An accurate review of the 2023 Geely Zeekr 001 with high equipment levels and performance targeting the European market.
Geely Zeekr 001 2023 joins a growing list of Chinese automakers looking to launch or expand sales of their electric cars in Europe next year, including BYD, Xpeng and Great Wall Motors. Geely plans to make Zeekr a global brand, based in Europe. According to sources at Geely’s Hangzhou headquarters, the Zeekr brand will announce more details of its European strategy at the end of November.
The Geely Zeekr 2023 will follow the production of a new four-door sedan and a mid-size SUV that will be launched in Europe, in accordance with European safety regulations. Two more Zeekr models will follow in 2024, and the Zeekr brand said it plans to expand its Chinese lineup to at least six models over the next two years. Zeekr is a brand owned by Chinese powerhouse Geely Motors, along with Volvo, Lotus, Polestar and many more.
Perhaps the best all-in-one EV package under $45,000 in China, the 2023 Geely Zeekr was revealed at Auto Shanghai 2021 as the first model of a new luxury electric vehicle brand, Zeekr. According to sources, the brand will create a new ecosystem focused on innovation with users at the center of operations. Through a unique business model, through innovations driven by user experiences and user environment. And you will be completely separated from my generation.
Early indications are that the 001 is most likely a very competitive addition to the electric vehicle market . It is based on Geely’s leading Sustainable Experience Engineering (SEA), proprietary battery technologies, electric motor technologies, and proprietary supply chain. Using SEA technologies, it will also offer software upgrades for the life of each vehicle, which will be free and permanent, and is expected to deliver a luxury car experience that is unparalleled in terms of comfort and performance.
Exterior design of Geely Seeker 001 2023
At first, the front end is quite similar to the concept introduced by Geely under the name Lynk & Co. And perhaps the most polarizing part of it is the outsider. The DRL is embossed high above the hood in the far corners, and sits on huge bulges that sink into the hood. They are very bright headlights that hang around the center of the front fascia.
Some described it as “looking like a robotic frog”. And I must admit, I got used to it in the course of a week, but it’s by no means a beautifully designed car in the traditional sense. The nice thing to point out is that the vents on the bottom edge of the fascia work well, funneling air over the front brakes. Maybe a good thing with how heavy this car is.
Geely Zeekr 001 2023 is a hatchback, and I think hatchbacks are not popular in the Chinese market. It’s also a chunky hatchback. It has a fairly high beltline, in an attempt to give the overall car a feeling of a lower roofline, and Geely does a good job of disguising just how bulky this car is. You’ll find some creases down the side on the doors, with a piece of black trim complementing its angular design.
Honestly, I like the profile a lot, it’s sporty looking with short overhangs front and rear. While the rear continues the sporty Zeker design with a roof-mounted spoiler, a beautiful slanted fascia, and a slight lift at the end of the rear lip. The Auto LED taillights wrap around the corners and across the entire rear, giving it a distinctive style.
Some deep bodywork around the rear reflectors at the bottom and a small diffuser add to the aesthetic dimension of the electric car. It is based on Geely’s all-new Sustainable Electrical Engineering (SEA) platform, which will also support upcoming smart electric SUVs and future Polestar models.
Billed as the world’s first launch vehicle with an electric firing brake, the 2023 Geely Zeekr 001 aims to cash in on the growth in demand for high-performance electric vehicles. Certain to perform in the range-topping AWD model, its 400 kW is generated by two electric motors – one for each axle – that propel it to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, almost identical to the new BMW i4 M50.
Interior cabin design of Geely Seeker 001 2023
In coming to the conclusion that the base AWD model is probably the best all-round electric vehicle package in the Chinese market, the interior design plays a big role. The equipment levels are also high, interestingly Geely Zecker 001 is the first production car to feature a Yamaha sound system.
Material quality of Geely Seeker 001 2023
In the main, the interior materials and finishes are impressive and the architecture is very pleasing, with the layered dashboard and driver-oriented center console.
Nappa leather is everywhere, with Alcantara headlining and solid metal touch points, and the level of materials used in the Zeekr 001 smashes every EV under 300,000 yuan, it’s nowhere near. And the interior is very tight together, with no squeaks or clatters.
Geely Seeker 001 2023 dashboard
The center console has a handle for the passenger, and this creates a more streamlined feel in the driver-focused cockpit. While the capacitive buttons on the center console are also oriented towards the driver, increasing driver focus. The multifunction steering wheel has two touch-sensitive pads that change function depending on what you’re doing, with their functions displayed on the bright HUD screen.
While there are no A/C controls, there is a nice knurled metal physical sized knob with push stop/start for media. Next to a really nice little gear selector with a metal hinge back on the side topped with nappa leather.
Geely Seeker 001 2023 infotainment system
Measuring 8.8 inches, the instrument cluster is extremely long and narrow, bright and clear, with wings on the outer edges displaying more typical car warning symbols. And these wings wrap slightly to the side again to give that feeling of focus on the driver. As for the central entertainment screen, it measures 15.4 inches.
The infotainment system’s 15.4-inch touchscreen does everything you’d expect it to. It has a customizable home screen with animated app previews, such as satellite navigation, media, and some quick buttons. My test car was equipped with a quick button to retract the side mirrors in, which is handy given that they are nearly 2 meters wide. However, I prefer the physical control of the switch scale.
The 15.4-inch touchscreen controls most functions and won’t suit all tastes. It dominates the cabin, Tesla-style, though not in the same stark way, thanks to Zeekr’s custom instrument cluster display and a few other physical switches.
Zeekrs hardware was criticized for its sluggish infotainment system which prompted Zeekr to update the hardware to the new 8155 CPU. Zeekr is supposed to offer a free upgrade to owners of older cars. It’s good to see Zeekr trying to rectify this. The system with the 8155 CPU worked fine and flawless when I used it after the update.
Geely Zecker 001 2023 car seats
The front seats now come standard with heating, ventilation and massage functions, including a massage function called ‘Emotion’. I’m still hesitating if I really want my car to give me an emotional massage while sitting in traffic. The outboard rear seats are beautifully sculpted and covered in nappa leather with tilt function activation but there are buttons on either side of the wide center armrest.
The rear seats are also electrically adjustable via buttons on the fold-down armrests and at the rear of the center console. Geely Zecker 001 gave the rear passengers two additional buttons to adjust their seating, by pushing the front passenger seat forward and adjusting their seat angle backwards, without having to lean forward awkwardly to use the controls on the side of the front seat as is the case in most other seats.
The spaciousness and spaciousness of the Geely Zecker 001 2023
In the back of the Zeekr 001, you’ll really appreciate its massive 3005mm wheelbase, hosting the rear passengers with a huge amount of legroom. With decent headroom, but may cause issues for those over 6 feet tall.
The level of space and materials in the rear equals that of the front, with Nappa leather, Alcantara and metallic touch points. The top trim comes standard with a rear touchscreen for media control and standard third-zone air conditioning.
The luggage compartment of the 2023 Haley Zecker 001
Trunk volume is 810 liters with the seats up, increasing to 2,144 liters with the rear seats down. Although the rear seats don’t lie completely flat.
A low-tech feature that I personally like on the Zeker is the ability to raise the trunk floor on two perches up to the top of the trunk floor, creating a wider loading lip.
Geely Zecker 001 2023 car battery
The battery, and therefore range, is probably one of the biggest trade-offs in the 2023 Geely Zeekr, especially with the base AWD model. All but the base AWD model of the Zeekr 001 come with a 100kWh CATL NCM523 Lithium-Ion package with an energy density of 176.6Wh/kg.
The basic AWD system should handle the 68kWh Viridi Lithium-ion package with a lower energy density of 170.2W/kg, which is an understandable trade-off when you consider the level of performance and luxury you get for the price.
Driving range Geely Zeker 001 2023
In terms of range, the base AWD model has the lowest official range of 333 miles, while the long-range base RWD system will officially top it at 455 miles. All this according to Geely, who also says the mid-level ME version offers a respectable range of 383 miles.
Surprisingly, the top of the lineup will offer the second longest range at 404 miles. The YOU version is able to disengage its front motor during cruising, which theoretically allows it to return a higher range rating. But keep in mind that these are all by the hopelessly optimistic CLTC benchmark, as these paper numbers can be up to 30% higher than real-world usage.
Charging the Geely Seeker 001 2023 car battery
All models in the Geely Zeekr 2023 lineup can be charged using a quick charger in 35-40 minutes. However, the Geely Zeekr 001 2023 that sits on Geely’s new SEA platform can handle an 800V supercharger.
If you have access to an 800-volt charger, Zeekr says you can add a mile in 5 minutes. Yes of course there are very few 800V chargers at the moment in China and they are basically non-existent most of the time.
Driving range of the Zeker 001 2023
The driving range has been improved for the three configurations originally launched – WE RWD, WE AWD and YOU AWD – the new ME AWD configuration is sandwiched between WE AWD and YOU AWD configurations.
Driving impressions of Geely Seeker 001 2023
Geely Zeekr 001 2023 performance two-tier. The long-range model logically has the lowest performance with 200 kW (272 hp) and 384 Nm (283 ft-lb) from a single RWD. Of course, performance is not a top priority for this model, but it does 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, which is more than enough for normal road driving.
Geely Zecker 001 2023 speed
All other models in the range are equipped with dual motors that send them from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, even the base AWD version. They all have 400 kW (544 hp) and 768 Nm (566 ft-lb) of torque all split evenly 50/50 front and rear. This results in perhaps one of the most brutal launches I’ve ever experienced in an EV, pushing and hauling done in equal amounts at the same time.
The basic AWD front end scribbles on grip, which raises the question of whether wider tires, as found on the heavier, higher-end model, might improve launch. This top-of-the-line AWD model is the only one that uses Yamaha’s high-performance engines, which although they have the same raw power stats on paper, supposedly offer lower consumption.
Geely Zecker 001 2023 suspension
The top model comes standard with air suspension while the rest runs with a traditional spring setup. I have now come to expect good things from Geely products in terms of damping and the basic Zeekr 001 AWD did not disappoint. I found that the double wishbone in the front and the multi-link in the rear, plus the base four-wheel drive make it ride great and handle well.
I haven’t ridden or tried a model with air suspension, but unless it’s something like golden dust that completely transforms the ride, which I doubt, I wouldn’t be looking to pick this feature up at $4,000. As the base suspension is well damped and it rides very well.
Steering in Geely Zecker 001 2023
The Geely Zeekr 001 2023’s steering is direct and it can lean decently, although its Polestar 2 counterpart has much more capabilities in this area as well as being more attractive. And you have to take into account that with a curb weight of between 2225kg and 2350kg, it’s a very heavy car and feels that way in corners and under heavy braking. Overall, the steering is accurate and decently responsive.
The use of the SEA platform, reduces overhangs in the Zeker 001, as the car has a three-meter wheelbase, a generous number that matches the shape of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The roofline also slopes steeply at the rear, helping to achieve a slippery drag coefficient at 0.23 cd.
Driving modes of Geely Seeker 001 2023
There’s also a Dynamic ride mode, which unlike Comfort mode weights the steering and cuts the slack from the air suspension. Other modes include Eco, Snow and Off-Road mode, which increases the ride height.
And Comfort mode has an air suspension system that absorbs bumps well. The all-wheel-drive version of course has very quick acceleration and happily tolerates even the most challenging road ramming even though it is not a sports car.
Regenerative Braking in Geely Seeker 001 2023
True one-pedal driving is possible through a selection in the menu, but the speed is never lower than 50 km/h. The head-up display helps situational awareness.
Currently, due to supply chain problems, the factory cannot keep up with the 001 demand in China. However, once these issues are resolved, the car will likely head to other markets. The question is “what?”
Technical features of Geely Seeker 001 2023
Geely Zeekr 001 2023 comes standard with the ADAS Level 2 autonomous driving system, which combines lane-keeping assist with adaptive cruise control to adjust speed and keep the car between lanes.
Obviously, we come standard with HUD technology, a voice assistant, a 360-degree panoramic camera with a rotatable 3D model, and a comprehensive view. There is a standard 5G connection in the car, and it can receive OTA updates.
Geely Zecker 001 2023 price
There are three price points for the Geely Zeekr 001 2023. The cheapest version is the WE Edition, which starts at $43,000, which is an important price point in China, while the middle version, ME Edition, starts at $50,000, and the range-topping YOU version comes with a price tag. 56 thousand US dollars.
Most electric vehicle companies’ lineup includes an entry-level model, then a long-range model, with any type of performance model at the top of the pile. But Geely Destination all the charm of the base model to give customers a tempting offer. This gives it a huge competitive price advantage. And there are some trade-offs for getting the extra power, by giving customers the chance to opt for a long-range performance package.
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