Chinese cars may flood the market like fast fashion, but every so often a brand emerges that makes you stop and look twice. Zeekr is one of those disruptors, making a scene, daring to dress itself in luxury and crash a party long ruled by Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW. And in the EV arena, it’s brazen enough to spar with elites like Tesla and BYD, proving that the new wave from the Far East isn’t just catching up; it’s gunning for the crown. In recent days, we got the opportunity to take the top-spec Flagship AWD variant of the 2025 Zeekr 001 out for a spin on the streets of Dubai, and so…we ask you to hear our side of the story, before you plan to make it part of yours.
Exterior: Shooting brake silhouette meets sculpted bodywork and signature parallel lighting elements
The Zeekr 001, true to its name, has a strikingly distinctive design. And when it comes painted in bright orange, like our test vehicle, it’s impossible to ignore. It’s also rather large in proportions; at 4,955 mm in length it’s comparable to a large mid-size saloon and stands almost crossover-tall at 1,560 mm. Its profile recalls the Porsche Panamera, with a sleek nose and shooting-brake-like rear end giving it the aura of a sporty estate with a slippery drag coefficient of just 0.23. At the front, signature lighting details help it stand out further, with Zeekr’s parallel LED DRL strips. Right below are the horizontally oriented Matrix LED headlamps, with a blacked-out strip between them.
The side profile highlights its dual-tone scheme, with a black roof contrasting the orange body, complemented by intricately styled 22-inch, dual 10-spoke alloy wheels. Elegant enough for a Mercedes, these multi-spoke wheels fill the arches beautifully. Lesser variants get equally chic but smaller 21-inch wheels. At the rear, the high deck blends the estate look with a full-width light bar featuring intricate 3D “piano key” elements, and a double-bulged roof spoiler, reminiscent of cat ears, adds character.
A dazzling city like Dubai demands a car with character, and the Zeekr 001 is oozing with it. It also presents itself as an alternative to mainstream German products that are gradually losing their aesthetic allure. One could say the 001 moves Chinese car design forward…and for that, we have Stefan Sielaff, the former Audi and Bentley designer, and his team to thank.
Interior: 2-tone architecture with orange and grey alcantara; giant 15.4″ infotainment display; features galore
I like the key fob. It is a tiny square that looks and feels like a charm that one can easily attach to a laptop bag or handbag. Click the unlock button and the handles pop out. Adding further to its luxury credentials are self-opening and closing, frameless doors.
The Zeekr 001 interior is elegance exemplified. It tastefully blends modern aesthetics with luxury and technological elements. In fact, it’s one of the best cabins I’ve seen this year. The designers clearly understand colour theory, as seen in the tasteful mix of grey, chrome, and high-quality orange metal trims. The Alcantara across the dashboard and doors feels top-class, and the soft fabric roof liner adds an upscale touch. By comparison, the Tesla Model Y’s interior feels like a plastic “dabba”. That’s Indian slang for sub-par. Curiously, the digital instrument cluster is on the small side. It’s a slim 8.8-inch high-definition display, but colourful one, might I add. The steering wheel has a clean design with tasteful chrome accents and contrast stitching, and as for the transmission, the tiny flat toggle shifter works fuss-free. Like most EVs, the layout centres on a large touchscreen: a giant 15.4-inch central control display, complemented by a large 14.7-inch head-up display. The drawback, however, is that all adjustments are routed through the screen, which makes the process time-consuming and less tactile than physical buttons.
The orange and grey theme extends to the seats as well, finished in Alcantara. Finding a suitable seating position is easy thanks to the 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way front passenger seat. The Flagship also gets seat ventilation and massage — a little pressure for your pleasure, as I say. Rear space is generous, with about two inches of clearance between my knees and the seatbacks, electric adjustability, and airline-like headrests that can be moulded. Toe room under the front seats is slightly limited though. Overall, it isn’t limousine-lavish, but it’s an accommodating, family-friendly cabin. To add to the luxury experience, the rear cabin also features a 5.7-inch multifunction touchscreen for music, temperature, and other controls.
Drivetrain & Drive: 400 kW to all four wheels; quick, smooth, and heavy but predictable; 450-plus km range; 10–80% in 30 mins
The Zeekr 001 is a conventional fully electric vehicle, also known as a BEV, powered by a 100 kWh Qilin battery pack. Yes, a 200 kW RWD model is available, but the Flagship variant we drove had the dual-motor AWD system — one on the front axle and one on the rear. Together, they deliver a colossal 400 kW (roughly 537 hp) and 686 Nm of torque. Expectedly, the 001 is a bit of a beast.
In Normal mode, it moves about smoothly. You can feel the heft. You can also sense that it is solidly built, not flimsy pieces bolted together. It also rides comfortably, as a luxury vehicle should. The air suspension and CCD electromagnetic damping system keep it softly sprung, though it does have a tendency to bottom out over certain bumps at certain speeds. Steering remains light and easy throughout. Put it in Sport mode and it really gets moving. The single-motor Long-Range RWD does 0–100 km/h in about 7.2 seconds, while this AWD variant gets there in a blistering pace, clocking just 3.8 seconds. In fact, if you stomp the accelerator, you can give your occupants a jolt, a scare, or a wake-up call. It’s supercar quick. And it’s not just about speed. With AWD traction, the 001 feels stable and drama-free in a straight line. And that, along with the grip from the 265 mm-wide tyres, helps the sophisticated chassis setup (double wishbones at the front, multi-link at the rear) give this hefty EV sports car dynamics. It’s obedient and precise, keeping faithfully to your intended line.
The Zeekr 001 also features regenerative braking with multiple levels, including a “one-pedal driving” mode. As they claim, if you bury the brake pedal, it takes as little as 34.5 metres to go from 100 km/h to a full stop.
Range depends on the version and driving style, obviously. The Long Range RWD model reach a claimed 620 km (WLTP), while the Flagship is claimed to hit the 580 km mark. Our test vehicle, however, indicated just around 450 km, which is quite a lot lesser than the claim but is on par with some rivals. As for charging, it is capable of both 22 kW AC and 200 kW DC charging. The latter, in full flow, is claimed to juice it up from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes. Although I must say that with cars with 800V systems are being rolled out as we speak charging is going to get a whole lot quicker soon. The 001 is also capable of powering others devices (like a fridge) thanks to the V2L discharging function.
Features & Functionality: 2,144 L cargo space; a tiny frunk; 3-zone A/C; 12-speaker Yamaha audio
Cabin storage isn’t class-leading by any means, but it meets the minimums. The glovebox is shallow and the cupholders are small, but there is a large under-console shelf. Beyond the occupant space is a rare but very small frunk (front trunk) suitable for a rucksack, while at the rear you have a tailgate that opens in two levels, providing a total of 2,144 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded flat.
The infotainment screen with the 8155 Snapdragon computing platform is only average in responsiveness. As with most cars (Tesla excluded), the voice controls are less efficient. It recognises commands but doesn’t always act intuitively, though you can call on the virtual assistant, by saying “Hi Zeekr” to lower the window or change the radio channel. With that said, Android Auto works flawlessly. Apple users are accommodated too with CarPlay. Furthermore, audio quality is the 001’s strong suit. The Yamaha system with 12 speakers delivers an exceptional listening experience. You also have the option to switch sound modes such as Jazz Club and Theatre. And while you enjoy that music, you can get that genuinely effective massage function on the go. Unfortunately, while it does have a wireless charger, charging is slow and the flat, awkward angle isn’t ideal for access. And besides BT, the biggish orange central cubby houses 2 USB ports for charging and connectivity, one of which has a 27W capacity. The rear passengers have their own dedicated 18W USB-A and 60W USB-C ports to power their devices. There’s also an internal cabin camera, which had me thinking about privacy concerns, but it allows you to record and store memories from your favourite journeys.
Finally, the 3-zone climate control system performs well in summer heat, and there is seat ventilation to help with that effort. The central rear vents are rather small but are supplemented by side vents that create an enveloping sense of comfort. Safety-wise, it’s got you covered, with adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, and other ADAS features.
Verdict: Quick and smooth EV with a shooting brake silhouette, chic, feature-laden interiors, and commendable build quality. Watch out, Germany!
The Zeekr 001 isn’t just another Chinese EV, it’s a statement of intent. Styled like a shooting brake, it has real road presence and a chic cabin dressed in Alcantara, orange accents, and high-grade materials far ahead of Tesla’s bare-bones interiors. On the move, the AWD version launches like a supercar yet cossets with a supple ride and impresses with lateral dynamics, while the RWD model excels in range. Additionally, a commodious rear cabin and luggage compartment, along with features like a 12-speaker Yamaha audio and massage seats, underline its premium credentials, though quirks like a sluggish wireless charger and clunky voice control show perfection isn’t here yet. Reliability and resale value are things that can only be proven over time, but as it stands, the Zeekr 001 is a chic, capable, functional EV that proves China can not only compete but lead.
Rivals & Alternatives
In the UAE, the most obvious rival is the formidable Tesla Model Y, which is now in its 2nd generation. Then you also have the all-new BYD Sealion 7, and the Exeed Exlantix ET sedan or ES SUV. For a lot more, you can also have the Mercedes-Benz EQ series of SUVs or the BMW i5, if your fetish for brands and badges remains.
