If Rolls-Royce was to make a Kia Carnival then the Zeekr 009 would probably be it, but without the stratospheric price tag.
Zeekr is Volvo’s sister from China under its massive Geely parent company and the 009 is a fully electric, luxury people mover that arrived in Australia to join the small X hatch and the forthcoming 7X mid-sized electric SUV.
The Zeekr 009 we tested is the seven-seater version and with a price of $135,900, before on-road costs, it's double the price of the fanciest Kia Carnival. Then again, the 009 is about $85,000 cheaper than the Lexus LM500h hybrid people mover.
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If you are a family with more than two or three children, or a chauffeur service operator, then the 009 could be a much more practical and luxurious alternative to a high-end SUV. And, as I'll show you, even at this price it's a bargain.
Zeekr 009 2025: AWD (7 Seat)
| Engine Type | 0.0L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | 0.0L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 7 |
| Price From | $135,900 |
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 9/10
9 / 10
The list price of the Zeekr 009 seven-seater is $135,900 before on-roads. There is also a six-seat version for $139,900 which swaps out the third-row bench seating for two separate, more luxurious seats.
We’ve tested the seven-seater version here but the standard features on both are almost identical.
Coming standard on the seven-seat 009 are LED headlights and LED tail-lights, power sliding side doors, a power tailgate and 20-inch alloy wheels clad in Michelin Pilots for EV tyres.
Inside, seven seats come standard with two captain’s chairs in the second row with heating, ventilation and massaging functions, and of course these are also fully power adjustable.
Standard, too, is a 30-speaker 3000W Yamaha sound system with speakers in the head rests. While I’m no audiophile, I have experienced the best sound systems offered by carmakers and this is up there with the most exceptional - Mark Levinsons included.
Folding out of the ceiling is a 17-inch 3K OLED screen for second and third-row passenger entertainment.
There’s four-zone climate control, sun shades for all side windows, a glass roof, and an 8.6-litre fridge large enough for six cans of drink.
Up front the seats are power adjustable, heated and ventilated too, there’s a 15.05-inch media screen, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 35.95-inch augmented reality head-up display, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
If you're wondering how all this adds up to $136,000 you can't forget that the Zeekr 009 has one of the largest batteries available in a production car. The 116kWh battery is only matched by Mercedes-Benz's EQS and BMW's i7 and these cars cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Batteries account for a large portion of the cost of an electric car and so at under $140K, and with all of the features it has as well, the Zeekr 009 is a relative bargain.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 10/10
10 / 10
You might think that there's only so much you can do to make a people mover good looking but Zeekr’s futuristic and alien-like take is inspired.
I love to sheer bluntness of the face. I love the chiseled looking bonnet, the LED running lights and the little show they put on every time you walk to or from the car. Even the side profile of the car sitting low and planted on its air suspension looks sleek and stylish. And I love the roulette-wheel-style alloys wheels.
I was impressed by the interior of the Lexus LM500h but the interior of the 009 exceeds even that with modern and youthful styling wrapped in beautiful soft leather upholstery. The second-row seats are just absolutely sumptuous and every single touch point throughout the cabin feels luxurious.
The 009 doesn't match the size of the gigantic entertainment screen in the second row of the LM500h but I found the drop down 17-inch 3K entertainment to have an even more modern look and feel.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 9/10
9 / 10
When it comes to practicality, no SUV on the planet can beat a people mover for space, storage and utility. The Zeekr 009 is beautifully luxurious with outstanding practicality.
Air suspension can lower the vehicle to an entry height that is just a small step into a cabin through the power sliding doors and while space in the second row is outstanding, entry to the third row is easy with the second-row seats folding forward at the touch of the button.
This third row by the way is the most spacious I have encountered with excellent leg and headroom.
Gigantic door pockets, a folding table between second-row seats, great storage under the floating centre console and in the centre console bin, cupholders in all three rows along with wireless charging pads and USB ports everywhere make this a practical and versatile cabin for families or executives.
Boot capacity with all seven seats in place is 574 litres and with the third row folded flat there's 2979 litres of volume.
A front boot can be found under the bonnet but will probably just fit the charging cable.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor? 10/10
10 / 10
The Zeekr 009 has two electric motors - one at the front and one at the rear - with a combined output of 450kW and 693Nm. That's Lamborghini Huracan stuff! Almost identical power, but this has more torque.
Not only does this provide all-wheel drive and fantastically controlled traction, but the way the power and torque is delivered is simply superb. This is a seven-seater rocket that will never leave the ground - hopefully.
The nature of electric motors - especially these ones - are the perfect fit for this vehicle, providing a serenely quiet, luxurious and effortlessly powerful experience.
Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time? 9/10
9 / 10
The Zeekr 009 has a 116kWh battery which is enormous - almost the biggest you can get in Australia currently. This lithium-ion battery has a range of 582km (WLTP). There are petrol cars that can’t go that far on a tank.
The battery has an AC charging capacity of 11kW and DC charging capacity of 205kW, allowing you to charge from 10-80 per cent in 39 minutes.
Energy consumption is officially 19.5kWh/100km and we’ve been getting an average of 23.5kWh/100km.
That’s because this thing is so heavy at 2.9 tonnes.
Driving – What's it like to drive? 10/10
10 / 10
The Zeekr 009 is one of the largest vehicles on the Australian market at almost three tonnes and 5.2 meters long but it's also one of the most comfortable, and one of the easiest and most enjoyable cars I've driven.
This is for three main reasons. The first is the air suspension which provides a beautifully comfortable and composed ride.
The next is those electric motors which provide so much grunt but in a very predictable way that's smooth, silent and instant, allowing you to move through traffic or drive confidently on a motorway.
Finally the visibility, steering and pedal feel all combined to provide an effortless piloting experience through narrow laneways, carparks or while parking.
Adding to the enjoyment of driving this people mover is a comfortable, plush interior that's so well insulated that you'll coast serenely through traffic.
As for handling, I have also driven the 009 on a race track at Sydney Motorsport Park. I pushed it through a couple of corners where even some sports have cars struggled to maintain their composure and this massive people move performed surprisingly well, staying planted through the corners.
I've also taken the 009 onto a skid pan and intentionally tried to slide the vehicle and even under these controlled conditions it showed no sign of roll or loss of control.
Having taken the 009 through probably the widest range of testing I've ever put a car through I'd say that it feels safe and secure in pretty much any real-world condition you will experience.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10
9 / 10
The Zeekr 009 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP yet, but it comes with auto emergency braking (AEB), front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assistance, auto parking, and blind spot warning. You’ve got airbags covering all three rows and a centre airbag up front.
For child seats there are four ISOFIX points in the second and third rows and four top tether points.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10
8 / 10
The 009 is covered by Zeekr’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. The battery is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty.
Servicing is recommended every 40,000km or every two years, whichever comes first. There’s also five years/unlimited kilometres of roadside assistance and five years of connected services as standard.
Verdict
The Zeekr 009 is difficult to fault. It's a luxurious, practical vehicle that's easy and enjoyable to drive. There's no SUV on the planet that can compete with its practicality, whether it's room for people and their cargo, or just getting in and out of the vehicle. The only thing I would change about the 009 in terms of family use are the captain's chairs in the second row; a bench seat here for three people would be more practical for a family. If, however, you are using the 009 as a chauffeur car then the captain's chairs would provide the comfort and luxury jet-setting executives would welcome.
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| AWD (6 Seat) | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $139,900 |
| AWD (7 Seat) | Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $135,900 |
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