Last week, we were invited to Zeekr’s first Global ZKers Day in Ningbo, China, celebrating its community of owners and enthusiasts. Among the cars on display at Geely’s Meishan plant during our visit was the 7X, the brand’s next international model after the X and 009.
The electric SUV is a competitor to the Tesla Model Y and, in particular, the BYD Sealion 7. The car has already been earmarked for our market and will be launched here sometime next year. Zeekr made great pains during the trip to stress that it occupies a higher market positioning than BYD, but the similarity in size between the 7X and Sealion 7 is stark.
Measuring 4,825 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,666 mm tall, the car is just five millimetres shorter and wider than the Sealion 7 and 46 mm taller, while its 2,925 mm wheelbase is also five millimetres shorter. Both cars are significantly larger than the Tesla Model Y, which costs around the same price as the BYD.
Zeekr aims to differentiate the 7X using the technology onboard, not least of which is the “smart light curtain” across the front fascia. In essence, the company has fitted a customisable, full-width dot-matrix display that sits above the main headlights, made up of 1,831 LEDs. This show-stopping feature can be used to show everything from different lighting signatures to a Tesla-style light show (replete with backing music) and even your very own custom message (which we’re sure won’t get abused by owners).
Quite how much of this functionality will make it to global markets is unclear, as homologation requirements and the cultural sensitivities of each market normally put a kibosh on such things – but it sure is cool. So are the doors, all four of which can be optioned with power opening and closing.
As expected, the interior is fully featured with a 13.02-inch digital instrument display (shaped to look like a classic instrument binnacle), an augmented reality head-up display and a 16-inch mini-LED infotainment touchscreen, all running on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor. This powers the “Hi Eva” voice control system, which incorporates generative AI functionality. Other features include dual Qi wireless chargers and a 21-speaker, 2,160-watt sound system with headrest speakers.
The 7X’s interior is also very luxurious, equipped with five plush seats with plenty of power adjustment, upholstered in full-grain Nappa leather. The nearside rear passenger is particularly well provided for, getting a powered ottoman, a power-folding table and even a 13-inch OLED touchscreen. Heating, ventilation and massage functions (all controlled using a six-inch touchscreen integrated in the rear armrest) are a given, and there’s also a camera for those at the front to check on the rear occupants.
That’s not all – the dashboard gets a laser-etched wraparound ambient light bar with 11 zones of customisation, while under the double-opening front armrest sits a heated and cooled storage compartment. There are also powered sunshades for both the panoramic glass roof and the rear side windows. The boot measures a commodious 616 litres, and there’s also a decent 62-litre front boot.
Against all these features, the mechanicals almost seem like an afterthought, but they are impressive in their own right. The 7X is available in single-motor rear- and dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants, the former producing 421 PS (310 kW) and 440 Nm, the latter adding a front motor to boost outputs to 646 PS (475 kW) and 710 Nm. Zero to 100 km/h is accomplished in 5.7 and 3.8 seconds respectively.
The base model uses Zeekr’s Golden Battery, a 75 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit that provides a range of 605 km on China’s wildly optimistic CLTC cycle. The main benefit of this pack is 5.5C charging speed, meaning the DC fast charging wattage (in kW) is 5.5 times the capacity of the battery, so around 410 kW. So equipped, the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80% in just 10.5 minutes.
For more range, buyers can turn to CATL’s Qilin battery, a 100 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack that enables the 7X to travel up to 780 km on a single charge (705 km with AWD). Although charging is slightly slower, the 800-volt electrical architecture means charging from 10 to 80% still takes only 15 minutes. Air suspension is optional, with the AWD model getting it as standard.
In China, the 7X comes with a lidar sensor above the windscreen, enabling highly automated driving on highways including automatic lane changes and the ability to navigate highway exits. City driving is also supported and will be enabled via an over-the-air update.
It should be noted that the features listed are for the Chinese market and not all are expected to make the transition to other countries. Still, what do you think of the 7X, and would you buy one when it comes to Malaysia? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
AD: Drive the ZEEKR model of your dreams. Submit your details and Zeekr Carro (Bangsar, Penang, Seremban outlets) will get in touch with you.
Perodua’s Emo designer should look at this matrix front headlight.
Beware this piece of plastic light will be faded opaque turn yellowish in short time under malaysia high UV ray under the sun daily
Pls survey first how many headlamp of current malaysia current car models made in China. Summer of 4 season country can be much hotter than Malaysia. You may say only 3 months but Malaysia also have raining season and cloudy weather.
Hope wont be like Sime Darby, bring in old stocks BYD S7 and still sell high price.
Are you sure this car is lower than Sealion 7 by 46mm. Because it looks really big and some other article this SUV is comparable to Merc EQS Suv. Which is really big.
I’ve test driven Sealion 7, it is nicely proportioned SUV, just that the battery is a bit smaller in capacity compared to the 7X of 100 KWH (NMC), thus the distance travel in 7X is an extra by about 100km WLTP compared to Sealion 7.
Design wise, Sealion 7 wins.
Range of travel, 7X(NMC) wins.
It’s taller! Apologies for that, the article has been edited. Thanks for the spot!
Dear mate, sealion 7 in Malaysia is a very lousy car fyi. They taken off their best tech which is Evo3.0 and 800v. G6 and 7x simply much much better dude
Cantik. China ev the best
Nice, bring on all the bigger SUVs! Sick of seeing just the small little EVs that can’t be sold below the arbitrary 100k line due to PLOTEK-tionist policies.
Really look forward for this 7x and 007. Zeekr EVs interesting. Wish the price, spec and service coverage are right when coming here. BYD already have leg here with its vast present across Malaysia states.
What’s the AC charger capacity?
is the back an BMW iX?
haiya these copycat
No, doesn’t look like iX at all
Pls bring in 007 sedan as well, to complete the line up
I think lifespan wise LFP has higher charge cycle compared to NMC battery right? I read from the news somewhere saying that LFP has a charge cycler of 3000 and NMC has around 1000 before they depleted below 80% SoH.
I am looking at 1000km or more range then only i buy
This looks extremely interesting.
Anything with a real world range of above 500km per charge is good enough for me.
Can’t wait!