By: LEE NIAN TJOE
The EV goes against the convention of bigger being better, condensing premium car features into a compact package.
The electric Zeekr X may look youthful and chic, but it is also well-suited to not-so-young motorists.
The key demographic is literally in the name: X, as in Generation X, which broadly refers to those born between 1965 and 1980.
Younger drivers may be attracted to it, but Gen Xers are more likely to be able to afford one. The most senior among the Gen Xers are just two years away from qualifying for monthly payouts from their Central Provident Fund (CPF).
Someone bent on pouring his or her CPF savings into a new electric vehicle (EV) can do a lot worse than to pick a Zeekr X.
The car goes against the convention of bigger being better. Instead, it condenses premium car features into a compact package, like a high-end designer condominium in a prime district. Those who are used to large premium cars can comfortably downsize without feeling like they are missing out.
Coming from a Chinese brand, the X has its share of quirky features.
To urge pedestrians to get out of the way, the car can broadcast all sorts of noises, from animal sounds like a horse’s neigh, to preset messages such as “Thanks for giving way”, to streaming whatever the driver says in the cabin to the world outside, a feature that aspiring Members of Parliament can consider using to address residents come election time.
The power window switches on the doors operate in the opposite direction to the norm, which takes some getting used to.
It is quite common to find cars with flush fitting exterior door handles that extend when unlocked.
On the X, instead of handles popping out, flaps fold inwards for the user to grab and unlatch the doors. The button to open the rear hatch is not obvious, being a few centimetres below the wiper and between the light clusters.
Zeekr is part of the larger Geely Auto Group, and the X shares its underpinnings with at least two other similar-sized electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) sold in Singapore – the Smart #1 and Volvo EX30.
In terms of design, the X is the edgiest-looking one of the trio, with sharp creases along the flanks and exaggeratedly stepped window line.
While the 200kW X RWD remains on sale, the range has been expanded to include the 110kW X Urban tested here.
This is an identical approach to what Volvo has done with the EX30. The Swedish brand launched the electric SUV in 200kW form first, then in 2025, it rolled out a 110kW version.
Zeekr and Volvo do this to qualify their cars for the certificate of entitlement (COE) under Category A instead of Category B.
The power output of an electric car determines which type of certificate it needs to be registered for the road. As the premium tends to be lower for Category A than Category B, the idea is that the X Urban can be priced lower than the X RWD. After the latest COE tender exercise, the X Urban is priced $19,000 below the Category B version of the Zeekr X.
On the outside, the less-powerful X Urban looks no different from the 200kW X RWD reviewed in 2024.
But the Urban has better front seats, as both are ventilated and electrically adjusted. The X RWD reviewed in 2024 did not have seat ventilation and only the driver’s seat had electric adjustment.
The sound system on the X Urban RWD is a seven-speaker set-up, which is adequate, if nowhere at the level of the Yamaha-branded 13-speaker system found on the more powerful version of the X.
The blue-and-white-themed cabin with hints of rose gold detailing looks convincingly premium.
The materials used seem suitably posh too, other than those in some minor areas, such as the retractable lid for the cubby between the front seats and the door bins where the plastic does not feel quite as robust.
Against the stopwatch, the 110kW Urban takes 8.7 seconds to get to 100kmh from rest, which is 3.1 seconds behind the 200kW version.
In reality, the car gets off the line smartly and continues to accelerate strongly until 80kmh or so, when the pace starts to taper off. As far as Category A COE EVs go, the performance is respectable.
The X Urban feels agile at low speeds. The car pitches a bit when driving around town, but the ride settles down when cruising on the expressway. It is a trait that also applies to the Volvo EX30.
The tuned-down Zeekr is rather energy-efficient. The test car posts an average consumption of 13.9kWh/100km after nearly 290km, with another 160km of range left.
Measuring just 4,432mm overall, the X is shorter than a Toyota Corolla Altis by 198mm. Not that occupants in the back seat of the Zeekr will be able to tell, because the X has plenty of legroom – more than the popular family car.
It is only in the space behind the rear seats that the X’s compact footprint shows. The boot is a bit shallow and narrow.
While the space is sufficient for, say, a week’s groceries for a family of four, the rear bench will likely have to be folded to fit anything bulkier, such as a large travel suitcase.
For Gen Xers who like zipping around town in a stylish and posh EV, the Zeekr X is definitely worth checking out.
niantjoel@sph.com.sg
Zeekr X Urban RWD
Motors: Permanent magnet synchronous with 66kWh NCM battery
Transmission: Single-speed
Power: 110kW
Torque: 343Nm
0-100kmh 8.7 seconds
Top speed 185kmh (estimated)
Power consumption 17.5kWh/100km
Charging capacity 7.2kW AC; 150kW DC
Agent: Premium Automobiles BEV
Rating ★★★✩✩