Zeekr 7X Long Range Review: The Sweet Spot

There is something particularly satisfying about driving a car that gets its fundamentals right. Not because it has the largest touchscreen, the most outrageous acceleration figures or enough ambient lighting to rival a nightclub; but because the engineers responsible for making it stop, turn and ride properly have clearly been allowed to… do their jobs.

The Zeekr 7X Long Range is one such car.

Having previously driven the powerful 637 bhp 7X Performance, I already knew what this Chinese electric SUV was capable of when given an unreasonable amount of power. That car was properly entertaining, with enough acceleration to make you reconsider how much pressure your right foot really needs to apply.

The Long Range here takes a different approach. One motor, rear-wheel drive and considerably less power. Yet, after spending time behind its wheel, I'm beginning to think this is the 7X I'd rather live with.

And the reason has surprisingly little to do with its impressive range.

The Inside Story

Open the door and the 7X immediately makes another strong impression - the cabin feels properly expensive.

Not expensive in the superficial sense of having enormous screens and decorative lighting everywhere, but through the quality of its assembly, the solidity of its fittings and the materials used throughout. The dashboard, door trims and centre console all feel convincingly substantial; plus there's a consistency to the finishing that wouldn't seem out of place in a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi.

That's no small achievement.

The 2,900 mm wheelbase translates into generous interior accommodation, particularly for rear passengers. Legroom is excellent, headroom is plentiful and the panoramic glass roof adds considerably to the feeling of space - the overall environment is airy, welcoming and remarkably relaxing.

The seats are supportive and comfortable, while the driving position offers sufficient adjustment to accommodate different body types. It's the sort of cabin where a long journey feels like an appealing prospect rather than something to endure.

Technologically speaking, there's a 16-inch central touchscreen, 13.02-inch digital instrument display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295-powered infotainment system. Thankfully, Zeekr has retained physical piano-style controls for selected functions, although I'd still appreciate more conventional switches for frequently used adjustments; not every interaction with a car needs to resemble operating an iPad, you see...

Practicality Speaking

At 4,787 mm long and 1,930 mm wide, the 7X is generously proportioned, although that width is something to remember when negotiating older HDB car parks.

Fortunately, its dimensions pay dividends inside. The 616-litre boot is wide, deep and usefully shaped, with a further 100-litres of underfloor storage for charging cables and other items best kept out of sight.

Fold the rear seats and total cargo capacity expands to a claimed 1,978-litres. That's enough flexibility for family holidays, airport runs or ambitious furniture shopping; just remember to measure that new cabinet before convincing yourself yeah it'll fit.

The generous rear accommodation also makes the 7X particularly suitable for families regularly carrying adult passengers, rather than treating the second row as somewhere to deposit children and shopping bags.

Ride & Handling

Let's get straight to what impressed me most.

The 7X Long Range weighs 2,415 kg - that's a substantial amount of metal, glass and battery to manage, especially when you're approaching a corner carrying slightly more speed than initially intended. Yet somehow, Zeekr has made this sizeable SUV feel remarkably cohesive.

Its suspension employs double wishbones at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. Unlike the Performance variant's adaptive air suspension, the Long Range relies on a conventional spring-and-damper setup; on paper, that might sound like a downgrade. On the road, however, there's very little to complain about…

The suspension strikes an excellent balance between compliance and body control. Expansion joints, uneven tarmac and the occasional badly patched road are dealt with convincingly, without the secondary bouncing that can afflict heavy SUVs. More importantly, the car settles quickly after a disturbance; it doesn't continue bobbing about after crossing a hump, nor does it become unnecessarily harsh when the road surface deteriorates.

But the real surprise comes when you start asking more of its chassis. Approach a corner briskly, brake late and turn in with conviction - the front end responds cleanly, the body remains disciplined and the rear follows without any unnecessary drama. There's just a reassuring sense that all four corners of the car are working together.

Even when pushed harder, this rear-wheel drive 7X resists the temptation to wash wide prematurely. Yes, there is some body movement, and no amount of clever engineering can completely disguise 2.4-tonnes. But the transition from straight-line stability to cornering is progressive, predictable and - for lack of a better word - wonderfully natural.

This isn't a sports SUV pretending to be a hot hatch; it's a family SUV that has been engineered to respond properly when its driver asks difficult questions; impressive stuff, really.

The brakes are equally deserving of praise. Initial pedal response is reassuring, with progressive stopping force that makes it easy to judge how much pressure is required. Even under firmer braking, the car remains settled rather than pitching excessively onto its front axle.

The interaction between regenerative and conventional friction braking also feels well integrated, without an obvious change in pedal behaviour disrupting your confidence.

Steering feedback isn't particularly rich, but the weighting and accuracy are good enough to place the car confidently through a sequence of bends. I genuinely believe this is one of the best-handling electric SUVs in its class; not because it's the sharpest or most aggressive, but because its responses are so well judged.

Respect where it's due, Zeekr.

Performance Wise

The Long Range employs a single rear-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous motor producing 310 kW (or 416 bhp), and 440 Nm of torque. Standstill to 100 km/h takes 6.0 seconds, while maximum speed is 210 km/h.

Compared with the Performance variant's 637 bhp and 710 Nm, those figures might seem relatively modest. But let's not forget that 416 bhp was serious performance-car territory not very long ago…

In everyday driving, the Long Range has more than sufficient muscle - acceleration is smooth and immediate, with enough mid-range punch to make expressway overtaking effortless.

Being rear-wheel drive also contributes to its pleasingly natural character. With the front wheels responsible for steering rather than simultaneously deploying propulsion, there's a welcome sense of consistency in the way the car responds.

The 100 kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery delivers a claimed 615 km WLTP range, while official energy consumption is approximately 17.8 kWh/100 km. Its 800V architecture supports DC charging at up to 420 kW, alongside 22 kW AC charging. Naturally, those impressive peak figures depend on compatible infrastructure and favourable battery conditions.

For Singapore owners who regularly travel into Malaysia, the substantial battery capacity is particularly attractive. A journey to Malacca or Kuala Lumpur becomes easier to plan, without having to obsess over every percentage point on the battery indicator.

And frankly, I'd rather have this combination of range, performance and composure over another 200 bhp I'll rarely have the opportunity to exploit.

In A Nutshell

The Zeekr 7X Long Range is arguably one of the best all-round electric SUVs in its class. Its premium cabin, generous practicality and impressive refinement are convincing enough, but it's the exceptionally well-sorted ride and handling that truly set it apart.

The Tesla Model Y offers excellent efficiency and software, the XPeng G6 impresses with its charging technology, while the BYD Sealion 7 and IM 6 remain formidable alternatives. Yet few manage to combine comfort, build quality and driving confidence quite as convincingly as this Zeekr.

Having driven both variants, I'd choose the Long Range over the Performance - it simply delivers everything a family SUV needs, without unnecessary excess.

Would I buy one? Absolutely. If driving satisfaction matters as much as comfort and practicality, the 7X Long Range deserves a place at the very top of your shortlist.

Technical Specification - Zeekr 7X Long Range

Power/Torque: 416 bhp/440 Nm
Battery type/Capacity: Nickel manganese cobalt/100 kWh
Charging time: 5.5 hours (AC), 16 minutes (DC) - 10 to 80%
Range: 615 km (WLTP)
0-100 km/h: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 210 km/h
Efficiency: 17.8 kWh/100 km
Agent: Premium Automobiles EV Pte Ltd

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

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