2025 Zeekr 009 Review: The maddest, fastest people mover on sale, but who’ll actually buy one?

In a motoring writer’s career, some cars come along that simply warp one’s brain. The Zeekr 009 people mover is one.

Here’s an electric Chinese seven-seat MPV weighing almost three-tonnes which out-accelerates a Ford Mustang V8, has private jet levels of cabin luxe, looks like a spaceship and costs – wait for it – from $135,900.

It makes no sense on so many levels. A leather-lined Chinese curio with outrageous specification numbers and with no chance of any sales volume for an obscure brand that’s been on our shores just five minutes.

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Yet this Zeekr is also bewilderingly appealing, entertaining and, in some ways, deeply impressive. In fact, every time I was wrenched from its palatial cabin, I tried convincing myself this was an absolutely ideal MPV to make any and every journey a deserved Club Lounge experience for my family and friends.

Zeekr is part of the giant Geely group (Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Lotus etc), has been selling cars since 2021 and its name combines the “Z” from Gen Z and “geek” to make Zeekr. If its lofty pricing doesn’t put you off, that tragic naming might.

Well, until you enter the First Class massage seating and enjoy this 009’s ride and features. At this point it could be called the Doris Seahorse, but you wouldn’t give a stuff. You now just want to live out rock god or billionaire crypto king fantasies in reclined opulence with easy access to its central chilled pop-out champagne fridge.

So, who is the customer here? Fancy hotels for airport shuttles and chauffeurs you’d imagine. But commercial customers like this are stuck with a stingy three years/120,000km warranty, whereas private folk get a five years/unlimited km version.

Those who’d typically hop into a seven-seat BMW X5 (from $137,600) may be tempted to pay similar for this 009, if they reject German badge cachet and off-road/towing ability in favour of you-ve-not-got-one uber-luxe MPV life.

It’s an unlikely cross-shop, but I’m trying.

More negatives include sink-like-a-stone resale, and Zeekr’s website lists just five dealers or pop-up sites – two in Sydney, and one each in Melbourne, Canberra and Perth. At least services are only every two years/40,000km.

2025 Zeekr 009 price and equipment

You’re buying a massive vehicle – 5.2m long with a 3.2m wheelbase. Our $135,900 entry-level test car has seven seats in a 2+2+3 layout, while a flagship six-seater (2+2+2) is an extra $4000. That means close to $150,000 with on-roads.

Unfortunately, there’s no four-seat version as found in the Lexus LM 500h rival. Which, of interest, is a hefty $220,272 before on-roads. Big difference.

There’s a pair of electric motors – one over each axle – delivering (gulp) 450kW and 693Nm. Just for fun, I’ll remind you the Porsche 911 GT3 RS delivers 386kW and 465Nm.

On the specification front, you get 400V electrical architecture, mighty 116kWh battery, 582km (WLTP) range, and 205 kW maximum DC charge speed. Zeekr claims a 30-minute charge from 10-80%, or 13.5 hours with 11kW AC from 0-100%.

It features claws-like LED daytime running lights above a unique wall-like front grille, dazzling 20-inch “Starlight” alloys, V2L functionality (3.3kW), air suspension, power sliding side doors each side and a power tailgate.

Inside it’s a party zone. Up front are 12-way power, heated, ventilated, massage and memory seats coated in spongy-soft Nappa leather and suede. There’s a 15-inch central infotainment screen, 10.25-inch HD digital instrument cluster and mighty 36-inch AR head-up display.

There’s a fixed glass roof above the front seats, 30 speaker Yamaha surround sound, 5G/WiFi hotspot, OTA upgrade capability, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, Sentry mode, ambient lightning, eight USB-C ports throughout and three-zone climate control.

Move into the back (where you want to be) and there are what Zeekr calls two “first-class aviation-type” Sofaro seats which are 14-way adjustable (only 12-way behind the driver), these are also memory/heated/ventilated/massage, reclinable, and have a foldable single tray table with cupholders.

There’s a panoramic glass roof, a 17-inch 3K OLED entertainment screen folds down from the ceiling, manual sunshades (bit cheap, that), and an 8.6L fridge that can chill to -6°C and heat up to 50°C.

The six-seat version adds foldable Nappa and chrome tray tables for the second row, wider and longer armrests, cup holders with ambient lightning, leg rest heating and a third-row backrest 180° laydown function.

Zeekr 009: What we think

Did I prejudge this 009? Of course I did. Try not doing so with a $140k Chinese electric MPV that looks like a Blade Runner extra.

The cabin’s sumptuousness and tech didn’t surprise – Chines brands have solid form here these days – but I expected this Zeekr to corner like a 1980s Winnebago. It didn’t. It’s softly sprung and wafts along as you’d want from a luxo shuttle, but its dual chamber air suspension at each corner offers decent balance, control and road hit absorption.

At this price you’d expect nothing less, but praise where it’s due, the Zeeker crew’s done alright on the ride front. Chuck it into a corner and it feels safe and tight, albeit bloody massive to haul around.

In Normal drive setting the power delivery’s keen but not silly. This mode best suits the car, the air lifting to the highest setting and progress is, in the main, buttery smooth. Regen, too, is linear and not harsh, and I like how it allows one pedal driving.

Further surprises come with the driver aids – of which there are plenty – staying mainly muted in the background, and the turning circle’s more medium SUV-like than large planet-like.

But I’ll take aim at the steering’s lack of feel, and the brakes – typical for an EV – are lifeless before going too grabby.

My biggest criticism’s for an aspect I’d typically embrace, and that’s this Zeekr’s potential for rapid acceleration. In Dynamic mode there’s a dash more feel to the core controls, but this three-tonner launching to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds is just damn pointless.

It’s fast for fast’s sake, rather than it being an important part of MPV life. At some point all that weight at a speed a driver may have reached unexpectedly quickly could mean trouble. Brakes and handling will only help so much if a tight bend arrives in a flash, and then physics will win.

Sensible bit over, the rolling acceleration is particularly mind-bending. There is so much damn torque, and you near silently warp speed ahead. It’s fun for one, maybe two times, then it gets tiresome and licence losing-risky.

Up front your first road hump is Zeekr’s stupid squashed pyramid key. It must be placed on the centre console before starting, and then its shape means it flies off on the first corner. Unnecessarily complicated.

Our test car’s white cabin was a brave choice, and the suede showed evidence of grubby marks already. You must be a fastidious chauffeur to keep this thing looking fresh.

Its steering wheel feels a bit plasticky and out of character, but the 15-inch infotainment’s a revelation of menus and tech. The all-rounder cameras (with custom control) give superb views, and through the screen you can touch control the doors’ opening, how much the sunroof opens, adjust the suspension height and change any seat’s position, massage or temperature setting.

As well as aforementioned CarPlay/Android Auto, there’s an app centre giving you highbrow entertainment like TikTok, Candy Blast and Beach Buggy Racing. The same’s offered in the centre row seat screen.

And these seats are where the party’s at. The two mid-row captain’s chairs recline to about 45-degrees while raising under-leg rests. Their multi-functionality remind of those pillow-like shopping centre massage chairs, and who wouldn’t love life in one of those for a few hours?

There are digital buttons in the side doors for climate and window controls, the fridge is easy access, a remote control folds down the TV and the feel of the Nappa seat leather is unquestionably delicious.

It’s a fantastic place to travel, but not perfect. There’s no wireless phone charger in the main cabin, no tray tables for our entry grade, no vanity mirrors, and manual, plasticky window blinds feel out of place. The third row seats must also be folded by hand, when electric is expected.

The third row’s also not brilliant. You’re relying on the two seats in front to not recline much or you’re pinned in. That said, these back seats recline well, have comfy armrests, big windows and you can see the television from back here.

The boot’s an okay 574L with all seats up, but if you’ve got lots of luggage (rich folk do), you must fold the third row. This creates an uneven boot floor and restricts how far the mid-row seats recline. Sub-optimal.

Unlike the people mover hero Kia Carnival, this 009 doesn’t have a deep boot. Lift the floor and there are electric bits and air suspension bottles. There’s a small frunk, but it’s already got a tyre repair kit in there.

Payload’s a potential issue too. A 009’s kerb weight’s 2870kg, and with a GVM of 3430kg, your payload’s 560kg. If all seven seats are used by 80kg adults, you’ve no weight left to legally carry luggage. That’s a problem.

Economy is also against it. Its huge weight and hungry motors mean 19.5kWh/100km economy. Our on-road test (admittedly not terribly long) returned close to 25kWh/100km, suggesting a range of 500km is optimistic.

2025 Zeekr 009: Verdict

The mighty price means the 009 doesn’t score as highly as its impressive inclusions, luxury, tech and drive experience would suggest. But it’s hard to see who’ll gamble $135,000 on a brand new Chinese brand, with few dealers and likely plunging resale.

But this big Zeekr does impress. Where it matters most – the second row – the 009 is gloriously over-indulgent, comfortable and special.

Its limitations as a people mover in terms of payload, luggage space and compromised seat folding hurt it, but if it’ll only carry a maximum of four people it’s an easier sell. Ergo, a four-seat version should be on Zeekr Australia’s want list to help this fascinating vehicle’s case.

Score: 3/5

2025 Zeekr 009 specifications

Price: From $135,900
Basics: EV, 7 seats, 5 doors, MPV, AWD
Range: 582km
Battery capacity: 116kWh
Battery warranty: Eight-years/160,000km
EV energy consumption: 19.5kWh/100km
Motors: 1 front and 1 rear, 450kW/693Nm (combined)
AC charging: About 13.5 hours for a full charge
DC charging: 10-80% charge takes about 30 minutes
DC charge speed: 205kW
0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds