has a total system output of 660kW.The electric motors are fed by a 55kWh battery pack which allows for up to 179km of electric range, or up to 737km of overall combined range, according to WLTP testing.This aforementioned REEV powertrain is offered in China but there’s also a version with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, and three electric motors. It has a heftier total system output of 1030kW.It has a larger 70kWh battery which offers more than 300km of electric range, or up to 1250km of overall range, according to more lenient CLTC testing.Both European- and Chinese-specification versions of the 9X have a 900V electrical architecture and offer rapid DC fast-charging capabilities.The European version has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 330kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 9.5 minutes.In China the Zeekr 9X is offered in a total of five interior colour schemes.For contrast, the European version only comes with two – Charcoal Black or Caramel Brown and Moonglade Blue. Both have Nappa leather upholstery.Like the Chinese-specification version, the European-specification 9X has a six-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs.There are two 16-inch displays, a 47-inch augmented reality head-up display, a sliding and foldable 17-inch OLED display, as well as a 32-speaker Naim sound system.Zeekr has confirmed the 9X is launching locally before the end of 2026.It will sit at the top of the Chinese carmaker’s line-up in Australia and be a rival to German players like the Audi Q9, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.The 9X is expected to carry a price tag over $100,000, although it is expected to be considerably less than the aforementioned German rivals.It will likely be the most expensive Zeekr offered in Australia though. This title currently goes to the 009 AWD electric people mover which starts at $139,900 before on-road costs.

The cost of electric car charging has been the subject of much discussion.Fast charging remains one of the biggest hurdles to convincing potential buyers to make the EV switch.It is widely accepted fast charging an electric car is cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel car.But just how much cheaper is it? The answer is complicated. There are several factors impacting the price you pay for public fast charging. The rate of pay is measured in dollars or cents per kWh. This rate fluctuates depending on whether you are charging in peak time or off-peak time, the same as with home electricity bills.The charger's kW output will impact how much you pay, generally the higher the max output the more you pay. There are circumstances where a slower rate of charge can be more expensive when comparing locations.This speed is altered if the terminal is charging multiple cars at once, but the price does not change. Unlike filling a fuel tank, an EV battery should rarely be fully charged, which is why manufacturers quote a 20 to 80 per cent charge time for DC charging.We’ve done our best to calculate how much it would cost for a 40kWh charge, which could equate to rougly 20 to 80 per cent for an average EV. This article only provides a rough guide and is not a wholly accurate representation of how much someone will pay to charge their EV. It only looks at DC charging of a minimum of 50kW. Charging station operators such as JOLT that only provide 25kW charging have not been included. Ampol has a major EV infrastructure outlay in Australia, but it does not publicly list its prices online, so it is not included. Tesla chargers can be used to charge non-Tesla cars, but are generally 10-15 cents more expensive than for a Tesla car.We have categorised charging rates into three categories. 50-75kW150kW-240kW300kW-plusTesla does not have a discernible number of available chargers for Sydney in the first two categories.Where a charging company has two or more power options within a band, the price per kWh has been averaged.The prices have been taken from the broader Sydney area during peak time on Wednesday 15th July 2026.Off-peak charging is more likely to be done using a home charger overnight.Price per kWh in Sydney NSW:Price for 40kWh

Aussies are going to be buying more Chinese cars than ever as exports boom.Our market is proving to be the perfect place for under-fire Chinese brands to move on from their oversaturated domestic market.Meanwhile, new Chinese government rules mean smaller Chinese automakers will have a better chance of becoming true competitors to bigger brands like BYD.Legislative changes have diminished the advantages of mass-production, reducing the profit on a single car sold for 200,000 yuan ($42,000) to just 3000 yuan (or $633) according to Auto Home.Brands now must look more closely at overseas markets, and Australia is standing out.Australia does not have a domestic car industry to protect so it does not impose the same expensive tariffs or rules as other markets, making it more attractive to some importers.Europe has had a series of up to 35 per cent tariffs in place on Chinese manufacturers importing EVs since late 2024 to encourage or protect local production.Thailand, one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, has also introduced rules requiring two cars to be locally produced for every car imported.Chinese car exports surged by 65 per cent in the first half of 2026, with a whopping 5.1 million cars sold, via Auto Home.BYD and Chery have contributed nearly 2 million overseas sales between them so far this year.Virtually three-quarters of Chery’s total sales came from overseas in the first half of 2026.Many of these cars are coming to Australia as our market now sources more cars from China than it does from Japan.Nothing says this more than the current top 10 best-selling electric cars all being built in China. The BYD Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV (from $54,000, before on-road costs) has been a raging success for the brand in Australia.Chery’s budget-friendly small SUVs the Tiggo 4 petrol/plugless hybrid (from $23,990, drive-away) and Jaecoo J5 EV ($36,990, drive-away) are some of the most popular cars on the roads today.The BYD Atto 1 hatchback is the cheapest new electric car in Australia, starting from $23,990 (before on-road costs). The larger Dolphin is also available from under $30,000.Chinese brands will continue to place further emphasis on Australia as they look to expand their local line-ups.Geely has already seen success with its EX5 electric mid-size SUV, but its methodical approach will see plenty more models hit showrooms in the next year.Brands like GAC and XPeng are also accelerating their launch plans as they feel the squeeze back home.

A new report from the Australia Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has shed light over fresh concerns regarding long car repair and refund wait times in Australia.Dealers admitted customers face significant delays to get their cars fixed in Australia, especially EVs. It can take between six and eight weeks for an issue to just be diagnosed due to workshop backlogs.The association said some manufacturing faults can even take months or years to be correctly diagnosedDealers are now refusing to accept tow-ins or diagnostic work for vehicles they did not originally sell due their backlogs.They blamed long wait times on sourcing parts like electric car batteries that cannot be air-freighted and must be shipped instead.Dealers have also pointed the finger at car manufacturers that dispute or mull over approving warranty requests.The report said that only manufacturers can provide remedy for design faults, leaving dealers helpless to appease customer expectations of a swift resolution. The report stated concerns over manufacturers denying reimbursement claims and failing to meaningfully engage with dispute processes. Carmakers are required to make parts and repair available for a reasonable time after purchase, but this is a vague stipulation.The report sets out several Australian Consumer Law reform recommendations to rectify these issues. It said manufacturers should be required to respond to buyback requests within a fixed period.If the manufacturer fails to respond with written confirmation of indemnity, it is deemed to have accepted responsibility. Manufacturers should also be required to join legal tribunal proceedings for alleged manufacturing or systemic defects. The report called for further clarification of consumer guarantees regarding battery degradation and replacement thresholds. This would recognise the inevitable delays of sourcing EV components and developing software solutions.The Australian EV boom is in full swing, with sales surging in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices and increasingly stringent environment regulations. More EVs will hit the roads in the coming months, with the industry likely to be placed under further strain.

Zeekr has given a glimpse inside one of the most anticipated new SUVs coming to Australia. Zeekr will introduce its flagship 9X large SUV to the Australian market this year, and will offer a seriously high-end experience for rear-seat passengers. The 9X is expected to carry a $100,000-plus price tag when it lands in Australia, giving the BMW X7 and top-spec Range Rover models a run for their money. It has been shown off in a plush five-seater configuration, with the seats covered in a supple maroon leather. It boasts up to 1.4m of legroom for rear-seat passengers, with seats also featuring reclining and zero-gravity.Physical control panels in the rear doors control functionality.The middle seat back folds down to provide a comfy armrest and reveal more rear cabin controls.There is a central tablet control panel to set the temperature and monitor other car features from the back.  The car has already launched in China, where it is also offered in a six-seater configuration. It is available with two powerful plug-in hybrid set-up choices.Both have a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired with either two or three electric motors, offering 660kW/935Nm or 1030kW/1410Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in roughly three seconds. The car has a fittingly huge battery of up to 70kWh, expected to offer an all-electric driving range of more than 300km. Zeekr will hope the 9X can build on the momentum of its cars already making waves in Australia. The 7X mid-size electric SUV has been a revelation for the brand.  It has quickly garnered significant attention from buyers as it looks to hunt down the record-breaking Tesla Model Y.Its smaller X sibling has also started to gain some traction Down Under, with a mass of new orders for its recently-updated model. 

Zeekr’s incoming 7GT electric station wagon has secured a maximum five star EuroNCAP score ahead of its expected imminent arrival in Australia.The 7GT has been tested to the latest EuroNCAP standards, which sync up with ANCAP’s toughest-ever new rating regime that was just introduced to Australia.The sporty electric wagon is one of the first cars tested under the new system, and it scored highly across all four new testing pillars.These include Safe Driving (79 per cent), Crash Avoidance (89 per cent), Crash Protection (93 per cent) and Post-Crash Safety (95 per cent).While the maximum EuroNCAP score is a strong indicator for how the wagon will perform under the ANCAP system (as the destructive testing in Europe often forms the basis for ANCAP’s assessment), it is no guarantee. ANCAP’s assessment takes into account local specifications and can also involve local validation for active safety equipment, which is more intensely scrutinised under the new rules.The 7GT was partially marked down in the Safe Driving category for placing some core controls in the multimedia touchscreen. Overall the 7GT scored higher than the BMW iX3, which was the first car rated five stars to the new rating system.The 7GT is due in Australia imminently, being one of three new Zeekr models earmarked for Australia in the short-term. It is likely our market will receive the 9X large luxury hybrid SUV first, with the 7GT to be next.Both will arrive before the brand’s most hyped new car, the 8X large five-seat SUV, which is a smash-hit in China. The plug-in hybrid 8X will be aiming squarely at premium rivals with pricing likely to start close to, if not more than, $100,000.The 7GT should be priced in the region of $55,000 to $70,000 by the time it arrives in Australia, and is available in either rear-wheel drive form (370kW/545Nm) or Performance all-wheel drive form (585kW/812Nm), according to Chinese specifications.It is also offered with either a 75kWh battery pack (702km range, CLTC) or a 103kWh battery pack (880km range, CLTC). It also has a 900-volt electrical architecture, allowing it to charge in less than 20 minutes on a compatible DC charger.Expect to learn more about the 7GT as we approach its launch window, which is expected to be either late 2026 or early 2027.The brand told CarsGuide official pre-orders for the wagon will become available to buyers imminently.

Electric cars are finally having their mainstream moment in Australia, and now make up over 16 per cent of Australia’s new car market.Sales have significantly jumped year-on-year, helped along by a much wider availability of more affordable models, but also an unprecedented fuel crisis, which has made the cost of running a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle front of mind for many.This surge of new options has also seen the list of top-selling electric cars undergo a significant re-shuffle, with new brands featuring heavily.Tesla notably takes the crown for the best selling EV in Australia for the first half of 2026, with its Model Y achieving 20,396 total registrations according to Electric Vehicle Council data. This is due to an eyebrow-raising 8072 unit tally in June thanks to a literal boatload of cars arriving.Next down the charts is BYD with its smash-hit Sealion 7 mid-size SUV. The Sealion 7, which is a key rival to the Model Y, can be had at a more keen $54,990 price-point with similar specs to the Tesla that starts from $58,900 before on-roads.Alongside the plug-in hybrid Shark 6, the Sealion 7 is a major part of BYD’s success story in Australia over the past year.The next two players down compete at the entry-level to their respective segments.Geely’s EX5 clocked up 6756 registrations in the first half of 2026, a quiet achiever in an extremely competitive part of the market. While it goes into battle against a range of rivals in the $40,000 price bracket, it has more than doubled the sales of its closest rival, the previously-popular BYD Atto 3, and it sold 20 times the volume of the similar Leapmotor C10.Below the EX5 is the Jaecoo J5. While this model is now available with petrol power, it is the EV version that has been on sale longer and managed to secure fourth position for the first half of the year, racking up 6113 units.This is no doubt largely thanks to the electric version’s extremely keen $36,990 before on-roads price-tag and generous dimensions for a small SUV, making it the sweet spot for many first time EV adopters. It also undercuts the Atto 3 and Leapmotor B10, and has good visibility in the market thanks to Omoda Jaecoo’s rapidly expanding dealer network.Rounding out the top five electric cars in Australia for the first half of 2026 is the Zeekr 7X. A smash hit for Geely’s premium arm. The 7X stands out for its radical design and strong specs at a generous price point (from $57,900 before on-roads). As a result, the brand tells us that it is attracting not only aspirational buyers, but also buyers who were previously driving BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.Previous top-sellers, the Model 3 and BYD Atto 3, have now dropped out of the top five, amassing a little over 3000 sales each. Kia’s also-popular EV5 mid-size and EV3 SUVs fell short of the list with less than 3000 sales each.All of the electric cars in the top five for the first half of the year were built in China, with the exception of the Performance grade of the Tesla Model Y (which would account for only a small proportion of its sales), showing the country’s leadership in the electric car space.Mainstream brands are struggling on the EV front, with cars like the Toyota bZ4X mid-size SUV amassing just 1718 sales. Volkswagen is in a similar position, with its similar ID.4 amassing just 1183 sales.Even MG, which was the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has tumbled down the charts. Its MG4 hatch has lost hundreds of sales year-on-year. Its S5 and S6 electric SUVs are struggling to compete with newer players, amassing just 1713 and 647 sales respectively.The share of EV sales in the Australian market will inevitably grow as tough new emissions laws start to shape the line-ups of most brands.

Geely has detailed its upcoming TT halo four-door sports coupe.Sharing its name with a famous Audi, the Geely TT is instead a fully electric sports coupe with a similar layout to the Porsche Taycan or Audi e-Tron GT.Measuring nearly five meters long and featuring an 800-volt electric platform, the TT is available in either rear-wheel drive form with 245kW or all-wheel drive from nearly doubling power to 425kW.Three battery sizes will be available, according to previous data filings with the Chinese government, including a base 52.4kWh version, a 63.8kWh version and a 75.2kWh version with driving range up to 725km according to the more lenient CLTC scale.The Galaxy TT is part of a new halo range of Geely models from its Galaxy sub-brand, which incorporate new design elements for the brand, alongside the incoming and much-hyped Galaxy Cruiser off-roader.Geely has also now revealed the TT’s interior, which has significant crossover with its Zeekr premium arm, including a familiar dash layout, digital instrument cluster, and steering wheel design to vehicles like the Zeekr 7GT.It also features Geely’s new in-house Flyme Auto 2 software for its large central touchscreen unit, and like other cars in this class has a giant fixed glass roof and active spoiler piece at the rear.It even has a 110-litre frunk and a 5.2-litre refrigerated or heated drawer under the centre console, which itself shares a split-console feature and sunken cupholders similar to those which appear in Zeekr models.While the TT moves Geely’s Galaxy sedan range in a new performance direction and features a lot of premium Zeekr hardware, Chinese media is speculating that it will be more affordable than its direct rivals, which include the overwhelmingly popular Xiaomi SU7, which was the original Chinese four-door sports coupe success story, and the new Chinese-market MG07 which follows a similar format.Both the Geely and the MG are chasing the success of the Xiaomi which set Chinese sales charts on fire and was celebrated by global Ford boss Jim Farley who imported one to the US to personally drive as “fantastic”.CarsGuide understands the Geely TT isn’t currently on the schedule for an Australian launch, but isn’t ruled out for a future arrival either as the company rapidly expands its sales footprint Down Under.Its EX5 mid-size electric SUV has quietly become one of the best-selling electric cars in Australia, and the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid spin-off is also one of the best-selling plug-ins.The company will next launch its fully electric EX2 hatchback, which has garnered lots of interest in the lead-up to its arrival. Geely will also launch both the Camry-rivalling Emgrand hybrid sedan and an unnamed three-row SUV in 2027.Geely's Zeekr premium arm has also been a resounding success in 2026, with its smash-hit 7X mid-size electric SUV outselling its primary rivals and causing a renewed surge of interest in both the updated X small SUV and incoming 8X plug-in hybrid large SUV.

BYD’s latest car exposes a huge issue that is headed for Australia. Driving range is the new point of difference for Chinese carmakers, and BYD is fully participating, but it has a sinister side.The BYD Seal 08 was unveiled in China as a Mercedes S-Class size sedan, with fully-electric and plug-in hybrid set-ups.The EV offers a driving range of up to more than 900km, according to generous CLTC standards, but its PHEV sibling steals the show. Its petrol tank and 45kWh battery combine to deliver a total driving range of 1660km, with an electric-only range of 400km.This is the same size as the battery BYD puts in its fully-electric Dolphin hatchback.Big hitting electrified set-ups boasting driving ranges approaching the 2000km range mark have grown in quantity, but authorities are starting to push back, according to reports. These large range-carrying set-ups substantially increase a car's weight, with batteries accounting for the bulk of the weight. Heavier cars require more energy to run, making them less efficient. They also contribute to an increased amount of wear and tear on the roads, requiring more frequent work.The Chinese government could be about to start imposing penalties on carmakers for producing electrified cars that are more than a certain weight. The BYD Seal 08 PHEV battery weighs more than 330kg, contributing to a total weight likely to be around 2000kg, with its EV sibling exceeding that figure.Australia’s current best-selling electric car and model generally, the Tesla Model Y also weighs around the 2000kg mark.Vehicles above 4500kg incur the Heavy User Road Tax on every litre of fuel used in Australia to pay for the wear and tear caused by them.External factors such as the Iran War and subsequent fuel price increase has accelerated the uptake of electrified cars globally, including Australia. With so many heavy EVs and PHEVs hitting the roads in Australia, there could be a need to follow China’s lead to protect the country’s road network from increased damage.Innovations in technology such as solid-state batteries could provide the key to offering huge driving ranges in smaller, lighter packages.Chinese brands have driving forwards in their pursuit of such technologies, with BYD and Chery, among others working on solutions in 2027.

The Zeekr 7X's smashing start to Australian life has been well-documented, but its smaller X sibling has not had the same attention.A tepid sales response following the small electric SUV’s initial launch in 2024 prompted the branch to slash thousands off the price for its updated model in 2026. It appears this price cut has done the trick for Zeekr, with the brand announcing it has received more than 1200 orders in the car’s first six weeks of being on offer. This contrasts the just 665 units of the previous model being sold across the whole of 2025. The brand ditched the $49,990 (before on-road costs ) price for the rear-wheel drive and $62,990 for the all-wheel drive.The RWD model is now offered from $48,900, drive-away, while AWD pricing starts at $57,900, also drive-away. Cheaper pricing means the X comes in under rivals like the BMW iX1 and Volvo EX30.The X also received a suite of upgrades for its new model. Updates to the RWD battery means it can now DC charge at 230kW, juicing up from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes.Power increased by 50kW on both models.The single motor in RWD now produces 250kW and 343Nm, while the dual motors in the AWD produce 365kW and 573Nm. There was also a standard equipment buff for the RWD, including heated front and rear seats, as well as a premium Yamaha surround sound system. The X’s recent success adds to the high-flying 7X that has seen sales skyrocket, making it one of the best-selling EVs in the country. The brand will be eager to avoid the order backlog that occurred when the 7X first landed in Australia.It said orders are expected to be fulfilled swiftly this time around. “For customers considering making the switch, delivery timelines are already proving encouraging, with some orders expected to be fulfilled in as little as two months,” Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li said. The Geely sub-brand will continue its methodical approach to model launches Down Under.The 7GT wagon, as well as the 8X and 9X large SUVs are all expected to launch within the next 18 months.