Zeekr 009 Review: Superlative Flagship

What we like:

True luxury built to European standards

Fantastic attention to detail

Best way to travel this side of $500k

What we dislike:

Suspension modes would be welcome

If there’s one car that shows just how far the Chinese automotive industry has come, it’s the Zeekr 009.

Built as a proper flagship MPV, the 009 serves as the platform for the Volvo EM90 as well. The fact that Geely is confident enough to put a Volvo badge on it says a lot.

Engineered with Swedish influences, the 009 is probably the most European Chinese EV I have tested. That’s a great thing, as every discernible touch point has been thought of, so there is nothing to suggest any sloppiness (e.g. no garbled translations from Chinese).

In fact, the 009 goes one step further and offers a level of quality that is befitting that of a high-end Mercedes or BMW, offerings features and materials that you can only get if you tick the optional extras checkbox for its German rivals. I am not even sure if we can call them rivals anymore, but more like onlookers, for they currently have nothing on offer that can compete.

Things like the suede headliner, the slick infotainment system, the rear fold-down screen and the ‘swip-able clock’ are some examples. But it is not just the toys that impress, it’s also the build quality.

The doors close with a damped thunk, while the leather stitches and ambient lighting placements are truly impressive. It feels inspired by one of the best Business Class experiences you can get flying (Singapore Airlines?), and Zeekr even calls the lounge setting for the 2nd row ‘Business Class’. When you activate this, the front passenger seat folds down and a leg rest extends out, while the 2nd row seat directly behind folds into almost a flat bed. You’d be an instant convert once you try it out. Especially when you watch something on the rear screen and enjoy the Yamaha sound system at the same time.

With its “Hannibal” front grille and imposing size, the 009 looks like an intimidating car to drive. But it’s far from it. Behind the wheel, it feels far smaller than you imagine. Its controls are light, but precise. It’s an easy car to drive, and you’d never imagine the amount of power it packs until you pin the throttle into the carpet. Do that and the car surges forward with a ferocity that will shock you to disbelief. However, for daily driving the power delivery is more relaxed, which hints of its very well-tuned calibration.

A rare feature for its class is air suspension, although its stiffness is not manually adjustable. The 009 rides with composure and utter comfort, although like many cars its size it does have a hard time juggling its weight while offering good body control at the same time. It would be a bonus if a ‘Normal, Comfort, Sport’ mode is offered as options. It isn’t perfect, but you get a more settled ride than you do in say, the Denza D9. The Toyota Alphard/Vellfire probably rides better overall, but it does this without air suspension or a heavy battery to lug around.

The 009 is a very serious competitor to not just the establishment, but also to its peers from China as well. I can’t think of a more luxurious or superlative experience in a Chinese car than the 009. And now, with a more affordable single motor option that retains most of the bells and whistles, the 009 is even more compelling.

Photos by James Wong

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