Zeekr 007 2024 Review

In China, the 2024 Zeekr 007 is something of a bargain, undercutting the market-leading Tesla Model 3 with a starting price of about $A43,500, but as with most imports from the Middle Kingdom we’d pay a chunk more than that.

Sadly, it may be a moot point anyway, because the 007 isn’t confirmed for right-hand drive production so it’s unclear whether the mid-size electric sedan will ever be sold in Australia.

Instead, the ambitious Chinese premium EV brand will be launched here in coming months with the Zeekr X small electric SUV and the Zeekr 009 luxury electric people-mover, followed by the Zeekr 7X mid-size electric SUV – a rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y.

But assuming the 007 did arrive here, the most obvious competitors would be the Model 3 (from $54,900 plus ORCs), the BYD Seal (from $49,888 plus ORCs) and the Hyundai IONIQ 6 (from $66,500 plus ORCs).

We’d expect it to land somewhere in the middle of that bunch on pricing, which would make the 007 a very compelling proposition indeed – especially given the hefty standard kit list and the low entry point for the dual-motor variant.

There is range-topping Performance edition too, which features ludicrously fast acceleration (0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 2.84sec with rollout), luminous yellow and black bodywork and wheels, and a suede-lined interior to rival the Model 3 Performance.

Remarkably, in China, it costs only $18,000 more than the cheapest 007 and is around the same price as an entry-level Model 3 in Australia.

As we’ve come to expect from Chinese cars, standard specifications are decidedly comprehensive and even more so in premium offerings like the 2024 Zeekr 007.

Front-seat occupants are particularly well catered for with heating, ventilation and eight-point massage functions as standard, while the driver also gets a heated steering wheel.

In the rear, there’s heating for the two outer occupants and seven-degree electric backrest angle adjustment is standard in all variants.

The 007 also features the same nifty touch-bar steering wheel that debuted in the upcoming Zeekr X, which boasts five useful quick-access functions including front and rear window demisting, 360-degree camera and electric boot opening.

Cabin ambience is further enhanced by a rather attractive ‘ice-block’ ambient lighting arrangement, a pair of 50W ventilated wireless phone chargers, a fragrance system and electric door release buttons, as well as an electric glovebox.

Wheels measure 19-inch as standard, with 20-inch rims and front Akebono brake callipers being options in China, where you can also spec full-grain Nappa leather for your seats if the standard leather doesn’t quite cut it.

In China, Zeekr’s factory warranty is a pretty generous six years or 150,000km, whichever comes first, while the electrical system – including the battery – gets a lifetime warranty for added piece of mind.

There’s also a thermal management system and a heat pump for optimum battery prep.

While the 2024 Zeekr 007 hasn’t been independently crash-tested, either by China’s C-NCAP program or Euro NCAP, its SEA platform-based siblings – the X and 001 – received a maximum five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP tests, so you’d expect much the same here.

All versions come with dual front, front-side and full-length side curtain airbags, and the electric-release doors also unlock automatically in an accident so emergency services can get access if you’re incapacitated.

There’s not enough room here to list the entire standard safety equipment suite, but all models come with anti-lock brakes, stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, cornering brake control and intelligent brake assist, among others.

Of course there’s the now-mandatory (in Australia) automatic emergency braking, plus forward collision warning, front and rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot monitoring, rear collision mitigation, lane keeping and lane departure warnings.

The entire rear suspension structure is a one-piece aluminium die-cast part and Zeekr claims its cars have never experienced a battery fire, which is reassuring.

Much like the Tesla Model 3, the 2024 Zeekr 007 features a minimalist dashboard with a single centre screen.

Unlike the Model 3, however, this 15-inch central touch-screen has 2.5K resolution and runs the latest Snapdragon 8295 processor, which makes for a super-slick and crisp infotainment experience.

As with Tesla, there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto here – at least in the Chinese version – because all the necessary streaming and social media apps are built in and serviced by 5G connectivity which can also be used as a hotspot if necessary.

The dual-motor Intelligent edition also comes with satellite connectivity should you find yourself lost in the desert, which might even be useful in Australia.

The system also supports smartphone screen projection so you can play video games from your phone or a Nintendo Switch, for example, when out and about.

With a 21-speaker Zeekr-developed sound system producing 1900W of 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound, you might just fancy watching videos or playing games in your car too.

Ahead of the driver, a 13-inch digital display is dwarfed by a massive 35.5-inch augmented-reality head-up display, so your eyes can stay fixed on the road even if you decide to make use of the fairly comprehensive autonomous driving package.

Standard versions of the 007 come with a single NVIDIA Orin-X chip and a whole host of cameras and sensors that allow for adaptive cruise control and automatic lane changing on the highway, while the Intelligent variants double-up on the Orin-X chips and add a lidar unit for good measure.

In China, this unlocks the Zeekr Autonomous Driving system, which in theory should enable automated urban as well as highway driving, but we wouldn’t expect such a system to come to Australia in the near term.

If that’s not enough, all versions come with automatic parking and even remote-control parking if you don’t trust your own abilities.

And lest we forget the Stargate light panel up front with 1711 LEDs, which allows for customised welcome sequences, writing and even running light variations.

It’s only standard on the dual-motor Intelligent edition and not available in the Performance edition, but is optional on all other models for around $A1650 in China.

All versions of the 2024 Zeekr 007 come with a 310kW/440Nm motor at the rear, while dual-motor versions gain an additional 165kW/270Nm motor at the front, for a handsome total output of 475kW/710Nm.

Our test car was the standard dual-motor version, which feels as brisk as one would expect with those outputs, despite being slightly slower to 100km/h than the upcoming Zeekr X at 3.8sec.

As well as double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, the 007 adds a CCD electromagnetic damping system that filters out harsh road surfaces of all kinds to great effect, while curve braking control and distributed traction control help provide optimum stability under all conditions.

In China, you can currently spec two batteries with the 2024 Zeekr 007 – a 75kWh LFP battery developed in-house or a 100kWh CATL Qilin NMC battery.

All variants except the Performance edition come with the 75kWh battery as standard and with a single motor that offers a claimed range of 688km – albeit on the very generous CLTC cycle, so all these figures can take a 20-25 per cent haircut under the WLTP regime. With the additional front motor, range drops to 616km CLTC.

The Performance edition, equipped with the 100kWh pack, brings that figure back up to 660km, while the same battery in the single-motor versions nets a staggering 870km of range.

Regardless of battery, charging speeds are astronomical. The 75kWh ‘golden battery’, with a peak charging power of 390kW, is claimed to add 500km of range in 15 minutes, or go from 10-80 per cent in 13.5 minutes.

The larger 100kWh Qilin battery, with a peak charging power of 500kW, adds 610km of range in a claimed 15 minutes.

Such is the ability of the 800-volt system, the 007 even offers V2V charging so you can share your charge with another car at 60kW if they’re out of juice.

The 2024 Zeekr 007 delivers ride quality almost as smooth as a James Bond pick-up line, even when the road gets significantly broken up.

Indeed, it’s quite astonishing just how well it manages to soak up everything you can throw at it without the aid of air suspension.

We were fortunate enough to sample roughly equivalent models from XPeng and BYD in quick succession on the same stretch of heavily broken concrete and the contrast was stark, the 007 feeling almost as serene as the dual-chamber air-suspended 009 people-mover.

In terms of engagement, the 007’s speed-adjustable electronic power steering and a selection of driving modes helped it feel nimble and light on its feet.

It’s a car that you can step into and feel instantly at one with and, while there are other cars on the market that offer more immediate feel through the steering wheel, the 007 turns with precision and confidence and is more than capable of mixing it with premium German competitors.

In addition, that hefty wedge of torque means acceleration on demand is never more than an instant away, but the 007 puts it down far less savagely than the larger 001 with which it shares its rear motor.

While the 2024 Zeekr 007 doesn’t offer quite the same interior flair as the Zeekr X (it comes across far more akin to a Model 3 with its minimalist approach), it’s nevertheless a sumptuous place to be with premium materials on all but the lower cabin surfaces.

You’ll find suede and skin-friendly leather across the dashboard, doors and centre console, microfibre headlining and leather on the steering wheel and seats.

All versions come with 14-way adjustability for the front seats, so finding a good seating position isn’t too difficult, and the standard heating, ventilation and eight-point massage functions only add to the feeling of luxury.

In the back, there’s a tonne of legroom are long base cushions, so long journeys shouldn’t be too difficult and while headroom is a little on the tight side, the dual-glazed nano-silver coated canopy glass does a good job of making it feel more spacious than it really is.

Unfortunately, while it keeps out the UV rays, it isn’t quite as good at keeping the heat at bay.

In terms of storage, there are 16 storage spaces around the cabin, and the rear seat backs flip down to add a bit of extra length to the standard 462-litre boot. There’s a reasonable-sized frunk to store cables and small items under that clamshell bonnet.

Sadly, unless you live in China, there’s no way to buy the 2024 Zeekr 007 sedan and the company hasn’t confirmed any plans for a RHD version yet – unlike the 7X wagon (SUV) version that will likely come Down Under in 2025.

Either way, the 007 is a quite brilliant car that casts an enormous shade over the far more popular Model 3 in almost every area. In fact, aside from Tesla’s Supercharger network, there’s really no area in which the 007 is lacking alongside the Model 3, which it surpasses in most areas.

A stunning car to look at with outrageous charging abilities, excellent driving dynamics, impressive tech and a sumptuous, high-quality interior, the 007 would be a serious contender for the Model 3 in Australia’s mid-size electric sedan segment – if Zeekr decides to sell it here.

Images supplied: Mark Rainford

2024 Zeekr 007 4WD at a glance:
Price: $A47,370 (in China)
Available: Not confirmed
Powertrain: Two asynchronous electric motors
Output: 165kW/270Nm (front motor), 310kW/440Nm (rear)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 75kWh lithium-ion
Range: 616km (CLTC)
Energy consumption: Not stated
Safety rating: Not tested