2027 Zeekr 9X Reviews

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.”Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world.“We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.”“The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.”Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company.“It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.”Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited.“I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.”The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall.However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand.Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago.When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern.“When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said.“But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand.“If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.”To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM.“We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.”He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”.It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications.“Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.”Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

Australia is about to receive a wave of new EVs before the end of 2026.EV sales are surging in Australia as brands beef-up their line-ups to provide further choice.Here is a look at some of the best models still to arrive this year.GAC will launch an ultra-affordable variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback before the end of 2026.This Standard Range variant is priced similar to the popular Geely EX2 that starts from $26,490 (before on-road costs).It should start at less than $30,000 drive-away when it gets here, given the current variant on sale starts from $31,990 (drive-away).It’s equipped with a 44kWh battery instead of a 60kWh unit, offering a driving range of 320km, compared to 430km, according to WLTP standards.GAC hasn’t confirmed performance output yet, but in China its front-mounted electric motor produces 100kW and 145Nm, which is less than the 150kW/210Nm available now.Kia will introduce its first fully-electric people mover, the PV5 Passenger, to the Australian market in 2026.The PV5 Passenger is the people mover variant of the PV5 Cargo already on sale Down Under. Its performance matches the PV5 Cargo, with a single electric motor making 120kW/250Nm and its 71.2kWh battery expected to offer around 416km of range (WLTP).Kia hasn’t provided a more specific launch date than Q4 2026, but it’s likely to be closer to December.The Korean brand hasn’t revealed pricing yet either, but Cargo starts from $55,990 (before on-road costs), so buyers can expect the more expensive Passenger variant to sit between $60,000 to $70,000.The much-anticipated Zeekr 7GT wagon is due to land in Australian showrooms in Q4 2026.The fully-electric Euro-styled wagon will target a similar reception to its 7X mid-size SUV sibling that has taken the Aussie market by storm so far. The 7GT is available in a rear-wheel drive configuration, making 310kW/440Nm, as well as an all-wheel drive variant, with 475kW/710Nm. We still don’t know how much it will cost, but it could sit around the $55,000 mark, coming in cheaper than the 7X SUV.XPeng is looking to make the most of its new factory-backed operation Down Under.The brand will launch its L03 electric mid-size SUV in December 2026, priced from $41,900 (before on-road costs). This means it’s cheaper than the Tesla Model Y ($58,900) and the Zeekr 7X ($57,900), while matching the Geely EX5’s starting price ($41,900). The L03 comes as standard with a single electric motor, producing 163kW/280Nm, and a 445km driving range from its 58kWh battery. There will also be a hybrid range-extender variant of the car that uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery and a single electric motor, making 178kW/280Nm.An updated Chery E5 small SUV will hit Aussie showrooms in late 2026.The E5’s budget-friendly status pits it against the BYD Atto 3 ($41,990) and Jaecoo J5 ($36,990, drive-away). It offers the same performance as its outgoing model, with 155kW and 288Nm, while its 59kWh battery offers 430km of WLTP driving range. It now has a larger 15.6-inch central touchscreen display and an auto-dimming mirror.The EX60 is the fully-electric counterpart to the XC60 - Volvo’s best-selling car of all time.The mid-size SUV will start from $86,900, and will tackle the BMW iX3 ($89,990) in the increasingly competitive electric SUV segments. The RWD variant produces 275kW/480Nm, while the AWD makes 375kW/710Nm. Performance increases up to 500kW and 680Nm on the more expensive P12 variant due in 2027. Its initial variants will be equipped with either an 83kWh battery offering 610km or a 95kWh unit offering 660km of range, according to WLTP standards.GWM is about to launch a new hatchback variant of its Ora 5 EV in Australia. The Ora 5 hatch will rival the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban in the affordable EV space. It’s expected to have the same single motor found in the SUV variant, making 150kW/260Nm. GWM has confirmed it has a 58kWh battery with a 435km driving range (WLTP). 

Electric cars are more reliable than petrol and diesel ones, according to a new study of almost 50 million vehicle roadworthy checks.It’s a topic of heated discussion all over internet forums: are EVs more reliable and lower maintenance than their combustion equivalents.A commonly held belief is that because electric cars have far fewer parts compared to petrol and diesel ones, there’s less to go wrong. That makes sense on the surface, but there could be actual proof now thanks to a study in the United Kingdom by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).Vehicles in the UK that are more than three-years-old are required by law to pass a yearly roadworthy and safety check - also known as an MOT (Ministry of Transport) - to be registered.In NSW, vehicles older than five years need a roadworthy certificate - the equivalent of a British MOT.The MOT requires a thorough check of a vehicle’s brakes, tyres, wheels, steering, suspension, lights, windscreen wipers, body structure and emissions to ensure all are in safe working order.The BVRLA study found EVs are more durable over time, and as the age of combustion vehicles increases, so does the maintenance requirements.The study examined the 47.7 million vehicles that underwent a roadworthy and safety test for registration from 2024-2026. Specifically the study looked at test failure rates. This was also correlated with data from 863 million historical tests.The study found that in the first 32,000-97,000km there was very little difference in the failure rates of both EVs and combustion cars. The results revealed 12 per cent of EVs that attempted the test failed, compared to 11.7 per cent of combustion vehicles.After about 100,000km the results get interesting. EV failure rates plateaued at 16.5 per cent while the failure rate of combustion cars increased steadily.From 145,000km-193,000km the failure rate for EVs remained at 16.5 per cent but for combustion it was 22.1 per cent.Above 193,000km EV failure rate actually decreased to 16 per cent while combustion continued to rise to 23.5 per cent.  Combustion vehicles have about 20,000 moving parts in their drivetrain, and EVs have only about 20. And while combustion engines have been developed over a hundred years to be super reliable, efficient and robust, the sheer number of metal and rubber components under the incredible heat and strain of constant use have a limited lifespan. From pistons and crankshafts, transmissions and driveshafts, to the fuel and cooling systems, the brakes and exhaust, combustion cars work hard and wear out faster.Electric cars do have weaknesses - some highlighted by the findings of the study and some we know as motoring journalists.The study found tyres wear out 1.8 times faster on an EV than a combustion car. This could be down to a combination of a number of factors we know cause tyre wear such as the heavy weight of EVs and the colossal torque electric cars can send to their wheels.We also know that EVs tend to have more technical problems from software issues to battery fade.Another interesting takeaway from the study is older EVs are not disappearing from British roads, with 94.6 per cent of electric cars over 15 years old continuing to come back for their annual check 2.5 years later.That said, new EVs are arriving on the market with better electric architecture, which ensure not just better driving range but systems capable of handling faster charging.The 2026 Zeekr 7X for example has 800V architecture and a 100kWh battery, while the 2020 Nissan Leaf has 400V architecture and a 62kWh battery.  

To be honest I didn’t think this would happen so fast but it really does appear the end is nigh for the internal combustion engine in Australia, because for the first time sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol ones. So how does Australia compare for EVs sales compared to the rest of the world? Australia is punching well above its weight. Australia is ranked high when it comes to EV sales compared to the world, but wait until you see how high.Australians bought 27,089 electric vehicles in August, which represent 24.9 per cent of the market. Not included in this are hybrids or plug-in hybrids, and that makes this number even more significant.In comparison the total sales of petrol cars in August, including light commercial vehicles, came to 25,824.August’s sales came off the back of a bumper July total of 23,510, but they weren’t the largest recorded - that claim to fame goes to June with 32,570 sales. August was a big month for EV sales in other parts of the world, too.Sales of EVs in France reached a record 38 per cent of the market or 36,159 electric cars. Quick reminder: Australia for the same month has 24.9 per cent and 27,089 electric cars.Let me also tell you that France is placed fourth in the world rankings for August EV sales.Of course this is nothing compared to China’s EV sales, which were approximately one million for August.Yes, China sold the same number of electric cars in August as the almost the combined sales of petrol, diesel, EV, and hybrids in Australia in any given year.With China in the No.1 place; in second place for August is Germany with 68,930 sales; then in third is the United States with about 65,000; then France with its 36,159; followed by the United Kingdom with 27,876; and then in sixth place is Australia with 27,089.We just missed out on being in the top 5 for August EV sales.Australia’s year-to-date battery electric vehicle sales through to the end of August come to 154,313.This places Australia in seventh place globally for the year so far, behind China in first place with approximately 6.06 million sales; then in second place is the US with about 500,000 sales; then Germany in third with 446,615; the UK is in fourth with 327,683; then France with 322,097; and then South Korea with 272,000.Petrol sales year to date have reached 243,673, which is 89,360 sales of the 154,313 EV sales.So while monthly sales of EVs are beginning to overtake petrol car sales, we won't see the electric car sales total for the year eclipse those of petrol in 2026.A recent report from the NRMA found there are approximately 500,000 EVs on Australian roads and this accounted for just three per cent of the total number of registered vehicles. But as we have seen by the monthly figures EV sales are at a high level and staying high. The NRMA said by 2040 10 per cent of registered vehicles will be EVs, and modelling by the CSIRO predicts by 2050 97 per cent of all light passenger cars will be battery electric vehicles.The Tesla Model Y is not just the biggest selling EV, it's also is the best selling of all cars in Australia right now with 6414 sold in August.The BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV with 2213 sales is the fifth best-selling car in Australia, while the Zeekr 7X is in ninth place with 1748 sales.

The Zeekr 7X could be about to get a new addition to its Australian line-up, with reports of an 85kWh fast charging battery variant being added to the range.The news comes fresh out of China where government regulations require carmakers to publicly publish the specifications of upcoming vehicles. Zeekr’s published filing details an upcoming rear-wheel drive 7X that is the same in every way to the current model, but will have a bigger 85kWh battery. It offers quick charging and impressive range, while keeping weight and cost down.The new 85kWh battery for the Zeekr 7X is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, up from the 75kWh unit in the current base 7X in Australia.Currently the 7X line-up consists of a 75kWh LFP battery variant and a 100kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery variant. NMC batteries are more energy dense and heavy, but offer long ranges and more power. LFP on the other hand are more thermally stable, can handle being charged more often to 100 per cent and are cheaper as they do without certain rare metals such as cobalt.Zeekr hasn’t disclosed the range of the 85kWh battery, but it will fall between the 480km (WLPT) range of the 75kWh unit and the 615km (WLPT) of the 100kWh NMC battery.An electric vehicle with more than 500km of real world driving range is a preferable choice and the 85kWh battery is likely to offer this extra distance over the 75kWh variant.CarsGuide has reached out to Zeekr Australia to find out if and when the 85kWh variant will join the 7X line-up, but the company has yet to respond.As for the price Australians could expect this to fall between the $57,900 list price of the  75kWh 7X and the $63,900 of the 100kWh 7X.

Buyers are about to get their first look at the next wave of EVs coming to Australia. The 2026 Everything Electric Sydney event will showcase many of the latest EVs headed Down Under, and will have a record number of new examples on show.Many affordable Chinese plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars will be available to look at, as well as some of the most anticipated new cars on their way to Australia. There will be plenty of new models put on show for the first time by Chery. Chery’s European-styled sub-brand Lepas will have two of its new models about to hit Aussie showrooms on display. The Lepas L6 electric mid-size SUV will be the brand’s first car put on sale in Australia, due in October 2026. Lepas will also show off its smaller L4 electric SUV that is expected to arrive Down Under in 2027. Chery’s adventure-focused sub-brand iCaur will introduce its V25 rugged SUV for the first time.The V25 is scheduled to arrive in early 2027 with a range-extender hybrid set-up to rival the plug-in hybrid Denza B5. Chery and Omoda Jaecoo will debut new models at the show as well, with more details to be revealed closer to the event. Zeekr will unveil its hugely-anticipated 7GT electric wagon publicly for the first time. The 7GT takes aim at Europe’s elite luxury models the Audi S5, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Earmarked for a late 2026 or early 2027 arrival, the 7GT will be the popular Chinese brand’s fourth model on sale Down Under. Geely will continue its new model surge in Australia, with the introduction of two SUVs to its line-up. The brand has not revealed any more specific details about what the models are. They will join the mid-sized fully-electric EX5 and plug-in hybrid Starray EM-i that have both experienced a positive sales return so far. Geely is on the up in Australia, with its methodical approach to introducing models seeing it claim solid sales results.GWM is another brand to have a strong presence at Everything Electric. The brand’s new-generation Haval H7 mid-size SUV will be on show, scheduled to launch Down Under later in 2026. It is expected to be available in both five- and seven-seater configurations, giving it a wider family appeal. GWM will also have a more affordable PHEV ute on display. The GWM Cannon PHEV is pitched as a cheaper and smaller sibling to the Cannon Alpha PHEV, and could undercut the confidently-selling BYD Shark 6. The Cannon PHEV is expected to officially launch in Australia in October 2026. MG’s U9 electric ute will be on display for the first time in New South Wales at the show. The U9 is one of few electric utes targeting the Australian market, along with the low-volume Toyota HiLux BEV. MG’s luxury sub-brand IM will put its LS9 large SUV on display. The LS9 is a six-seater SUV that provides competition for the popular Zeekr 9X. It could launch in Australia in later 2026 or early 2027. Hyundai will present its Staria Load Electric van for the first time in Australia. The Staria Load EV will join diesel- and hybrid-powered variants of the car already on sale. It will battle in an increasingly competitive electric van segment against the Kia PV5 and affordable Chinese rivals, including the LDV eDeliver 7. Forthing will show off an electric people mover that will launch in 2027. Forthing currently only sells its Taikon 5 mid-size SUV in Australia, available as a range-extender hybrid or fully-electric. Cadillac’s new Lyriq V performance SUV will be on show. It is the brand’s first of its V-Series, boasting as the fastest Cadillac ever. It will join the standard Optiq, Vistiq and Lyriq SUVs Down Under in early 2027. Cadillac Lyriq-VChery and Omoda Jaecoo new models Forthing electric people moverTwo Geely SUVsGWM Haval H7 and Cannon PHEVHyundai Staria Load ElectriciCaur V25IM LS9Lepas L6 and L4MG U9 EVZeekr 7GT

Zeekr has heard your feedback and more of its cars will get tactile buttons and dials as it moves away from exclusively touchscreen-based controls.Speaking to CarsGuide at a 7GT pre-launch event, the head of the company’s design studio in Shanghai, Javier Garcia-Gallardo said more buttons were “definitely” something that will be put into its cars going forward.“For the 7GT’s predecessor, the 007 sedan, we didn’t have physical controls in the centre console. We got some feedback from the Chinese market back then, so when it came time to adjust it for the 7GT we knew it was something we had to change,” he explained.“They add more functionality for the driver, but also a richer interior feeling at the same time. When we move up the line-up to the bigger cars like the 8X and 9X you can see more physical buttons are coming - so we are taking that feedback on.”“Especially those more material customers who are looking at 8X and 9X, they appreciate those switches and buttons and not having to navigate through the touchscreen to adjust their seat or turn on message functions.”“So for those kinds of features you’re going to be using very often, we’ve made sure they have a switch.”Buttons or not, one thing that sets Zeekr apart from its parent brand, Geely, is its unique and decidedly flashier software suite. Something Garcia-Gallardo said has been a huge benefit for the design team to integrate better into the overall feel of its cars.“We have our own operating system exclusive for us and built from zero,” he said.“It’s taken a couple of years to get it where it is now, but we feel it’s at a point where it’s pretty good in the market. For sure, the design team has been one of the major stakeholders developing that.“Being a platform product, the operating system has over the air updates extremely often, so it takes us a lot of manpower to curate and maintain its constant evolution.”Garcia-Gallardo said Zeekr has evolved past its infancy as a spin-off from sister brand Lynk & Co, and it was set for some bigger changes as it aligns to a more global audience.He said it was a challenge to design for the huge Chinese audience, while catering for global tastes.“We need to design cars which appeal to all markets and balance those considerations and requirements.”“China is a big market for Zeekr, and one of the biggest overall markets in the world, so the demands of that market are extremely important, so we need to appeal to the Chinese market to keep growing and be financially stable.”“As we mature as a company though it’s very important we bring global demands and requirements into the design program at the beginning.”“This was happening less at the start because we didn’t have the same global footprint that we have today, but now that we have a stronger customer base we have a wider set of requirements.”He added customer and media feedback, as well as quirks of local market requirements like Australian Design Rules (ADRs) were “certainly part of my day-to-day design briefings”.ADRs saw the animated LED bar across the front of the car deleted from the 7X and 7GT for the Australian market.When asked how much freedom Zeekr’s designers have when it comes to its new models, Garcia-Gallardo said it was an essential pillar of the brand.“The company trusts a lot in design, especially when it comes to defining proportions of the car, and its architecture. I think that’s what makes a car feel special at first glance. It’s those proportions which makes it feel like it doesn’t simply land in mainstream territory.”He added Zeekr’s future updates and new-generation products would see its range more rationalised into its two main design languages, ‘Hidden Energy’ as worn by the 7X and 7GT, and ‘Powerful Elegance’ as worn by the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs.Design elements inherited from Lynk & Co, like the dual-DRLs still seen on the X small SUV and 009 people mover are set to be phased out over time.Zeekr leaps up the charts in Australia, almost entirely thanks to its smash-hit 7X mid-size SUV. It has brought the brand some much needed momentum, which it hopes will be realised with the arrival of the fully electric 7GT sporty station wagon before the end of the year, and the introduction of the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs in 2027.

Aussie EV owners could soon be facing a battery crisis.The world’s biggest battery maker CATL has warned shortened vehicle-development and validation cycles are leading to wide-scale electric car battery failures, according to reports. CATL Chairman Robert Zeng said China’s battery defect tolerances are too lenient for high-volume Chinese EV production. Chinese carmakers have launched more than 600 new vehicle models this year already, equating to almost three new EVs every day.Potentially rushed development processes could spell trouble for EV buyers down the line.  CATL is calling for defect tolerances to only allow for up to 1000 defective cells for every one billion cells manufactured.Defective electric car batteries don't just stop a car from driving, but they can also give rise to other safety issues.The Chinese GAC Aion S was involved in a “banana battery” swelling issue in mid-2026, impacting 213,000 lithium-iron-phosphate examples, where batteries were physically bending. Australian GAC Aion vehicles use a different battery.This led to cell leakage, insulation faults and power system shutdowns while driving. Supplier CALB was forced to implement extensive quality reforms and inspection measures as a result of the controversy.It doesn’t take much for an EV battery to stop working, according to Zeng, who said packs are only as reliable as the weakest component. Just one defective cell can be detrimental to the performance and safety of the whole pack. There was a high-profile compensation claim from Geely subsidiary Viridi in early 2026, where it sued battery maker Sunwoda for 2.31 billion yuan for defective cells supplied from 2021 to 2023The pair eventually settled for 608 million yuan. EV battery reforms are on the agenda in Australia. A recent report from the Australian Automotive Dealer Network (AADA) called for serious changes to rules around EV battery replacements.The report warned of a “wave of litigation" when EV batteries need replacement outside of the warranty period because their cost could exceed the vehicle’s remaining value. One particular dealer said Chinese-built cars are “not holding their charge” or are “blowing up on fire”.It puts forward that manufacturers should be required to define acceptable battery thresholds or disclose the expected degrading of a unit. If a battery holds at least 70 per cent of its charge after eight years, it would be considered to be performing at an acceptable level, for example. 

Zeekr is storming up the charts in Australia, targeting luxury and mainstream rivals, proving Chinese brands can be more than just budget-oriented.While rival premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes have such distinctive designs tied to their identities though, you might have noticed Zeekrs all look a bit different.Explaining this quirk of the brand, the head of Zeekr’s design studio in Shanghai Javier Garcia-Gallardo explained why the company had such diverse designs in its portfolio, and how things were going to evolve going forward.“It’s to do with the evolution of Zeekr and how the brand was born,” he said.“You could say we’ve been through three main chapters - the first chapter is the vehicles with heritage from Lynk & Co like the 001, 009 and the X. They are vehicles which transparently were designed to be part of the Lynk & Co brand and transitioned across to the Zeekr brand.“But they weren’t fully there yet, the Zeekr X, for example, still has the dual DRLs from Lynk & Co.”Lynk & Co is Zeekr’s sister company, both premium marques under parent company Geely’s umbrella.Lynk & Co existed first, dating back to 2016, but it has now been re-organised to sit under Zeekr ownership. Zeekr’s first vehicle, the 001, was originally revealed as the Lynk & Co Zero concept in 2020, before Zeekr’s formation in 2021.“The second chapter is where we introduced the ‘Hidden Energy’ language.” Garcia-Gallardo continued, “This is for the 7GT, the 7X and the Zeekr Mix.”This design language originally debuted in 2023 on the 007 sedan on which the 7GT wagon is based.“It was the first exclusively Zeekr design.” Garcia-Gallardo said. “For this, we wanted a shift of mindset for the customer. We wanted it to be very progressive, targeting Generation Z. They are digital natives and perceive technology in the car in a different way from previous generations.“Chapter three is ‘Powerful Elegance’ - our first cars represented by this are the 8X and 9X. These vehicles are targeted at a more material customer and have more traditional automotive design cues, but you can also see some cues from the 009 as well. The grille is very dominant and gives a kind of architectural design to the cars.”Going forward, things are set to line up to the brand’s main two designs, with smaller vehicles to stick to the ‘Hidden Energy’ and larger ones to sport the ‘Powerful Elegance’ look. This is particularly because Zeekr intends to have a more distinctive and instantly-identifiable look going forward as it builds its recognition globally.“The market is flexible, but a consistent design language is important for brand awareness," Garcia-Gallardo said, “we’ve spent the last couple of years evolving and exploring these different languages for different customer bases. What you can expect to see is the design languages will get closer together.“They won’t be ultra-dogmatic between them though - you’ll see some features from the 9X for example being interpreted in a different way on the 7 series vehicles and vice versa.“One example is the detail line which follows the ambient light through the digital instrument panel across the dash from door to door. It’s not as clear on the exteriors yet, but you’ll start to see a bit of horizontality introduced across our model range going forward.”Garcia-Gallardo hinted at other changes and tweaks to the model range going forward, too, which would be based on global feedback as Zeekr becomes more of an international brand.As for the Lynk & Co and Zeekr split, the two could be thought of as the Chinese side of the Volvo/Polestar equation (two similar brands with different purposes), although Lynk & Co and its sportier and largely hybrid offerings remains squarely aimed at Europe where it is headquartered for the time being rather than right-hand drive markets like Australia.Instead, we’ll be an important export focus for the Zeekr brand, which is headquartered in China. A plan to re-badge certain Lynk & Co models as Zeekrs for markets like Australia has been reportedly cancelled, as each brand establishes its own identity.The pair continue to diverge in their design, with Lynk & Co models continuing ownership of the split-DRL design on the new 08 PHEV mid-sizer and 900 large PHEV SUV.Meanwhile Zeekr will power ahead with its more high-end offerings in Australia into 2027, with the 8X and 9X hybrids due here over the next year, adding to its current range which consists of the X small SUV, 7X mid-sizer, 009 people mover, and incoming 7GT station wagon, all for now as electric cars.

Motoring journos spend a lot of time in all manner of cars, and with the increasing pace of change brought on by technology, new brands and electrification, we’re constantly reassessing what a good car should be.The fundamentals stay the same, of course, but car brands are increasingly trying new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they should go back to the drawing board.Some of these are widespread, and some remain rare oddities, but it would be great if all of them vanished.I need to get this one out of the way first because if I don’t mention how driver assists are ruining the driving experience in some cars, I’ll be called out in the comments.In a lot of cases I actually think driver assists are becoming better tuned and brands are realising we would like easy ways to turn them off, but there are still lane-keeps and driver monitors that would drive a saint to swear.The traditional method of pulling a lever down to ‘drive’ has always worked well, everyone quite naturally knows how to do it.I’ll even concede that the return of column-mounted shifters is a nice way to clear-up space in the centre console, as long as the direction you need to pull the shifter follows logic.But ever since a gear selector dial in a Ford Focus ST-Line wagon caught me off guard in 2019, I’ve seen more odd shifter methods creeping in. From individual buttons on the dash (Jeep Avenger) to the swipe on the screen for each direction (Tesla), these methods are annoying to use in a hurry.If you’re in the middle of a three-point turn and you have to look at what you’re doing with your hands to get the car into reverse, a designer somewhere has failed.The biggest culprit for weird and unintuitive door handles is, to most people, Tesla. Many have commented on being confused when faced with entry to a Model 3 Uber that’s pulled up to the kerb for a pick-up.Tesla is not alone in this, however.On the inside, the current Ford Ranger and Ford Everest have ‘squeeze’ handles, many new EVs have buttons to open, and other new car doors have handles that open incongruently with how your arm moves as you open the door to exit.On the outside, the Zeekr 7X has exterior buttons on the b-pillars to open the doors electrically, some cars have retractable handles so they sit flush with the door, and others have similar frustrating handles that you must first ‘press’ to pop-out before you can open the door.Not only is it frustrating for your passengers, but it can also be unsafe in an emergency.RFID (short for ‘radio frequency identification’) or NFC (near field communication) functions are pretty handy for plenty of things: contactless payments, building access fobs, even your toll pass or data transfer.More specifically, NFC has been adapted by some brands to cards used to unlock and even start new cars, like the Volvo EX30 or the Leapmotor B10.Tap the card in the right place (like the b-pillar or the driver wing mirror) and the car unlocks, then place the card in the centre console slot and the car starts. No fobs with buttons for unlocking your car on approach or unlocking it from a distance.Inconvenient? Very. Annoying? Yes. And it means you have to find somewhere to keep the card rather than just having the fob on your keyring.The implementation of the central touchscreen in new cars has become an anathema to convenience. It’s now an easy way for designers to create ‘sleek’ environments and for engineers to save money on buttons.It’s also now allowing some manufacturers (Volvo, you again) to move some otherwise out-of-the-way controls to a digital home.The electric seat adjustments that used to sit on the side of the seat or on the door, the side mirror adjustment controls that could once be found by the window, and in some cases the steering column adjustment controls - all now on-screen controls as far as Volvo is concerned.It’s not alone, as some new Chinese brands are doing the same, but it’s especially disappointing from the brand that once made the three-point seatbelt design public domain in the interest of safety over profit.I think cars that make sounds on unlock and lock, akin to a PC or old Macintosh startup sound, are more embarrassing than actually annoying but they’ve made the list nonetheless.I don’t need my car to chime away when I unlock it in the car park at work, especially not when people are already looking at the car and trying to figure out what it is. I’m looking at you, Zeekr and now GWM.Some of them are loud, some of them can be disabled, all of them are unnecessary.