Zeekr 007 GT First Drive Review

Well here's something interesting: A wagon! And an electric one at that.

Wagons are preciously uncommon here in Singapore, though take a gander into western Europe and they are much more common. But we're not shy about the fact that we quite like a wagon, perhaps precisely because they are an uncommon sight.

And yet, this isn't even the first wagon that Zeekr has produced (well, sort of). The 001, the brand's first-ever model, occupied a similar space, though the brand calls it a shooting brake.

There's perhaps a slight distinction between the two, with a shooting brake traditionally having a more coupe-like design whereas a wagon leans into its boxy, practical-leaning intentions. But given our current automotive landscape of blurred lines between body styes, we're just going to go ahead and call this 007 GT a wagon.

Wagons deliver increased practicality, and here boot space stands at a healthy 645 litres

Sleek futurism

The exterior bears a design language that is consistent with the rest of Zeekr's product lineup. At the front, you get the robot-like front fascia with the same lightshow-bestowing LED panel found on the 7X we also tested.

The rest of the car is quite sleekly designed, punctuated here and there by little nubs that house the numerous cameras. Does the rear have more than a hint of a Taycan Cross Turismo, what with the full length light bar? The simple answer is yes.

But, the overall look is cohesive, futuristic looking, and actually quite appealing to these eyes.

The cabin scores high on quality, technology and comfort - with the added bonus of a more cocoon-like environment 

The interior is once again very familiar - it shares a very obvious, almost identical look to the other Zeekr products. Expect huge screens, a wealth of equipment, and ample functionality combined with a good level of premium comfort and quality. Build quality also feels quite high.

Where it distinguishes itself is in the central divider between driver and passenger. Where in many EVs carmakers try to declutter this area to create a greater sense of space, here it seems almost deliberately raised. This creates a more cocoon-like feeling, which is perhaps appropriate for this more driver-focused car.

On the road, the 007 GT finds a pleasing blend between easy-going comfort and satisfying dynamism when you need a turn-of-pace

Familiar comforts

That feeling translates to the road as well. The 007 GT definitely has a sense of sportiness to it. The steering feels meatier, the car is quite low-riding and feels planted through bendy roads, and having jumped into this car from the 7X I much preferred the suspension setup here.

But it is no sports car, that's for sure. While slightly firmer riding, it still errs on the side of comfort - perhaps reflective of the Chinese market's desire for comfortable and luxurious cars that must primarily function in dense city traffic.

Expectedly, there's also tons of performance. The dual-motor variant packs 475kW, whilst even the single-motor model packs a healthy 310kW. You're never going to be asking for more power.

Of course, the car also features a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems (similar to those found in the 7X), but we'll reserve evaluation for when we see what tech makes it to export models. 

There's no confirmation yet if the 007 GT will be brought into Singapore, but given its polish and all-round capability, we want to be hopeful

Wait and see

So, is the 007 GT coming to Singapore? Well, there is no confirmation yet, though there have been some hints dropped that it just might (a Zeekr rep suggested that we "should definitely test drive this car").

The wagon segment in Singapore is a fairly sparse one, but we've recently seen a maybe slightly surprising influx of wagon models (the recently introduced 520i Touring and M5 Touring come to mind, and we even now get a Skoda Superb Combi).

As far as electric wagons go, there's really only three now: The BMW i5 Touring, MG 5 EV, and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. I reckon the 007 GT edges much closer towards the BMW/Porsche than the MG, and could be quite competitive against these established premium players. 

That then perhaps begs the question of whether Zeekr should bring this car to Singapore. I'm inclined to think that Zeekr should. Electric non-SUV/MPVs are not that commonplace in most brands' product lineups, but the BYD Seal has shown that given the appropriate product, buyers will bite. And the 007 GT could give the Zeekr brand a product that can compete not just against other wagons, but four-door sedans as well. That optionality, if combined with a keen price, could certainly turn some heads.