Zeekr is rapidly expanding throughout Europe, and its models have become an increasingly common sight in markets where the brand was virtually non existent just a year ago. Its growth reflects the strength of the current lineup, and today we get the opportunity to test one of its most ambitious Zeekr7GT is a sophisticated electric wagon aimed squarely at models such as the BMW i5 Touring and the Porsche Taikan Sport Turismo. A huge black strip extends throughout the nose and continues beyond the wheel arch. It serves no real purpose other than to add visual talent, so whether it works or not is entirely down to personal preference. The almost mandatory full width LED light bar is installed under it and is slightly divided by the front camera unit, so that the black panel can be further changed.
From the side, the 7GT adopts a classic shooting brake design with a gently sloping roofline. It looks elegant, but its style inevitably comes at the expense of some cabin space in comparison with the boxer's rivals. The AWD version comes standard with 20-inch wheels and 4-piston orange brake calipers, which are characteristic of zeekr's range-top models. The door handle remains flush with the body and extends automatically as the key is detected to be nearby. More impressively, the franchise AWD adds a fully automatic opening and closing door that brings a level of luxury never seen before in this segment. At the rear, another LED light bar spans the width of the tailgate and is suspended only by a camera mounted in the center. Above it sits an unusual split roof spoiler, with a subtle ducktail spoiler underneath.
The door panel turns the audio speaker into a visual centerpiece surrounded by a particularly attractive and elegant window control. There is also no conventional door handle. Instead, the button releases the door electronically, but the privileged version also allows it to open and close automatically, essentially giving it a small electronic chauffeur. The steering wheel has an unconventional shape that allows for quick maneuvers that are slightly less natural than the traditional round design, but good load feedback greatly compensates for its shortcomings. The controls are intuitive and surrounded by attractive detailing that makes adjustment easy while driving.
The right stem is the gear selector, which activates the cruise control with the 2nd press while driving and skillfully eliminates another steering wheel button. Not very impressive auto centering indicators, the solution BMW once popularized and eventually abandoned for good reason. They remain unnecessarily unintuitive here. Digital instrument clusters offer little customization, and dark graphics can be hard to read in bright sunlight. Most important information, however, remains permanently visible, and the climate function can also be adjusted through the control of the steering wheel we want to see more integrated into the vehicle.
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The head-up display is included in everything except the base version and is worth having. It is bright and clear, showing speed, limits, vehicle information and even a large navigation map showing direction directly to the driver's line of sight. What looks like a sensor in the center of the dashboard is actually a separate speaker, located there only as a design feature. A huge central touch screen controls virtually everything in the 7GT. although the sheer number of menus and submenus can be overwhelming. Even opening the glove box requires a visit to the screen. The perfectly flat loading surface has made the space even more useful.
The RWD version of the 7GT benefits from about twice the front storage. Not long ago, buying a Chinese car meant accepting a lower driving experience and some rough edges in exchange for a lower price. The picture is changing rapidly. The Zeekr7GT enhances that impression. From behind the wheel, it never feels like a budget alternative or compromise. Steering is one of its strongest points. It communicates the grip level clearly and makes the car easy to position even when approaching the limit. Those who prefer a more relaxed setup can reduce the steering response through the central screen, which makes everyday driving considerably easier. The AWD system and traction control add another layer of confidence.
Turning on the dubious asphalt, the 7GT simply hooks up and launches itself out of the corner without unnecessary drama. The same goes for a grippy road that can instantly become a drag strip off dig. The test car is powered by Michelin Pilot Sports EV tires, attempting the daunting task of balancing low rolling resistance with serious grip. They don't do either perfectly, but they perform comfortably above average in both areas. One of the things that 7GT almost completely removes is the feeling of speed in the cabin. It is excellent for comfort and sophistication, and is all slightly less exciting when trying to enjoy that performance.
Zeekr tries to get some drama back through the artificial engine sound played from the speakers. Several options are available, but all of them are obviously synthetic sounds. They are entertained for a few minutes, but the novelty quickly disappears. In such an executive wagon, silence is much more suitable for the car anyway. The Zeekr7GT is packed with technology and easily competes with the most advanced cars on the market. Unfortunately, almost everything is controlled via a central touch screen, including the frequently used features that many rivals still assign to physical buttons. This technology is impressive, but it is not always ideal to access it while driving.
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The home screen itself is busy, but customizable. Navigation takes up most of the display, and the configurable columns on the left provide shortcuts to driving and vehicle functions. Along the top sits lock, voice assistant, telephone connection and sentry mode, much smaller controls for Zeekr's built-in monitoring system. Unfortunately, Zeekr's obsession with the menu continues in the vehicle's settings. The "Quick Settings" page includes height and drive mode controls, but you can also change the mirrors, head-up displays, and steering controls that are already visible elsewhere. Thankfully, the Apple CarPlay integration is excellent. It connected instantly and remained completely reliable throughout our time in the car.
Combined with a huge and sharp display, this is one of the better CarPlay implementations we've come across. Insulation is not the best part of the Zeekr7GT, but it's not too disappointing. Some tire noise enters the cabin at a low speed, but rarely increases as you speed up, so the car is noticeably refined on the highway subjectively, thanks to the phenomenal built quality, the cabin feels quieter than that. Station wagons are no longer the mediocre carriers of the past, but offer some phenomenal performance. The Zeekr7GT Privilege AWD accelerates like a supercar and pulls gracefully, unlike the sharp punches that most Evs offer offline. The AWD variant runs at a very high level, but is not the most efficient version of the Zeekr7GT.
In terms of pure efficiency, there are better cars to choose from, but the 7GT as a whole is an incredibly attractive package. Thanks to its huge battery pack and ultra-fast charging, the Zeekr7GT AWD can comfortably cover large distances without carefully planning a stop or driving under the speed limit. One of the biggest strengths of the Zeekr7GT is its extremely fast charging, which is a big advantage over many rivals. I couldn't confirm the 480kW peak that was requested, but the results were excellent even with a 300kW charger. Charging from 10% to 80% took only 17 minutes, but under ideal conditions it was only 16 minutes slower than the 1 minute figure claimed by Zeekr.
It puts the 7GT among the fastest charging EVs on the market, and there is nothing that can rival it in this price range. Established rivals of the Zeekr7GT generally play in very different price ranges and are rather difficult to compare directly based purely on cost. Because it offers exceptional built quality, generous equipment, huge performance, plenty of cabin space and very fast charging at a much more accessible price, the Zeekr case has almost no downsides. The Zeekr7GT is one of the cars that will make you wonder how uncomfortable the next meeting at Audi or BMW will be.1 It is beautifully built, very fast, amazingly attractive and can swallow huge distances thanks to its large battery and absurdly fast charging.
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