New Zealand might not exactly be the ideal market for luxury people movers, and I must admit that I knew very little about them, coming from the western hemisphere. Yeah, you might see the occasional Toyota Alphard or Nissan Elgrand around here, but they are mostly grey imports and privately owned, which goes at odds to what is generally seen in their key demographics, where they basically own the private luxury transportation slice of the market. But now we have an all-new player on our shores, the Zeekr 009, which arrives at an interesting moment, both for the brand and for our landscape. Having just stepped out of the X, the 009 feels half curiosity and half statement. And there is so much to cover that it is creating a trend of my Zeekr reviews being long ones.
There is no ambiguity about what this vehicle is, as the 009 does not flirt with SUV proportions, nor does it attempt to disguise its size or purpose behind softened language. It is bold in its purpose and how it showcases it, especially at the frontend. It is almost confrontative, with a towering, architectural fascia where blending in was never an option.
It gives the 009 a presence that is impossible to ignore in traffic, especially in inconspicuous colours like white or this (lovely) green. It is absolutely not going to be for everyone, even though (big surprise), I like it. From the side and rear, the design relaxes: surfaces are cleaner, more conservative, but still unmistakably Zeekr, with lighting signatures and detailing that tie it neatly back to the rest of the range. It is important to note there is also “a Volvo version” of the 009, called the EM90, which softens the design language a bit, but will never be the OG.
It is a big thing, measuring 5.2m in length and over 2.02m in width, and yet somehow the biggest statement comes as you pull on the door handles. This is because in a vehicle like this, the interior is unarguably the centre of the experience, one I will have no choice to review in two parts. Sliding onto the drivers seat gives you a good impression of the quality of the materials and the attention to detail, where the mix of the soft leather and the plush suede deserves special mention as it sets the baseline for the entire cabin. There is plenty of adjustability, amazing visibility and nothing in here will have you mistake this interior for a more utilitarian minivan. The door cards are good enough to rival very luxurious brands, but none of these niceties can hold a candle to what you experience when riding on the back seats, namely the one behind the front passenger.
Same as with the X, buttons are an endangered species here. You get steering wheel controls and satisfying stalks and door toggles, but mostly everything else is controlled by the central screen. The absence of buttons feels more intentional than cost-driven, however, and driven by Zeekr’s trust in their technology suite.
It is very familiar to the X and other cars of the group – I was even reminded of the Lotus Eletre and its impressive Home Screen – thanks to its responsive, beautiful and (mostly) logical layout. Most of the normal gripes with frustrating touch systems are mitigated here, like unnecessary menu jumping, disappearing shortcuts or just general lagginess. Ah, and the voice assistant supports continued conversation, which makes some functions even easier to operate.
Storage solutions are a mixed but understandable story. Up front, the 009 does well, with practical spaces that align with how a vehicle like this will actually be used. There are average sized armrest and door pocket cubbies, a shallow wireless charger flanks the gear selector (surprising to not see it moved to the stalks) and floats over the now ubiquitous centre storage. The armrest storage, while present, is just not larger because it shares space with a fridge. Yes, a decent sized fridge, which feels like the perfect segue to talk about the rest seats, where indulgence is turned up to 11, and where you’re more likely to find the owner of the 009.
The doors alone are a talking point by themselves. Powered, they move with a chime that reminded me of the bullet trains in Japan, and have more technology than whole cars from some years ago. You will find there window and moonroof controls, and a round screen that handles A/C, massage, seat positions, and defaults to a clock as a screensaver. The lack of a traditional armrest removes a natural cubby opportunity, leaving the fridge as the primary feature for second-row occupants. It is clearly a conscious trade-off, prioritising openness, comfort and movement over sheer storage.
And that’s because comfort for the second row is, by far, where the 009 shines. The seat behind the passenger drops to being almost fully laid down, thanks to dedicated controls always at reach. From its armrest, you can also grab a premium feeling remote control that manages the 15″ central screen, which works flawlessly, but that deserved more functionality (external input, maybe?) to unlock its full potential. At this point, it can replicate the maps, some specific inbuilt apps and watch the cameras, but I would love to be able to bring my PS5 and play it in more comfort than my home while charging for a roadtrip.
But don’t forget there is also a third row, comprised of three “normal” seats, with enough space even for me, sitting behind myself, sitting behind myself (not a typo). For $5,000 on top of the $149,990 price of my tester, you can replace that row for two more captain chairs. More than 10 paragraphs, and we haven’t even turned this minivan on. That’s because, same as the 009, we have set our priorities straight: this is a luxury city vehicle first and foremost. The air suspension is very soft, borderline under-sprung, and it absolutely excels at isolating occupants from small imperfections. Urban speeds suit it perfectly, where it glides and settles in a way that feels deeply relaxing.
Push beyond that environment, however, and the tuning reveals its limits. On open and twisty roads, the body control becomes more vertical than ideal, introducing a pogo-like motion that just discourages enthusiastic driving. The grip and power reserves are still there, as limits are objectively high, but exploring them feels almost antisocial. The car is simply too comfortable, too softly resolved, to subject passengers to that kind of movement. And realistically, it raises the question of why you (or your driver) would try in the first place.
This character aligns neatly with how the 009 has been received elsewhere. I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas and New Years in Malaysia and Singapore, where I saw dozens of 009s. In that context, its tuning makes perfect sense: dense cities, smoother highways, and a focus on passenger comfort above all else. The massive 116kWh battery not only helps settle down the body and make it feel more rigid, but it can also feed the 009 for more than 500km consistently. Its efficiency was all over the place depending on the driving regimen, but considering the footprint of this van, it is more than fit for purpose.
The very respectable power figures of 450kW and 693Nm reinforce that sense of completeness rather than excess. Performance is solid and delivered effortlessly, and despite the quick sprint to 100km/h, it does not engage. Audio is another highlight. The sound system delivers the kind of clarity and immersion that suits long, relaxed journeys, and it complements the car’s overall ambience beautifully. Driver assistance, particularly adaptive cruise control, is clearly tuned with urban environments in mind, behaving better in predictable traffic-heavy conditions than the open road.
Zeekr’s establishment here, from the compact and characterful X, to the broader lineup that now also includes the 009, suggests a brand with a mission. The 009 will not be for everyone, but for those who understand its purpose, it offers a level of comfort and presence that feels genuinely special, with uniqueness as a function of its size, powertrain, and just overall intent. With all that, it is basically peerless in our current market, and it is very clear I really liked having it. Thanks, Zeekr, for the opportunity, and thank you for reading this far into another wordy Zeekr review.
