Zeekr 009

First Impressions

The Zeekr 009 looks like it means business. There's a mafia-boss energy to this thing that I wasn't expecting — the dark chrome trim, the full-width LED tail lights, the sheer presence on the road. I drove it around for a while and noticed other cars genuinely gave me space. It's imposing in a way that the Toyota Alphard wishes it could be, and it's noticeably wider and longer too.

What struck me immediately is that despite being the entry-level trim, nothing about this car screams "base model." You still get 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Elect tyres, full LED headlights with adaptive cornering, and a 360-degree camera system. It sets the tone right away.

Interior and Tech

Step inside and the premium feel continues. Nappa leather mixed with quality materials on the door panels, OLED screens everywhere — the centre display, the rear entertainment screen, even the instrument cluster feels special. The 15-inch centre OLED display shares its DNA with the Lotus Emeya, which tells you something about the spec level here.

The rear entertainment screen is a 17-inch OLED unit with a remote that looks suspiciously like an Apple TV controller. It works well, the system is smooth, and there's even a selfie camera built into the back of it. There's a built-in fridge too, though it's a bit small — bottles only fit horizontally. The Yamaha 30-speaker audio system is genuinely impressive, especially from the second row where the soundstage is beautifully balanced. The AR head-up display deserves special mention: it's large, clear, and can project Apple CarPlay navigation data, which is a first for me.

Second and Third Row Experience

The second-row zero-gravity seats are the star of the show. Electric adjustment, ventilation, massage, memory positions — it's a first-class airline experience. The left seat even gets a powered footrest that deploys from behind the front passenger seat. The air vents automatically track your seating position when you recline, which is a clever touch, though honestly I'd still prefer manual vents for quicker adjustment.

The third row surprised me. At 180 cm tall, I could sit back there with reasonable knee room and excellent headroom — more than a fist above my head. The seat cushion is soft and the backrest reclines to a comfortable angle. It's one of the best third rows I've experienced in this segment. Sound insulation is slightly weaker back here though, with some tyre and road noise creeping in through the single-layer rear glass.

Driving Experience

With 340 horsepower from a single front motor, the 009 hits 100 km/h in about 8 seconds. That's more than adequate for a luxury van. There's a deliberate half-second delay when you floor it — a safety feature to prevent accidental full-throttle launches. Clever, if slightly frustrating for enthusiasts.

The steering is the real revelation. At highway speeds it's weighted beautifully, precise and composed — I genuinely forgot I was driving a van at times. Even approaching the 214 km/h top speed, the wheel stayed rock-solid. Low-speed manoeuvring is light and easy. Five driving modes let you customise throttle response, steering weight, and suspension firmness independently.

The air suspension is where things get complicated. In Comfort mode at low speeds, there's a boat-like wallowing over speed bumps that could easily trigger motion sickness for rear passengers. Switch to Sport and the ride firms up nicely for the driver but sends harsher impacts to the back rows. Standard mode is the sweet spot — a decent compromise. I should note the test car had single-chamber air springs; production models get dual-chamber units which should improve things.

Range and Charging

The 116 kWh NMC battery delivers impressive real-world range. Cruising at 100 km/h I saw consumption around 17.2 kWh per 100 km, translating to roughly 670 km on a full charge. Mixed driving returned about 600 to 650 km — outstanding for a van this size. DC fast charging peaks near 200 kW below 20% state of charge but drops to 120-130 kW for most of the session. A 10 to 60% charge took about 26 minutes. It's decent but not class-leading — an 800V architecture would make a real difference here.

Software Quirks

The Snapdragon 8295 chip keeps everything running smoothly, and the voice assistant with six-zone microphones responds quickly. But there are annoyances. The car doesn't remember your drive mode or AC recirculation setting between restarts. The blind-spot camera feed when indicating shows on the passenger side of the screen rather than near the driver's eye line. These are software issues that could theoretically be fixed via OTA updates, but for now they're daily irritants.

Final Verdict

The Zeekr 009 Standard is a remarkably complete luxury van. It delivers premium materials, outstanding tech, a fantastic sound system, and genuine long-range capability — all on what is technically the entry trim. The soft suspension at low speeds and middling charge rates keep it from perfection, but for executives who want to be chauffeured in style while occasionally enjoying the drive themselves, this is one of the most compelling options in the segment right now.