Juniper
Review by Dr Long SP
In the past 3 years of exploring into BEVs realm and shopping for a company car, I have often faced expletives like: “Doc, get the Zeekr 7X, it’s the best handling vehicle from the Chinese brigade.” Also superlatives like: “Go check out the Zeekr 7X’ interior, it sports one of the finest looking cabins out there!”
Imagine the enthusiasm and utmost lofty expectations when I picked up a top-spec 7X Performance AWD from ZEEKR Malaysia. Yes! This premium Geely-owned Zeekr branded SUV, the 7X Performance AWD did deliver where it matters, and in spades!
Now, how is that so?
First, its interior in creamy-white and steering in dual-toned soft leathers scream high-class opulence. It makes you think of Volvo and IKEA’s influence, that Swedish DNA in its execution and finishing. Moving on to the seats, they are ergonomically shaped, comfy and plush. Wrapped in real Nappa leather, with miniscule centre section perforations and therefore also ventilated. With massage function thrown in as well, it reinforces its upmarket and high-end intent.
Ride comfort leaves almost nothing to be desired, seeing that the chassis is suspended by active and adaptive air-suspension at all four corners. Very reminiscent of the Jaguar i-Pace reviewed some two years ago, just in a lighter and softer package – less infinitely adjusted for higher degrees of comfort-plus-handling balance. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent complement for the finest powertrain of dual motors (AWD) churning out 646 ps (475 kW) and 710 Nm of maximum torque.
A toggle of the drive mode button – below the infotainment screen into Sport firms up the body control, while acceleration is super-duper rapid like a bat out of hell. Yet, in perfect composure and shooting straight like an arrow. In the other two: Comfort and Standard modes, the Zeekr 7X is still very quick. Beautifully, there is nearly none of that uncomfortable lurching of earlier model BEVs acceleration, those with rocket-blast off feeling, ruffling your tummy or your ears’ vestibular labyrinth (body’s balancing organ) which conveys that feeling of car sickness. I suppose this boils down to perhaps a slower 0 – 20 or 30 kph thereabouts, with acceleration picking up more aggressively only the latter part of the spurt in velocity. Very much like how occupants do not get nauseous or giddy in an ICE 6.5L V12 naturally aspirated crossover doing 3.3 seconds to the century sprint. To me at least, that’s technical innovation and refinement of BEVs in the fast changing last 5 years or so. Ditto for regeneration braking that doesn’t feel like you’re a prized catch being reeled up on to a fishing boat.
Remember a certain tagline from a famous tyre brand: “Power is nothing without control”. Well, the Zeeer 7X lives and breathes that slightly corny tagline: becoming an epitome of how its massive twin motors properly grasp and effectively put those massive power to the tarmac, every time. That said, I still wish for that little extra body control in its upper range, to tackle KL’s badly resurfaced roads while going on higher speed jaunts – in 7X Performance’ low or very low ride hide setting.
The other thing that could be the most memorable and lovable of the Zeekr 7X Performance is its power management efficiency i.e. frugality, thereby preserving its indicated range, making it more believable and achievable in real world driving environment.
Being a true high-performance BEV SUV, it only sips a maximum of 20.6 kwh/100km even on those repeated high-speed drives over medium distances. Trundling sedately, the average consumption figure goes down to 17kWh /100km; nearer to a single motor model of another premium Chinese BEV SUV.
Not class leading but a good effort by Zeekr.
Now, what’s not so great about the Zeekr 7X?
The rather bland exterior, jelly-mould shape with a bit too much rounded edges, especially on the clam shell design bonnet cover giving that illusion of lack of width. This makes the 7X looks rather tall and slim when viewed squarely from the front. That Darth Vader’s hat-like floating roof slant on to the D-pillar also doesn’t do justice to its upper-class design ambition. From the side, the nose of the Zeekr X is a little too rounded, even a little duck beak in profile. Maybe that’s deliberate to house the cutting-edge Stargate interactive light bar – exclusive to this 7X Performance, a stodgy design that gets duplicated throughout the range. To be fair, aesthetic inferences can be very subjective, so I guess it could be just me.
Thankfully, the simple and slim rear light bar with a sharp profiled boot clawed back some sleekness deserving of an SUV of such high performance and caliber. Reversed “polarity” power window switches are quite the rage now with some Chinese brands. These fore-aft rocker switches challenge our fingers’ muscle memory, opposite the usual convention of pulling-is-up and pushing-is-down. Baffling or for some justifiable logic unknown to most of us?
For some reason, being seated at the front you’d be wondering what has happened to the width advantage of a D-segment SUV, personally I had wished for more elbow and shoulder rooms. Rear passengers are decently pampered though, with generous legroom, headroom and all. The imprinted brand of “Zeekr Audio” speakers leaves me wanting for more Hi-Fi audio performance. The central metallic-domed tweeter on the dashtop looks nice, like a Volvo’ B&W item. However, the system lacks the clarity, details and depth of bass offered by another same segment competitor’s DYNAUDIO.
The centre screen UI is a little fiddly and lacks fluidity of what are being offered by the two other big Chinese brands, while the voice command system is quite poor to recognise simple and common voice commands. Perhaps an OTA update will get the job done better. Also, what’s with the plasticky, chequered motif “crystal” semi-transparent plastic LEDs lights lining the dashboard and front doors trim, Doubling as “disco” lights in tandem with a song’s tempo and rhythm. In my humble opinion, it felt quite misplaced in an upmarket Zeker-branded vehicle. A simpler and slimmer LED strip with cyclical change of colours would do a simpler, yet classier job.
Last but not the least, road noise from the OE MIchelin Pilot Sport EV 20-inch rubbers can get a little intrusive on some dry and hard road surfaces. A little nit-picking here, likely due to the fact that EVs are getting too silent with no engine, drivetrain and exhaust noises To be fair, the negatives above are definitely not deal breakers. The Zeekr 7X is indeed one of the best BEV SUVs out there available in Malaysia currently. At about RM240k on-the-road, it knowingly or unknowingly wears the near-credentials of a base-model Lotus Eletre AWD – at a fraction of the Lotus’ asking price. Yet marginally quicker with all that stomping performance.
With 800V architecture enabling top-rung 22 kW AC charging capability for its large 100kWh NMC battery, the best value luxury proposition is even harder to ignore. In addition, Geely’s Volvo R&D Centre endorsed tag of “Designed in Gothenburg, Sweden” rendering that swathe and swanky interior, it’s no wonder that Zeekr Malaysia is shifting their 7Xs out of their dealers’ showrooms almost quicker than they can replenish new (CBU) stocks.
Kuala Lumpur-based Dr. Long See Pin is a certified car enthusiast who has previously spent some two ecades testing and writing about new cars. He is currently motoring correspondent at Junipers Journal and can be found online @drlongspcars on Insta, FB and TikTok.
He was also a former member of the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) judging panel. As a medical doctor, he specialises in skin & aesthetics @drlongskinclinic.com
