I checked out the Zeekr 001 which has the U.S & Europe on its radar

Geely Auto Group launched the Lynk & Co Zero Concept from the 2020 Beijing Auto Show in China as the Zeekr 001 in 2021. The 001 electric SUV became the first model from its new brand Zeekr (Chinese: 极氪), with potential in global markets, including the United States.

Recently I got a first-hand experience of the Zeekr 001, and here’s what I think about its design, interior, comfort, features, and space:

Design

The Zeekr 001 looks like a crossover from some angles, but it’s a shooting brake with a sporty rear profile. This distinct design sets it apart from traditional shooting brakes such as the VW Arteon or Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake. Its crossover genes puts it more in the territory of the Nio ET5 Touring and the high-end Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

The bug-eyed face is set visibly low, and the steeply raked windscreen further adds to the sporty styling at the front. On the sides, the 001 appears to have a crouched posture, which gives it a powerful stance. Short overhangs, a sleek greenhouse, a smoothly sloping roofline, and flush-fit door handles lend the EV a clean and aerodynamic appearance. At the back, the fast-sloping glass is the biggest attraction, while the technical-looking full-width light panel provides the EV a futuristic look.

Interior

The interior is high-tech and minimalist, in a layout which is becoming typical of modern Chinese electric cars. A sleek dashboard discreetly integrates AC vents and has two screens attached to it – an 8.8-inch HD instrument cluster and a 15.4-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system. Supplementing the former is a head-up display with a projection area of 14.7 inches.

The center console houses a slim climate control panel with touch-control buttons, a stubby gear shifter, a rotary dial-type multimedia controller with a knurled edge for a premium look and feel, two cupholders, a wireless smartphone charging tray, and a storage box. It has been designed to connect with the dashboard like a bridge. The steering wheel is a three-spoke, flat-bottomed unit with capacitive buttons. Premium materials and intricate detailing on the door panels in the 001 show Zeekr’s attention to detail.

In the highest specifications, the front seats have 12-way power adjustment, heating, cooling, and massage functions. The massage function can be selected with four different modes and with three levels of intensity. The rear seats also have a heating function. More importantly, they are reclinable and offer seven degrees of adjustment. A 5.7-inch touchscreen allows the rear passengers to adjust their climate control settings.

Getting into the Zeekr 001 was relatively easy for me, and while it’s not as effortless as a crossover, the higher floor did aid in quick entry. However, the lower roof meant that headroom was a bit tight for someone six feet tall like myself, once I adjusted the seat to my preferred driving position. The leather-wrapped steering wheel felt premium, and the top-stitching across the steering wheel, dashboard, and door cards enhanced the sporty feel of the interior.

The instrument cluster, which folds to the sides, offers crisp graphics, is easily readable, and is well-positioned. I experienced similar satisfaction with the free-standing infotainment display, which was snappy and provided the right levels of brightness and contrast.

Despite the absence of a headrest, I found good support and comfort for my head and neck. The side bolstering was appropriately firm, and the under-thigh support was decent. All-round visibility was acceptable, considering it is a low-slung design.

Moving to the rear seat, the floor was almost flat, making ingress straightforward. The backrest angle was quite comfortable, but due to the higher floor, I found myself sitting with my knees a bit higher than preferable. In the model I tested, the backrest didn’t recline, and the headroom was somewhat restricted. That said, the glass roof let in plenty of light into the cabin, and I was impressed with the overall design and quality of the vehicle.

Safety & ADAS

Zeekr has equipped the Euro-spec 001 with seven airbags and given it a 360-degree field of view with 28 sensors, which include radar, cameras, and ultrasonics. The latter enables 21 ADAS features, such as Front and Rear Collision Mitigation Support, Lane Keep Assist, Evasive Maneuver Assist, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Door Open Warning, etc. A Highway Assist System automates lane changes when the driver has activated Adaptive Cruise Control and gives a turn signal.

Specifications

The Euro-spec Zeekr 001 measures 4,955 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,560 mm/1,548 mm (with air suspension) in height. It has a 2,999 mm wheelbase and it offers 174 mm/162 mm (with air suspension) of ground clearance.

Based on the SEA platform, the Zeekr 001 is available in Europe in long-range RWD and performance AWD variants, both with a 100 kWh (gross) battery pack that consists of NMC cells. The battery pack operates at 400 volts and supports charging at up to 22 kW (AC)/200 kW (DC).

The Zeekr 001 delivers a WLTP range of up to 620 km in the long-range RWD variant and up to 590 km in the performance AWD variant. Using a 22 kW AC charger, fully charging the battery pack when it’s in a depleted state takes five and a half hours. Using a 200 kW DC charger, topping up from 10 to 80% level takes half an hour.

The long-range RWD variant has one motor, generating 200 kW and 343 Nm of torque for the rear wheels. It takes 7.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. The performance-AWD variant uses a combination of two motors, with the second motor mounted at the front, which gives it 400 kW and 686 Nm of torque. As a result, a 0-100 km/h sprint takes just 3.8 seconds. An air suspension is available in the latter for more responsiveness and comfort.

Price

Availability of the Zeekr 001 is gradually expanding in Europe, with the car officially listed in Sweden, Germany and Netherlands. In the Netherlands, it has been priced at EUR 59,490 (USD 64,094) in the standard-range RWD variant and EUR 62,490 (USD 67,326) onwards in the performance AWD variant.

Zeekr U.S. launch

Zeekr will enter the U.S. in 2024, CEO An Conghui revealed on March 21, 2023, Autocar reported later the same day. He didn’t disclose the planned models for the market, though.

Zeekr brand

On March 31, 2021, the Zheijang Geely Holding Group’s principal auto division announced the road-ready version of the EV concept as the Zeekr 001.

Geely Auto Group is one of the six verticals of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, comprising Geely Auto, Link & Co, Geometry, Proton, Lotus, and smart brands. Zeekr is a new addition to this business division. Geely Automobile Holdings and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will jointly own it in a 51:49 ratio. According to the official announcement, Zeekr is “a new electric mobility technology and solutions company.” It is one more addition to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s complex structure, which looked like this before its announcement:

Using the parent company’s SEA platform, Zeekr will launch a wide range of high-tech EVs that offer luxury-class comfort and performance. The battery technologies, battery management systems, electric motor technologies, and EV supply chain support will be their own, though.

Also See: First Look Review: The Zeekr X is a stubby & quirky urban crossover

TopElectricSUV says

For a fraction of the price of the Tesla Model X, the Zeekr 001 has a sporty design, phenomenal performance, high-end technologies, and a worry-free driving range. While it cannot compete with Tesla’s seating capacity or peak performance, it is a good, zero-emission choice for young drivers looking for their first performance vehicle.

Zeekr 001 FAQs

I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.