Zeekr 009 Deluxe Review: License To Redefine

Luxury MPVs aren’t a new idea. Cars like the Toyota Alphard, Vellfire, and now the XPENG X9 have long proven that family transport can also be indulgent. The Zeekr 009 doesn’t try to reinvent the segment; instead, it shows up fully aware of the rules, then quietly raises the bar in the details.

In this case, we’re talking about the Deluxe variant; the “entry point” to the 009 range, though that label feels almost misleading when you’re dealing with a near-5.2-metre electric MPV riding on air suspension with massage and ventilated seats as standard.

Exterior Design

One of the most impressive aspects of the 009 is how restrained it looks despite its size. Designed under the watchful eye of Stefan Sielaff, formerly of Bentley, the influence is obvious - straight lines, clean surfaces, no gratuitous chrome and no angry creases screaming for attention.

It doesn’t try to look futuristic for the sake of it. Instead, it looks expensive, the kind of car that doesn’t need to prove anything. That same sense of effortlessness carries through when you drive it; for something this large, the 009 never feels intimidating from behind the wheel, which is no small feat.

The Inside Story

The Deluxe variant adopts a 2+2+3 seating layout, compared to the Flagship’s 2+2+2, but crucially, it doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Aside from a few functional differences, the cabin experience remains remarkably intact.

The Nappa leather seats - all of them - are superbly comfortable, whether you’re driving, chauffeured, or relegated to the third row. The second-row captain’s chairs are the main draw, but even the rear bench feels well thought out with enough leg room for adults to feel comfortable over a longer drive.

Luxury touches abound - from ambient lighting to soft-touch materials, to adjusting the front and second row seats' recline position, ventilation, and massage functions - all adjustable from the touchscreen up front.

Nothing feels cheap or deliberately stripped out.

Tech & Audio

Front and centre is Zeekr’s large 15.05” touchscreen interface. While there aren’t many physical buttons, the UI is logical and easy to acclimatise to within a day or two. Once muscle memory kicks in, operating the car becomes second nature.

The real party trick, though, is the 30-speaker Yamaha sound system. Sound quality is excellent, but what really charms is the ability to route audio through individual speakers in the front seat’s headrests. That means the driver can enjoy their podcast while the rear passengers listen to something else entirely; a feature parents with opinionated young children would be thankful for.

If that doesn’t keep them entertained, a 17” 3K OLED roof screen can be folded down at the touch of a button.

Driving It

On paper, the Deluxe looks modest next to the Flagship. A single front-mounted electric motor, producing 250 kW (335 bhp) and 373 Nm, versus the Flagship’s frankly absurd 450 kW setup.

But one drive is enough to reset expectations.

Even at close to three tonnes, the 009 Deluxe pulls with conviction. It’s smooth, progressive, and more than quick enough to make the car feel lighter than it has any right to. There’s a moment where it dawns on you: Maybe we’ve all been spoiled by EVs that accelerate like they’re trying to bend physics.

That’s aided by the dual-chamber air suspension that does an exceptional job of keeping the car planted and composed, whether cruising on highways or taking a tighter-than-expected turn.

The 009 is wider than most personal vehicles on the road, though, so you’ll need a day or two to gain true confidence when navigating through tighter areas.

As a bonus, the Deluxe variant here boasts a longer stated WTLP range of 604 km, although our mixed driving yielded a range closer to 500 km.

Room For Improvement

But this is where the Zeekr 009 Deluxe shows that perfection remains just out of reach.

Despite the system being set to English, several key menu shortcuts - including Camping Mode, Pet Mode, and the suspension settings - still appeared in Chinese. Zeekr attributed this to an OTA software issue, but (a) at this price point, and (b) this is 2026, such oversights feel careless rather than charming.

The same applies to a few physical details.

Manual window blinds in the rear rows interrupt the otherwise seamless, luxurious experience, while the third-row seats require manual folding and don’t sit flush with the floor. These aren’t catastrophic flaws, but in a segment defined by convenience and polish, they’re reminders that the 009 Deluxe still has room to mature.

In A Nutshell

While the Zeekr 009 can be chauffeur-driven, it’s clear the team designed it with families firmly in mind; and getting behind the wheel puts you in that same mindset. Calm, unhurried, and quietly indulgent.

With the 009 (and its close relation, the upcoming Volvo EM 90), Zeekr has carved out a space among the true premium MPV players. I don’t see towkays trading their Alphards in for this, but there’s a potential it’ll take just one jaunt in the 009 to realise which is the better offering.

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

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