ZEEKR X Review

Nowadays, the competition in Malaysia's pure electric D-Segment SUV market is becoming increasingly refined. Consumers are no longer just focusing on range; their demands for features, driving experience, and practicality are also rising. The newly launched 2024 ZEEKR X Premium RWD targets this market gap, offering a price of RM155,800 and packaging a 272PS rear-wheel drive system, Level 2 driving assistance, and a 13-speaker Yamaha sound system into a compact body. In this test drive, we focus on evaluating whether its "value-for-money configuration" can truly be realized, how the rear-wheel-drive layout performs in daily driving, and whether its practicality meets the standards of a family car.

From a distance, the ZEEKR X Premium RWD's design leans towards simplicity and sportiness, without overcomplicated lines. The front features a closed grille with an illuminated ZEEKR logo in the middle. The sharply styled LED headlights on both sides, along with slim daytime running light strips, provide high recognition when lit. The side profile has a waistline running from the front to the rear of the car. The 19-inch wheels paired with 235/50 R19 tires offer balanced proportions. The tail design appears full, with slim LED taillights echoing the front headlights. A black bumper trim below adds a touch of ruggedness. While the overall design isn't overly aggressive, the detailed touches ensure it doesn’t appear mediocre among cars in the same segment.

Entering the interior, the first thing that stands out is the choice of materials. The dashboard and inner door panels are wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a pleasant texture. The central console layout is very minimalistic, with most functions integrated into the 14.6-inch touchscreen. The screen’s resolution and response speed meet expectations, and commonly used features like navigation, music, and vehicle settings are easy to access. The 8.8-inch fully digital instrument panel displays information clearly, and the HUD (head-up display) projects key information such as speed and navigation onto the windshield, allowing drivers to avoid looking down at the dashboard while driving. In terms of features, it comes with a standard Level 2 driving assistance system, including ACC adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic braking, which are very practical for daily highway commutes. The seats are made of leather and support 6-way electric adjustment in the front. They provide good support and wrapping, making long drives comfortable. The rear is equipped with air conditioning vents and USB ports, meeting the basic needs of rear passengers.

Regarding body size, the ZEEKR X Premium RWD measures 4432mm in length, 1836mm in width, and 1566mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2750mm. During actual seating, a 175cm tall individual sitting in the front has about a fist's worth of headroom after adjusting the seat; the legroom in the rear is about two fists, and there is also about a fist of headroom, which is quite standard for SUVs in this segment. The trunk capacity is 362L, sufficient for everyday luggage needs. If larger items need to be loaded, the rear seats can be folded down to expand the space. In terms of storage space, the door panel compartments, central armrest box, and glovebox are all practical, providing places to store small items like phones and wallets.

For the powertrain, the ZEEKR X Premium RWD is equipped with a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 200kW (272PS) and a maximum torque of 343N·m. The official acceleration time from 0-100km/h is 5.6 seconds. During actual driving, the start is very light and brisk, with linear response from the accelerator pedal. Pressing it down gives a noticeable sense of acceleration, and there is ample power for overtaking without needing to press too hard. It offers three driving modes: Eco, Standard, and Sport. In Eco mode, power output is slightly smoother, making it suitable for daily commutes; in Sport mode, power response is more immediate, suitable for those looking to experience quick acceleration.

In terms of handling, the rear-wheel drive layout makes its steering more agile, with minimal play in the steering wheel and precise handling. The body control during cornering is well-managed, instilling a lot of confidence. The suspension system consists of a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned for comfort. It absorbs most small bumps when driving on rough roads without feeling too bumpy; when passing over speed bumps, the suspension rebounds cleanly without any unnecessary shaking. The chassis has strong overall stability, and the car feels steady at high speeds without any floating sensation.

In terms of range, the official CLTC driving range is 446km. During this test drive, which was mainly on urban roads and highways, we drove about 200km in total, with highways accounting for around 40% of the distance. The air conditioning was on for the entire trip, and the average energy consumption was approximately 17.5kWh/100km. Based on this energy consumption, the actual range is around 375km, achieving 84% of the claimed range, which is quite good. For charging, a fast charge can take it from 30% to 80% in 0.5 hours, while a slow charge requires 7 hours, making it very convenient for daily charging needs with fast charge.

In terms of driving comfort, the noise control in the car is well-done. At low speeds, the electric motor is almost silent, and at high speeds, wind and tire noise remain within an acceptable range, not interfering with passenger conversations inside the car. The comfort of the seats has already been mentioned, offering excellent support and cushioning, ensuring that long durations of sitting are not tiring. The energy recovery system has three adjustable levels: low, medium, and high. In the low setting, the feeling is similar to coasting in an internal combustion engine vehicle, with no noticeable drag; in the high setting, the drag is more pronounced, making it suitable for use in congested roads as it can reduce the frequency of braking.

Overall, the 2024 ZEEKR X Premium RWD has clear core advantages: for the price of 155,800 Malaysian Ringgit, you get a 272PS rear-wheel drive motor, L2-level driving assistance, a 14.6-inch center control screen, and a 13-speaker Yamaha audio system. Its value-for-money is outstanding among vehicles in the same class. Compared to the Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y of the same class, it offers richer features at a lower price; compared to the BYD ATTO 3, it has more powerful performance and better handling.

In summary, the ZEEKR X Premium RWD is suitable for consumers who value cost-efficiency and need a well-balanced family vehicle. Its power is easily sufficient for daily use, it has agile handling, rich features, and enough space to meet family needs. If you are a family user who primarily needs it for commuting and weekend outings, this would be a great choice; and if you are a young person who enjoys driving, its rear-wheel drive layout and acceleration performance will meet your needs as well.

To conclude, the 2024 ZEEKR X Premium RWD is a pure electric SUV that strikes a great balance between configuration, performance, and practicality. Its price of 155,800 MYR makes it very competitive among vehicles in the same class, making it suitable for most family users and young consumers.