Zeekr 009 open for booking in Malaysia – 582 km WLTP EV range; below RM370k est, less than Alphard/Vellfire

In addition to the X crossover, Zeekr Malaysia also announced it has started order taking for the Zeekr 009. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker has made it abundantly clear that the 009 is targeted at other premium MPVs, most notably the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire duo, and its estimated starting price of below RM370k is a clear sign of intent.

At that indicative figure, the 009 is RM68k cheaper than the Vellfire and a whopping RM168k less than the Alphard. You get more car (technically) too, as at 5,209 mm long, 2,024 mm wide, 1,848 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 3,205 mm, the 009 has a larger footprint and longer wheelbase than the competition.

It appears we’re matching Thailand in terms of specifications, as the headline figures include a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds, a 116-kWh battery and a WLTP-rated range of 582 km. These numbers are nearly identical to the 009 sold in Thailand, which is the updated version of the MPV that first made its debut in Hong Kong a few months earlier in July this year.

Zeekr 009 open for booking in Malaysia – 582 km WLTP EV range; below RM370k est, less than Alphard/Vellfire

However, where our northern neighbours get the 009 in a sole variant called the Flagship AWD with six seats (executive ones for the second row), we’re getting two variants called the Luxury (seven-seater) and Ultra Luxury (six-seater). The former is new for the 009 and has a 2+2+3 seat layout, with executive seats that aren’t as wide as the those in the Ultra Luxury (2+2+2 layout). This allows for a passthrough aisle in the middle for easy access to the third-row bench.

Both variants feature a dual-motor setup rated at 612 PS (603 hp or 450 kW) and 693 Nm of torque, with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery that supports DC fast charging at a peak of 150 kW – a 10-80% state of charge is achieved in just 30 minutes.

Equipment mentioned in the release includes 12-way powered front seats with massage, memory and ventilation functions, ‘Sofaro’ seats that use Nappa leather, second-row seats with an adjustable leg rest as well as ventilation, massage and memory functions, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster display, a 15.05-inch OLED infotainment touchscreen, a 17-inch OLED ceiling-mounted rear display, sliding door card touch displays, a 30-speaker Yamaha sound system, a 50W wireless charging pad and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Also included is an air suspension system, matrix LED headlamps with adaptive driving beam, LED DRLs, a 360-degree camera, a digital video recorder and an ADAS suite that includes autonomous emergency braking (also active during parking manoeuvres), adaptive cruise control, lane centring control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, door open warning and driver monitoring.

Three colours are offered for the 009, including Phantom Black, Electric Blue and Crystal White Pearl, while the interior comes in Black as well as two-tone options: Stone Grey and Polar White as well as Midnight Blue and Polar White.

With that estimated price tag and the features on offer, is the Zeekr 009 worth considering over the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire or will you be waiting for more options such as the Denza D9 to enter the market?

GALLERY: 2024 Zeekr 009 RHD