Car review: Zeekr 009 Deluxe plays the long-distance game

SINGAPORE – In the battle for electric car supremacy, the one that can go the farthest on a single charge is king. Chinese brand Zeekr is raising the bar for electric multi-seaters with the Deluxe version of its 009, which boasts an operating range of 604km, putting it ahead of its main rivals in Singapore.

Up from 582km for the 009 that was launched in 2024, the additional 22km of range comes from taking out the rear electric motor and tweaks to the equipment level that amount to a 100kg weight saving.

Like an ineffective weight-loss programme, the lightened, single-motor 009 has little to show for its diet. There are no sunken cheeks or stretch marks on its skin. The car looks just as posh and glamorous as the dual-motor version.

And, boy, does the Zeekr know how to make an entrance.

Slip the gear to Park and the air suspension will swiftly lower the ride height, enabling passengers to elegantly step into the cabin after the motorised sliding doors quietly whirl themselves out of the way.

Shift into Drive and step off too quickly, and the car will protest gently with a digital chime, along with a message warning the driver to be careful not to damage the underbody because the car has not completed raising itself back to the normal ride height.

Like an off-roader, it is possible to raise the suspension beyond the usual height too, useful for venturing into a durian plantation or somewhere similarly rugged.

Not unlike other modern cars, the 009 is constantly warning the driver of potential hazards, which can be irritating.

For example, while driving on the East Coast Parkway expressway, the car needlessly announces every exit ramp along the route, regardless of whether the driver has any intention to use it. On arterial roads, it will also tell the driver if there is a bend ahead or a school nearby, even though it is way after school hours.

Each time it does so, the system also pauses the music coming from the high-fidelity Yamaha sound system.

Fortunately, it takes a single push of the mute icon on the navigation screen to stop the enthusiastic digital co-driver. Switching off other warnings, like the one that will sound when the car drifts out of the lane and another that nags at the driver to pay attention to the road, requires going through a level or two in the touchscreen menu.

Importantly, the car remembers the setting, so there is no need to repeat the sequence at the start of every drive.

During the four-day test drive, the test car posts an average energy consumption of 19.6kWh/100km to travel over 320km, which suggests that the car can realistically see 600km before the battery goes flat.

The single-motor version has 250kW of power, compared with 450kW on the dual-motor version. This translates to a 0-100kmh sprint timing of 7.9 seconds, instead of 4.5 seconds.

For any responsible and reasonable driver, this level of performance is more than nippy enough. What is more crucial for such a car is how well it soaks up the bumps on the road, floating over road humps like they are not there.

From the driver’s seat, the 009’s square profile makes it easy to judge where the ends of the vehicle are. To further enhance visibility, there is a quarter window between the front pillar and the windscreen.

For a car that measures 5,208mm in length – not far from a Mercedes-Benz S-class limousine’s 5,289mm – the Zeekr is relatively easy to use in the city. In trickier situations, like during parking or when inching out of a tight corner, the video feed from the army of external cameras comes in handy.

As with the dual-motor version, the 009’s generous glass area and light-coloured upholstery make the cabin feel airy and comfortable.

The steering wheel position on the single-motor 009 can be adjusted manually, instead of electrically on the dual-motor.

The single-motor version does without the powered steering column adjustment and the suction feature on the front doors. These are not big compromises, considering that meddling with the steering position is not something many will do very often, and the front doors are not that heavy to close with a firm pull of the handle.

Key areas like the switches and spaces that are near the driver’s eye level look and feel as good as you would expect of a premium car.

But as with the dual-motor version, there are small details in the 009’s cabin that probably can be improved. For example, the plastic material used for the door bins and the storage area under the centre console seems rather thin, and the surfaces in the boot look like they will scuff easily.

The best seat in the house is the one behind the front passenger.

Besides getting to use the massage, ventilation and reclining functions at a push of a button, the occupant can also send the front seat whirling forward to increase legroom while extending the motorised foot rest.

The passenger in the neighbouring seat can also comfortably recline, but there is no option to push the driver’s seat forward.

Zeekr offers even fancier and cushier seats than these two chairs, complete with individual tables, on the 009 Flagship, which comes only in the dual-motor version.

There is a screen with a video camera overhead, so passengers can make Zoom video calls or watch a movie. The USB connector in the cabin is powerful enough to charge a laptop, so it is possible to use the car as a mobile office. In addition, there is a chiller between the front seats that can store ice cream.

The video camera also works like a baby monitor as the driver can use it to see what those in the back are up to.

The bench on the third row is sufficiently comfortable for two adults, although there are three seat-belt anchors here. The bench can be folded down to expand the boot space.

In the grand scheme of things, the 100kg saving is not that much for a car that weighs more than 2,800kg and neither is gaining 22km of operating range. The car certainly does not seem significantly affected by the change.

But the Deluxe model, by being priced $57,000 lower than the dual-motor Premium version, brings the 009’s price below that of the Toyota Alphard petrol-hybrid, which is the benchmark for large multi-seaters, and closes in on electric rivals like the Denza D9.

The lower power output of the single-motor also means that it is taxed less heavily than the dual-motor version. Over 10 years, the savings in road tax comes up to $31,280, making this a sensible buy in the long run.

Zeekr 009 Deluxe

Price: $372,999 with certificate of entitlement (COE) before discounts
Motor: Single permanent magnet synchronous with 116kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Power: 250kW
Torque: 250Nm
0-100kmh: 7.9 seconds
Top speed: 210kmh
Power consumption: 21.4kWh/100km
Charging capacity: 11kW AC; 150kW DC
Agent: Premium Automobiles BEV
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Comparable considerations

Toyota Alphard 2.5 Standard Hybrid ($405,888 with COE before discounts)
Not the reference point of luxury multi-seaters without reason, the Alphard not only pampers passengers but is also a surprisingly nimble drive. Toyota’s 2.5-litre hybrid engine is refined, but no match for the silent operation of the Zeekr’s electric powertrain.

Xpeng X9 Premium Seat ($369,999 with COE before discounts)
The Xpeng offers just as many features as the 009, from the individual chairs in the middle row to the chiller to the large screen for passengers in the rear. The X9’s four-wheel steering enables the car to be slightly nimbler than the Zeekr.

Denza D9 Elite ($369,888 with COE before discounts)
Denza is BYD’s luxury arm and the D9 is the brand’s idea of what a premium multi-seater should be. It looks more conventional than the Zeekr, but matches the 009 in the areas where it matters, which is to deliver an effortlessly comfy ride.