Barely a week goes by without the release of a midsize Chinese electric SUV in Europe. BYD recently launched the Sealion 7, and Changan the Deepal S07. MG has just replaced its popular ZS EV with the MGS5 EV. Now it’s the turn of one of Geely’s many brands, with the Zeekr 7X. Can it lift itself over the crowd, particularly the incumbent Model Y from Tesla?
Enter The Zeekr 7X
Zeekr cars arrived on the European market in 2023, with its 001 shooting brake, followed by the small X SUV. It’s a surprise that the brand has taken until 2025 to release a midsize electric SUV as this is the most popular car format. However, Zeekr is positioning itself as a premium automaker, and a little different to other Chinese European market entrants, so it wanted to take an alternative route to other companies. That’s not to say that BYD and XPENG don’t make high quality cars, but within Geely’s vast array of offerings, Zeekr is targeting technology and quality leadership.
The 7X is based on a variant of the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) used by other electric cars in the Geely range. These include the Smart #5 and Zeekr 007. Alternative versions of SEA can be found in the Volvo EX30, Smart #1 and #3, and Polestar 4. The latter and the Smart #5 are probably the closest in-house comparisons to the Zeekr 7X, but neither hits quite the same buyer. Polestar is more of a performance brand and Smart more lifestyle oriened. Outside of Geely, the 7X is competing against the BMW iX3, the Audi Q4 e-tron and (of course) the Tesla Model Y. The Mercedes EQE SUV would also be a possible alternative.
At launch, there will be three versions of the Zeekr 7X. The Core RWD combines a single 416hp rear motor with a 75kWh gross (71kWh net) Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery. The Long Range RWD partners the same motor with a 100kWh gross (94kWh net) NMC pack. The Privilege AWD I tested uses the 100kWh battery but with dual motors delivering 630hp. There are no trims to select beyond this, which keeps the buying process simple. Apart from paint color and (with the Long Range RWD) 19in or 20in wheel options, there aren’t any extras to choose from either.
Zeekr 7X: Premium Interior And Exterior
Although Zeekr’s cars are built in China and imported to the EU, like many of Geely’s products they are significantly designed in Europe at the company’s Gothenburg facility. The front of the 7X has echoes of the 001 and X, as you’d expect, but is not as bold as the Deepal S07. The Zeekr 7X is another SUV that uses the design of the rear quarter window to create an impression of being a coupe, when in fact it’s a standard SUV shape. Overall, there are Porsche Macan vibes about the 7X’s styling. It’s not an eye-catching design statement, but still unassumingly attractive, even classy.
Inside, the Zeekr 7X is minimal but also with a sense of quality. It feels better appointed than a Tesla Model Y (old or new). The front seats are comfortable and have all the toys. Both driver and passenger sides are eight-way electrically adjustable with a memory function. Not only are these seats heated, but they have ventilation and a massage function too. These are part of the Comfort Package, which is available with the AWD Privilege only. The Comfort Package also includes powered doors, which you open with a button on the B-pillar. With the RWD Long Range and AWD Privilege, there’s a speaker in the headrest, which is a little disconcerting when navigation instructions come from behind your head, like a backseat driver.
The steering wheel is conventional and there are physical stalks, with the one on the left for both lights/indicators and windscreen wipers. The right-hand stalk operates drive functions like a Mercedes or Tesla (when they still had stalks). Although there aren’t many buttons beyond the steering wheel, you don’t lack information sources. There’s a 16in infotainment screen. With the Long Range and above there is a 36.2in Head-Up Display so you don’t need to look at the instrumentation behind the steering wheel. This even includes lots of navigation and safety information.
Although Zeekr doesn’t focus quite as much as Chinese challenger brand XPENG on its screen-based technology, this is still an area of strength for the 7X. The central screen is well organized and responsive, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. A 3D image of the car is frequently used to help you locate functions. During my test drive, Zeekr was in the process of changing navigation provider, so the new mapping was previewed via an app, although it still seemed capable. You can also take advantage of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to use your own smartphone instead, with a wireless charging pad in the central console just below the infotainment screen.
There’s plenty of room in the rear as well, both for heads and legs. The standard panoramic sunroof is another great example of the genre, removing any sense of claustrophobia in the rear. The seats can also be adjusted forward and backward if you need a little more space for luggage at the back. You can also tip the front passenger seat forward to give the passenger behind more space (useful for a hire car) and recline both front seats all the way back to take a nap.
Speaking of space, cargo capacity is competitive. With rear seats up, there’s 539 liters of rear luggage room, and a considerable 1978 liters with them down. On top of that, the RWD cars have a generous 66-liter frunk, which drops to 42 liters with the AWD car, although that’s still plenty for all your cable needs. The 7X also has a 2,000kg towing capacity (braked), which would make pulling a caravan possible.
Zeekr 7X: Driving and Range
The amount of power on offer from the 7X also pushes it into the premium market. Even the basic Core RWD car takes 6 seconds to hit 62mph. The Long Range RWD takes the same amount of time. The Privilege AWD is decidedly nippy, dropping the 62mph sprint to 3.8 seconds. That’s quite a bit quicker than the Tesla Model Y All-Wheel Drive, even with the Acceleration Boost, and on par with the BMW iX M70 xDrive.
While the handling isn’t exactly sporty, with the Privilege AWD there is at least loads of power available. However, this is one of those cars that feels like an inexperienced driver could be caught out by the amount of torque and speed available. The slower Long Range RWD could be the bigger seller, as buyers trade performance for additional efficiency, although you do forfeit a lot of top-end kit with this version.
This is a heavy car. The Core RWD is 2,395kg, Long Range RWD 2,415kg, and Privilege AWD 2,535kg. You feel this around corners but there is still plenty of grip and body roll is not that pronounced. It’s also not so huge that tight urban streets give you panic attacks. It’s a relatively easy car to use around towns and villages.
Ride quality is good in the Privilege AWD as this car has active air suspension with continuous damping control. Zeekr also threw in a section of off-road driving for the launch test drive route to really put this through its paces. The 7X is no Range Rover, but it handled the rough terrain well, despite its road tires. However, the RWD cars only get coil springs with passive dampers, so they won’t ride as well.
Overall, it’s a great driving experience. My only caveat was that some of the ADAS animations in the HUD were delayed, with oncoming cars appearing on the display after they had appeared in the real world outside. But there was no sense that this was affecting safety. I suspect further software updates will improve this.
The 7X offers competitive range, as all the batteries are comparatively large. With the 75kWh pack, you get a solid 300 miles, which rises to 384 miles for the Long Range. Even the Privilege AWD manages 339 miles. These are all a little behind the equivalent Tesla Model Y, and the latter is much more efficient, achieving its longer ranges with smaller packs.
However, the Zeekr 7X differentiates itself from other midsize Chinese electric SUVs I’ve reviewed recently (and the Tesla Model Y) by using an 800V architecture. This means it offers DC charging up to 480kW, although realistically the current commercial maximum is 360kW. At this speed, charging goes from 10 to 80% in just 13 minutes for the 75kWh pack and 16 minutes for the 100kWh battery. There’s 22kW AC charging, too, so you could go from 10 to 100% in 4.5 hours for the 75kW pack and 5.5 hours for the 100kWh one, although a regular 7kW charger will take three times as long.
During my test driving, I managed 2.6 miles per kWh, which would mean a real-world range of 240 miles. The driving roads involved A-roads, some hills, and some highways. That’s not terrible considering this is a car with 630hp, and I wasn’t driving with frugality in mind. It’s above what I’d normally expect from a 339-mile WLTP range in such a powerful SUV.
Can The Zeekr 7X Challenge Tesla’s Model Y?
It feels like a broken record, but every midsized SUV that is neither bargain basement nor pricey luxury has to be considered against the benchmark in this class, the Tesla Model Y. In Europe, the Zeekr 7X Core will start at €53,990 ($61,000), the Long Range at €56,990 ($65,000), and the Privilege €63,990 ($73,000). These prices compare favorably with the German alternatives from BMW and Mercedes, but the Tesla Model Y is notably cheaper. So it doesn’t win on value, at least.
The Zeekr 7X will also be the first car from the brand to be launched in the UK. Zeekr only talked about “within 18 months”, which would mean before the end of 2026. Although the UK would require a right-hand-drive car, it also currently has no import duties on Chinese EVs, unlike the EU and USA. It’s possible that the Zeekr 7X’s pricing will be more competitive in the UK against Tesla’s Model Y for this reason, although the company hasn’t even hinted how much this will be.
Even if Zeekr can’t undercut Tesla, the 7X is still a worthwhile proposition. The premium features particularly in the Privilege AWD version are plentiful, and the car overall feels better made and more luxurious. Charging rates are very impressive, making all versions of the Zeekr 7X very capable of long-distance driving. This could be the Zeekr that sees the brand become a more familiar sight on European roads.