Zeekr 009 Review

This surely ranks high on the list of over-the-top vehicles that we have seen from China.

523bhp in a sizeable SUV? That's absurd but not unheard of. 422bhp in a crossover? Excessive, for sure. But 603bhp in an MPV?

And there's so much more that will leave all slack jawed as they get familiar this Zeekr 009.

The Zeekr 009 comes with a 116kWh battery that can be charged via a direct current source at a maximum speed of 150kW

Appointments aplenty

Take, for example, the fact that there's a 17-inch display solely for rear passengers (and capable of casting the feed from a Nintendo Switch to boot). Or the fact that those seated in the first two rows all get ventilated and massaging seats.

Oh, and one cannot forget that there's an 8.6-litre fridge under the centre console. 30-speaker Yamaha premium sound system? Check. Nappa leather seats? Yup. An air suspension system? You bet. I'm sure there's plenty more premium features that I've missed.

And there's more good news still: The fitment of this much equipment within the 5,209mm-long body of the Zeekr 009 has not compromised available space one bit.

The cabin's 17-inch screen can stream the feed from a Nintendo Switch so passengers stay entertained while you're on the move or charging up

For those relegated to the third row, ingress and egress is always easy, thanks to what are claimed to be the longest rails fitted onto a modern MPV yet, so there's plenty of space once the second-row seats are folded and pushed forward (all settled via the push of a button, so you never have to exert yourself of course).

The car additionally can be made to automatically default to its lowest ride height setting when parked so children and those with weak knees really shouldn't have any trouble stepping in.

And things are just as effortless for those in the second row. Your air-conditioning controls are on the touch-sensitive displays that form part of the door cards, and your seat massage controls are always within easy reach and elegantly hidden and under the seat armrests. There's even a remote so you can set up that 17-inch display without having to get out of your seat.

Opt for the 'Flagship' trim and your Zeekr 009 will come with first-class aeronautic seats that come complete with a massage function and are ventilated to boot

Delightfully drivable

Those performing chauffeur duties will have themselves an equally easy time.

A tall seating position and large windows all around, coupled with the boxy shape of this Zeekr 009, make judging just where its extremities lie easy, so you need not fear its generous exterior dimensions. But if that's not enough, there's also a 360-degree camera system that feeds a wide choice of different viewpoints into the car's 15.05-inch infotainment display.

And you need not be intimated by that monstrous power output either. The relaxed "throttle" and brake pedal calibration in this Zeekr 009 makes it easy to make smooth stops and getaways.

The second row seats sit on 1.1m-long rails so you'll be able to freely adjust just how much space each passenger gets

The flip side of this set up means that you'll really need to keep the accelerator pedal pinned to the carpet for a time before the car will deploy its full 603bhp. It's unlikely anyone will ever need to launch a people carrier to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.5 seconds - but all that power will perhaps serve as a heartening comfort if you do find yourself having to shrug off pursuing paparazzi on the highway.

One thing to note while we are on the topic of driving at speed: I found the damping on offer with that air suspension system in its 'comfort' setting insufficient. Take an undulating road and the car will have difficulty arresting unwanted vertical movement as you peak crests and climb out of troughs. Thankfully, tweaking the damping force deployed (and any of the car's other drive settings) can be done with just a few quick prods on that infotainment screen.

Our three-day drive in this Zeekr 009 saw the car returning an average energy economy of 4.8km/kWh, which is impressive given its tremendous power output and 2,870kg weight, and a touch better than the car's official energy consumption of 4.5km/kWh.

The Zeekr 009 comes with a long feature list, offers plenty of space for all passengers, and has 603bhp to boot. What's there not to like?

Impressive value

That efficiency also means that this Zeekr 009 still manages to qualify for a VES A1 rating, a feat the significantly less powerful (at 369bhp) and equally heavy 'Grandeur' variant of the Denza D9 does not manage to achieve.

And that means you'll be able to net yourself one example of the Zeekr 009 in this 'Flagship' trim for $419,999. That's still a sizeable top up from the $339,388 Denza D9, although I think most potential buyers here will be looking at this Zeekr 009 as a more powerful and equally well-equipped alternative to the Toyota Vellfire Hybrid, which starts from $404,888 (all prices as of press time and inclusive of COE).

Seen from this viewpoint, the Zeekr 009 is really hard to pass up if you're looking for a luxury MPV. The only remaining question being, of course, just what need will you really have for all that extra horsepower?

Looking for a large MPV? There's also these options you might want to consider:

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes with a spacious cabin and an irresistible exterior

The Kia Carnival Hybrid, meanwhile, comes with a superb drivetrain and a strong and futuristic exterior

There's also the Maxus MIFA 9 for those who want quiet and spacious motoring on a tighter budget