Driving report: Zeekr X
Well done
Zeekr
© press-inform – the press office
Can a car name sound more nebulous than Zeekr X? After starting sales in Sweden and the Netherlands, the compact electric crossover from China is now also coming onto the market in countries such as Germany. A first test drive shows that you should keep an eye on Mister X.
The space is generous in the front row and sufficient in the rear for two adults: As far as headroom is concerned, a 1.80 meter tall passenger can still fit a few fingers between the head and the roof despite the slightly raised seating position. Legroom in the second row is generous and there are direct vents in the center pillars – although without direct airflow/temperature controls. At 362 liters, the trunk is one of the smallest in the class of compact SUVs measuring around 4.50 meters long. If you need more space, you can fold down the back seat in just a few steps or at least use the front cargo space (frunk) to accommodate the battery charging cable. The interior features comfortable seats, soft-touch surfaces and a dashboard with two horizontal displays measuring 8.8 and 14.6 inches diagonally. A head-up display with an impressive projection area of 24.3 inches and an additional augmented reality function is not only impressive in this segment. During the test drive, however, there were a lot of problems with the intelligent voice control. This needs to be reworked.
The Zeekr A fast charging station can only be recharged with a maximum of 150 kilowatts – not much for an electric model from 2024. The battery pack ensures ranges of 445 (Zeekr X RWD) and 425 kilometers (Zeekr X AWD) before it goes to the next charging station to refuel . The battery has a guarantee of eight years or 200,000 kilometers, while the vehicle itself can be ordered with either a five or ten year guarantee. Intelligent pre-air conditioning ensures that the battery pack rolls to the charging station well prepared and charges quickly. Zeekr promises a WLTP consumption of 17.5 kWh / 100 kilometers for the all-wheel drive vehicle, but at the end of the test drive the on-board computer showed 21.4 kWh, which would mean a real range of barely more than 320 kilometers.
The Zeekr However, despite over 400 hp, that’s all there is to it. However, it takes a short 0.4 seconds before the front axle also takes hold – a delay that is always noticeable under high acceleration. The sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h is more than impressive: 3.8 seconds. With the different driving programs, the communication-friendly steering also adapts to the specifications of the modes. Fortunately, there are no synthetic engine noises to disturb the relaxation on board the Zeekr X. The brakes are powerful and respond quickly and linearly, which is not a given for all electric vehicles. The chassis setup of the Chinese SUV with independent suspension at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear offers a good compromise between driving stability and comfort when the road surface is small. If it gets bumpier, it quickly becomes uncomfortable and vertical body movements affect the dynamic impression of the Zeekr X.