childcareman.xyz brings together reviews, research tools and trusted buying support, guiding you from research to delivery with confidence.
Zeekr’s first model in Australia has come in for its first update.
The 2026 Zeekr X officially lands Down Under in May, bringing a range of changes across the board and promising sharper pricing – more on that shortly – to keep the compact electric SUV competitive in an ever-changing market.
changes include increased power, new battery technology with faster charging in the base model (higher equipment levels) and new personalisation options.
But while pricing hasn’t been confirmed, Zeekr is a promise of less than $60,000 drive-away for the base grade and under $50,000 drive–away on test here that was used as an all-wheel drive flagship at 365kW. At this price point, even though it’s small relative to other EVs, there’re lots of money in the box.
We are very excited to see childcareman.xyz drive a first-time test for the pre-production MY26 Zeekr X AWD ahead of its official launch in the next few months, here’s our first thoughts on what we will be doing.
How much does the Zeekr X cost?
On April 10, Zeekr Australia is announcing the pricing for the MY26 X lineup at the Melbourne motor show, although the company has said it will be starting under $50,000 drive-away.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
| — | — |
| 2026 Zeekr X RWD | <$50,000 |
| 2026 Zeekr X AWD | <$60,000 |
For example, the outgoing model starts $49,900 for the RWD and $62,900 (both on-road costs) for AWD – both of which are also available.
But if Zeekr hits the price points (including on-road costs) for each variant as it is promised, then that will be thousands cheaper than before.
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Let us help you find your new car
Buy your new car without the stress. It’s fast, simple and completely free.
I have used this business for the past two years and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who needs great service from Travis and team.
Craig C.
Purchased a Ford Ranger in Sunshine Coast, QLD
childcareman.xyz helped Craig save thousands on his Ford Ranger, now let us save you on your next new car.
Find my deal
What is the Zeekr X like on the inside?
The changes here are minimal and, like the exterior, the overall interior design is one of the X’s strong points.
MY26
MY25
Hardware changes are largely driven by a new centre console and new touch-capacitive shortcuts on the steering wheel hub, while much of the new-ness comes from significantly improved specifications.
Neither the RWD or AWD variants have been updated to standard with heated front and rear seats, nor has a 13-speaker Yamaha-branded premium audio system.
We test for the AWD we have on, and you also get a new massage function (for the front row of seats to go with the existing ventilation) and there’s – under the rear centre armrest fridge compartment.
The standard colourway is a grey interior, with ‘White’ now available for both grades. The AWD also offers a new Black interior with Red seatbelts – sporty black.
It makes all the best of it and the quilted, perforated leather upholstery is beautifully presented, right down to the flourishes of brightwork incorporated into their respective designs. Nice touch The quilting goes into the doors as well, and everything feels quite luxurious indeed.
This is the contrast to our test car’s optional White interior, which really matches with the new Onyx Black paintwork, and the ice cube-like LED ambient lighting – configurable in many of its a colour ‘if the sun rises (or you go through tv tunnel) adds ambiance when it’s cool.
There is another talking point about Display tech The 8 are the equivalent of display tech, and a talk-in. A 14-inch digital instrument cluster and 8-inches digital instruments cluster. The 6-inch touchscreen infotainment system carrying over for the new model is a 6- inch touchscreen Infotanment System.
In a conventional position relative to the steering wheel, key information such as speed, assistance graphics and various widgets are displayed in the slim driver’s instrument binnacle (although its low aspect ratio limits the breadth or detail of information you can put into the driver’s line of sight).
It’s also helpfully enhanced by a projector-type head-up display that doubles up most of that info with fewer layout for ease-of-use, which is useful. Like the mirrors, Annoyingly you have to change this via the touchscreen rather than having quick access to adjustment.
The touchscreen is large bright and has a crisp resolution,’ said . I liked the snappy answer as well, but it’s not too many functions still embedded here (including shortcuts for demisters, door lock/unlock and parking cameras now on the steering wheel) – even with Funktionen such as demists.
There is no place to be buried here for drive modes, seat ventilation and massaging controls (for both rows, mind you) or drive mode. Many of these require adjustment on the fly and it takes too much digging to find in reasonable time, so if you try to do it on a bumpy road that is often mis-press.
If you’re too busy trying to do any of this on the move, you’ll fire up the driver attention monitor which incessantly beeps and bongs at you while cutting the audio of whatever you are listening to – more on that later.
I also got wireless Apple CarPlay problems with my iPhone 17 Pro Max. It did most things fine, but for some reason our test car couldn’t hear any voice commands I tried to use Siri. It was the steering wheel’s microphone button that worked, and people would listen to me on calls but I couldn’t ask it to set a destination, call or text someone, nor request it play if they like I can do in any other car.
At least the Yamaha premium audio, which is a 13-speaker, has clear and deep sound with multiple surround effects and equaliser settings. A touch echoey setting of the ‘Theater’ set was also used to give that concert hall feel – although it does not match the Gothenburg Hall of a Volvo Bowers and Wilkins system.
It also took some use with the optional ‘automatic’ doors (price TBC) of paraphrasing. When you get into the car, they don’t really open wide enough; when you go out they even open up even if you’re in the street — which can be a little scary the first time you do it on crowded road.
Similarly, in car parks, it uses sensors to avoid bumps into neighbouring cars (I tested two vehicles twice and did not have to get insurance on the phone).
The Zeekr X’s 2750mm wheelbase is better than similar hatchbacks and crossovers, even though its size is teeny city-friendly but it has more second-row accommodation than the same pair of sedans or crossover.
I’m 6’1″ tall, and could fit in my driving position with ease – two taller adults fit into the back just fine. But with that said, the small rear windows and chunky front seats make outward visibility a bit of’stuffing kids’.
In addition to the above, ISOFIX and top-tether points are available for anchoring your child seats; a fold-down armrest with cupholders, rear air vent (back) or USB-C charging outlet/ map pockets behind front seats and bottle holders in doors have amenities like “The seat is folded down” by an umbrella of small children.
It also has luggage capacity, with Zeekr quoting an 18 per cent increase to 404 litres (404-litre) from the rear seats in place. At this price point, it goes up to 1247L with the seats down but still a small cargo area like other EVs.
| Dimensions | Zeekr X AWD |
| — | — |
| Length | 4432mm |
| Width | 1836mm |
| Height | 1566mm |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm |
| Cargo capacity | 404-1247L |
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
A dual-motor electric drive system is used in the 2026 Zeekr X AWD, which puts 115kW of power on the front axle and 250kW at the rear for a total system that has been estimated to be 365kW – 50kW up on an old model.
| Specifications | Zeekr X RWD | Zeekr X AWD |
| — | — | — |
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric | Dual-motor electric |
| Battery | 61kWh LFP | 66kWh NMC |
| Power | 250kW | 115kW + 250kW Total: 365kW |
| Torque | – | – |
| Drive type | RWD | AWD |
| Weight | TBC | TBC |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.6 seconds | 3.7 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | TBC | TBC |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | – | 16.5-19.7kWh/100km |
| Claimed range – WLTP | 405km | 415km |
| Max AC charge rate | 11kW | 22kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 230kW | 150kW |
The extra grunt in both models has only been 0 translated to a 0-. 0-100km/h claim of 1-second improvement in the AWD’s claimed 1 second increase, while the figures shift from ADR (NEDC) to WLTP range claims are reduced but likely more realistic figures.
It is still not confirmed that full details such as claimed energy consumption are true, but we saw 16-17kWh/100km with a focus on suburban and city driving (18-19kWh or 100-110km/h) at speeds around 100–110 km/H on the open road.
A new LFP battery (as compared to the DC fast-charging capacity) benefits base RWD, while the AWD retains its 150kW DC charging cap but doubles AC charging speed to 22kW.
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How does the Zeekr X drive?
A week in total, we were on Zeekr X. But my busy schedule meant I only had three meaningful days with the pre-production car (mainly around daily commute to and from office as well for getting to/from airport).
Pictured – MY24 Zeekr X AWD
But I was very critical of the pre-update Zeekr X AWD, which I thought was insanely quick for the money it did not have finesse and overall refinement of its Volvo EX30 with which it shares its underpinnings. It seems a little better than this new , but I have several carryover complaints.
Firstly, the good is the one who says “I’m sorry.” Despite the fact that you dull down the setting of ‘Acceleration’ to ‘Normal, or even in a mode called.Comfort and – Commanding on foot (AWD) it has plenty of performance underfoot as well. Then I floored it in ‘Sport’ and was so fast that I triggered the on-board dashcam ‘SOS’ setting. What is the meaning of Woops?
AWD I remember the ride a little better than it used to be, too. The new model strikes a better balance between comfort and dynamism, where the outgoing car was just slightly wobbly and lacking in body control; I’ve just left the Volvo EX30 Cross Country which has swung with oppurtunity/handling equilibrium at all times. Zeekr is quite well-nailed it with this remix.
This helps it nicely too, allowing you to turn on a few settings (all via the touchscreen, annoyingly) to adjust the weight and feel. I really like Sport, which is more to my taste. It’s a little tiller, so you think this car would be quick to steer but the X’S steering rack isn’t as sweet as the Volvo’.
It’s pretty good general refinement, if you think it is. While riding on big 20-inch forged alloys and skinny rubber, the Zeekr X keeps its cabin quiet for much of freeway travel but doesn’t hear too many knocks or thuds from suspension over lumps/ bump in daily life.
The cabin is generally quiet to be – keeping in mind there’s little powertrain noise save for the faint whirring of the e-motors but even Zeekr has introduced a new ‘ZeekR AD’ suite of sensors and technologies, it often upsets the ambience by the very intrusive driver assistance systems.
Several systems were very annoying and overzealous when I was in the car, so that I’d be screaming at the vehicle frustrated or annoyed. But to be sure, I don’t do that very often – even though some people think I’m a bit of diva.
If the overspeed warning and driver attention monitor will jump at any chance to audibly alert you that your speed is exceeded or looked away from the road for too long, annoying when it’s picking up a school zone out of school times or keeping. side street limit when you hit main road?
When it’s bongs, the audio of the music that you are listening to will be cut and try to compete with phone calls too much, even more annoying. It’s so persistent when you’re just doing a head-check and even when driving at the signed limit, that is really what makes it all about time.
They don’t work as well as should they, but the functions of lane assist and Lane change assist are also provided by then there is the function for . When you’re not near the lines or there’s a curve in the road, it has cruise assist with regular lane-centring that makes your steering wheeljerk when you are nowhere near line and will wrestle you if you try to change lanes yourself.
Adaptive cruise control worked fine, and when I switched the lane change assistant off there were far less complaints, save for the alert that you hold onto the steering wheel even though your hands haven’t left it for last 20 minutes of straight highway – the “X hasn’t adopted capacitive sensors on the tiller to prevent this from happening.”
All of these may have been problems with our test vehicle calibration for the pre-production test, but that’s what I was told. I was a little disappointed, perhaps because the Zeekr 7X we have now as ‘long-termer’ doesn’t really suffer from any of these issues at all.
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What do you get?
Let’s run through the MY26 changes, and then do a refresh on the pre-update model’s spec.
From expert reviews to the right deal
childcareman.xyz brings together reviews, research tools and trusted buying support, guiding you from research to delivery with confidence.
View showroom
Compare cars
Find my deal
Exterior changes include:
- New Khaki Green matte, Onyx Black colour options – AWD
- 20-inch alloy wheels in Black – AWD
- Available automatic doors – AWD
Interior changes include:
- Heated front, rear seats
- Massaging front seats – AWD
- Onboard fridge under front-centre armrest – AWD
- Touch-capacitive steering wheel shortcuts
- 13-speaker Yamaha surround sound system
It is now the standard interior option, with white on both the RWD and AWD. A black interior with red seatbelts is the only option for a variant of the AWD.
2025 Zeekr X RWD equipment highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- 235/50 R19 Continental EcoContact 6 tyres
- Two-tone exterior paint – black roof, mirrors)
- Frameless side mirrors:
-
- Heated
- Auto-dimming
- Power-folding
- Memory function
- Panoramic sunroof
- Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) functionality
- Semi-autonomous park assist
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Black/grey “leather-free” interior upholstery
- 6-way power driver’s seat
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
-
- Apple CarPlay – wired, wireless
- Android Auto – wired, wireless
- Wireless phone charger
- 7-speaker sound system
- Auto-dimming frameless rear-view mirror
- Dual-zone climate control
- Rear air vents (B-pillar mounted)
- 5G-WiFi hotspot
- Connected services – 5yr subscription
- Over-the-air software update capability
- Zeekr App functionality
-
- Sentry mode
- Pet mode
- Rest mode
Zeekr X AWD adds:
- 20-inch forged alloy wheels
- 245/45 R20 Continental EcoContact 6 Q tyres
- 24.3-inch augmented reality head-up display
- 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat
- Driver’s seat memory
- 4-way power lumbar support
- Heated, ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- 13-speaker Yamaha sound system
- ‘Ice Block’ LED ambient lighting
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Is the Zeekr X safe?
The pre-update Zeekr X received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, according to 2024 testing by sister firm Euro NCAP, which is likely to continue.
| Category | Zeekr X |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 91 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 84 per cent |
| Safety assist | 84 per cent |
The brand’s new Zeekr AD driver assistance suite also includes five HD cameras, five millimetre-wave radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors dotted around the car and Remote Parking Assist “for tight urban conditions” (along with its latest ZEEr A.D.A.
Standard safety equipment for MY25 models includes:
- 7 airbags (incl. front centre)
- Autonomous emergency braking (front and rear)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic lane change
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Front and rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-centring
- Lane-keep assist
- Evasive Manoeuvre Assist
- Surround-view camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Low-speed pedestrian warning sound
- Digital video recorder
Euro NCAP has confirmed that the Zeekr X was the first vehicle to be tested for experimental’research tests’ as European and Australian crash testers develop new 2029 protocols which will further test how advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) interact with each other.
You can read more on that here.
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How much does the Zeekr X cost to run?
Zeekr Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers on its range; however, commercial and fleet customers only receive ‘three years, 120,000km Warranty’.
| Servicing and Warranty | MY25 Zeekr X AWD |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – vehicle 8 years or 160,000 kilometres – EV battery |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 24 months or 40,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 8 years or 160,000 kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost | $4220 – 8 years |
Whether the new 2026 range will be adjusted to service pricing is not yet clear, it’s unclear. Pre-update Zeekr X AWD $4220 over eight years or 160,000km of scheduled maintenance was quoted in the pre-release ZEEr.
To see how the Zeekr lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Zeekr X
The new Zeekr X hasn’t addressed much of the assistance tech qubbles I had with the last one to be humorous, but for some part it is still quite improved overall package.
If we drive a pre-production car, it needs some tweaking so drivers aren’t upset by incessant beeping and bonging (and sometimes inconsistent lane assist systems may also use some work), but the more difficult is that there was something to do with this.
The Zeekr X AWD is more than that, with blistering pace for a sharp (projected) price, soaring cabin design with wonderful materials and upmarket detailing as well as ‘an extremely resolved ride and handling package which feels more chunky hatchback than SUV’.
The sharper price is also a better value than it used to be, but the market is so competitive that I fear many EV buyers under $60,000 will be looking at larger cars with more range. That’s the other big thing I hate about 400km in 2026 – even the larger Zeekr 7X has 480km (about the same ballpark ($57,900 plus ORCs) as this X AWD.
We won’t be giving this vehicle the final score, as it is test car being pre-production and without full pricing/spec in hand (as yet) – so we’ll not give any kind of rating. I’m going to say the new X on the old one slightly, but while that is far better than it was in the past, safety tech gripes are still required attention.
Click the images for the full gallery
Interested in buying a Zeekr X? Let childcareman.xyz find you the best deal
here
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE:
Explore the Zeekr X showroom
Thanks for reading 2026 Zeekr X review: Quick drive
