What's the difference?
Zeekr is a new electric brand and the X small SUV is one of its first cars to come to Australia.
Owned by the Chinese carmaker Geely, which also has a big stake in Volvo, the X is designed in Sweden, built in China and now sold here.
Rivals to this little electric SUV include the Smart #1, Volvo EX30 and Xpeng G6.
The Zeekr X line-up is currently very simple - there’s the rear-wheel drive version and the all-wheel drive we tested.
Renault’s Arkana coupe-style compact SUV has been hit with its first makeover, which ushers in a range of styling changes, increased equipment and new model grade names.
There are few cars like it in the compact SUV segment, where vehicles usually favour the boxier, traditional SUV wagon shape over the stylish but often internal space compromised coupe SUVs.
Renault Australia is only expecting about one per cent share of the segment or around 1500 sales a year.
But if you want to stand out from the crowd of Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi ASX and Toyota Corolla Cross small SUVs then the Arkana might be for you.
The Zeekr X all-wheel drive surprised me in a great way. Not only is this the first Zeekr I've driven, it's also one of the best small electric SUVs I've ever driven. There's so much to like - from the good price and quality design to the high level of safety and how easy it is to drive.
The Arkana is a stylish alternative in a sea of same-same compact SUVs. It's relatively well equipped and has some hidden gems in its ownership and running costs that elevate it above some of the competition.
It’s not a bad thing to steer, either, but the lurchy dual-clutch could be a deal breaker for some.
The sweet spot is the Techno, which misses out on the Esprit Alpine’s special touches but represents the most bang for your buck.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.