We think that the Zeekr 009 Deluxe is genuinely a better fit for Singapore than the ‘Flagship’ variant-topping Zeekr 009 luxury MPV we tested a while ago. Because it is cheaper to run!
Singapore – I kid you not when I said what I said in the heading. We took the most expensive version of the Zeekr 009 out a while back, and thought that it was fantastic! A flying “brick”, pushing some 603hp and a monster 683Nm, could take you to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. For context, that is two full seconds quicker than the practically-quick Škoda Octavia RS… and you’d be doing this while transporting the extended family.
But while I had a blast putting the best version of the luxo-people-mover through its paces, the other thing that crept through my mind was: “This is actually plenty of car for our local roads”. Also, with a price tag of $421,999, and a yearly road tax of around $6,500 to upkeep, the Zeekr 009 Flagship – the best version of their luxury MPV would be hard to justify for some.
For those who do not see the need for Flagship’s aggressive performance and the benefits of AWD, which improves road holding, the Zeekr 009 Deluxe offers much of the very same features which would bring your precious middle-row passengers to the verge of overindulgence.
The wonder twin
All 009 models are quite identical, therefore you’d have trouble telling the difference between a base and flagship variant, even all the way down to the alloys. On the inside too, the “most basic” Zeekr 009 presents you with the same supple leather surfaces and interior materials.
There are a few key features that are missing from the car though. The two major ones are that both sliding doors lack that soft-closing suction feature, and the third row seats lack the electric folding function. In my opinion, if you are one to have that last row left perpetually deployed, you’re not going to lose out on much, but if you often need to balance between making space and accommodating more passengers, then the manual folding rear seats could prove to be an annoyance.
The 009’s audio is supplied by a 30-speaker Yamaha system that includes stereo speakers embedded in the headrests of the front and middle-row seats. I do like the audio reproduction of the arrangement, especially with its mid-range, though like many Yamaha systems I have sampled, this one too could use a little more bass.
The 15.05-inch 2.5K OLED infotainment touchscreen offers crisp graphics. There is a slight learning curve here that you’d need to go through to know what is where. Like in many Chinese automobiles, there is very little in the way of physical buttons.
As always, the middle row has the best seats. Like those in the front, you get massage and ventilation. There is a 17-inch retractable screen which provides connectivity to various web-video platforms. Of-course the luxo-barge is made for that busy person in you, so there is also a built-in camera for those conference calls.
A more relaxed performer
The 009 Deluxe “makes do” with just a front motor, as opposed to the dual-motor setup endowed to its more expensive stablemate. I wouldn’t say that 335hp (250kW) and 373Nm is something you’d “make do” with, as they are still very respectable numbers. All of this propels the luxury MPV to the benchmark 100km/h in 7.9 seconds; which for most, is more than sufficient.
The dual-chamber air suspension places a cloud between you and the road, where for the most part, you’d simply glide over surfaces like butter over a heated non-stick pan. Unlike the AWD Flagship model, the base car does its best work unhurried.
Around turns, the MPV does get a tad wallowy in ‘Comfort’ mode. The sweet spot to set the suspension I feel is in “Standard” mode, where cornering roll is significantly reduced.
I hear that the suspension on the ‘Deluxe’ is set slightly differently from the AWD ‘Flagship’, but I have taken the cars too far apart to note the differences. That said, I truly appreciate the lounge-like pillowy soft experience this luxury MPV provides me with.
Yes it can actually handle twists and turns without much complaint if you were to set the suspension up for it. Therefore you know you can, but you know that you’re going to milk the best of the 009 if you were relaxed with your drive.
More than good enough
If I had not sampled the best version of the 009, I would still easily be impressed at what this base MPV already offers – ride quality aping that you’d get out of a Rolls-Royce, paired with a comprehensive list of creature spoils.
At $356,999*, the Zeekr 009 Deluxe retails at $65,000 less than the Flagship variant. While its day-to-day running cost may be similar to both the available AWD variants, the yearly road tax of $3,398, which is just over half the cost of its brethren, makes it so much more sensible.
Prices correct at time of writing*
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Road presence… plenty of it | Needs manual air-conditioning vents |
| Premium cabin | Cheap-looking plastic panel on dash needs work |
| Luxurious ride comfort |
ZEEKR 009 Deluxe 116kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Single Motor, FWD |
| Motor power / torque | 335hp / 373Nm |
| Battery capacity | 116kWh |
| Efficiency | 4.7km/kWh |
| Electric Range | 604km |
| 0-100km/h | 7.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 210km/h |
| VES Band | A1 |
| Dealer | ZEEKR Singapore |
| Price | S$356,999 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Cloud-like comfort, less coin to run |