Zeekr 9X

Zeekr 9X

The Zeekr 9X is the brand’s flagship full-size luxury SUV and one of its most ambitious models yet. Unlike Zeekr’s established fully electric cars, the 9X uses the company’s SEA Super Hybrid system, combining a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motors and a large battery.

The Zeekr 9X is officially available for pre-booking in the UAE, with deliveries scheduled to begin from October 2026. Three variants are offered: Ultra at AED 369,900, Hyper at AED 409,900 and Obsidian at AED 439,900.

Its headline figures are particularly impressive. Depending on the variant, the 9X produces between 885 hp and 1,380 hp, while the most powerful version can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds.

Design & Styling

The Zeekr 9X follows the traditional proportions of a large flagship SUV. It has an upright front end, a tall body and a broad stance, giving it considerably more road presence than Zeekr’s smaller models.

A large vertical front grille dominates the design, flanked by split lighting elements. Strong shoulder lines, large alloy wheels and relatively square bodywork further emphasise its size.

The Obsidian sits at the top of the UAE range and receives an exclusive Obsidian Black exterior, matching interior treatment, a unique front grille and 22-inch forged wheels.

Despite its traditional luxury SUV appearance, the 9X is built on Zeekr's SEA-S architecture, developed specifically to support the brand's high-performance hybrid technology and 900V electrical system.

Engine & Performance

The Zeekr 9X combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a powerful electric drive system. Zeekr says the petrol engine achieves thermal efficiency of more than 46%, while the electric side of the powertrain uses silicon-carbide motor technology.

In the UAE, the Ultra uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 885 hp. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds.

The Hyper and Obsidian step up to a tri-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 1,380 hp. Both complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.1 seconds, putting the large SUV into supercar levels of straight-line performance.

Hyper and Obsidian models also feature a 48V active suspension system, designed to improve body control while maintaining the comfort expected from a flagship luxury SUV.

Fuel Efficiency

The Zeekr 9X uses a 70 kWh battery combined with a 900V electrical architecture. This unusually large battery gives the plug-in hybrid far more electric capability than a conventional PHEV.

Zeekr's global technical figures quote an electric driving range of up to 380 km under the CLTC cycle, depending on the version. Combined petrol and electric driving range exceeds 1,000 km. These are global figures, so UAE-specific real-world range will vary with driving style, temperature and specification.

The 900V system also supports exceptionally fast charging. Zeekr states that the battery can charge from 20% to 80% in around nine minutes under suitable conditions.

An official UAE combined fuel-consumption figure has not yet been published on Zeekr's current 9X product page.

Space & Practicality

The six-seat layout gives the Zeekr 9X a clear focus on passenger comfort. Two individual seats in the second row create a more executive-style cabin while still leaving a third row for additional passengers.

Zeekr describes the 9X as having the largest cabin in its class, with three rows designed to provide genuine passenger space rather than treating the final row simply as occasional seating.

The combination of three seating rows, a long-distance hybrid powertrain and a large battery should make the 9X especially suited to families who want EV-style urban driving without depending entirely on charging infrastructure during longer UAE journeys.

Interior & Features

In UAE-spec Hyper and Obsidian models, the second row includes zero-gravity rotating seats, allowing a lounge-like setup or a social seating arrangement when parked. The UAE range also includes automatic doors and Zeekr’s Intelligent Interactive features.

Globally, the second-row Cloud Lounge seats offer multiple modes, including zero-gravity, recline, rotation, and massage, along with extensive electric adjustment. The third row can also recline and slide electrically for added comfort and flexibility.

Entertainment is highlighted by a 17-inch 3K OLED rear screen that slides along the roof by up to 880mm, serving both rear rows without blocking the panoramic roof. A 32-speaker Naim system delivers over 3,800W of immersive sound across all seats.

Large glass areas, premium materials, and flexible seating enhance comfort, though UAE specifications may vary by variant.

Safety & Driver Assistance

The Zeekr 9X places a strong focus on active safety and intelligent driving technology. The UAE-spec model is officially listed with an Advanced Intelligent Driving Assistant, although Zeekr has not yet published the complete list of individual UAE driver-assistance functions.

Globally, the 9X uses Zeekr’s G-Pilot intelligent driver-assistance technology alongside the SEA-S platform. Zeekr has developed its higher-level systems to use cameras, radar and LiDAR-based sensing to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and assist the driver in different road and parking situations.

The company’s most advanced H9 system is also built around an architecture designed to support future Level 3 driving functions, with additional hardware and system redundancy built into the platform.

Verdict

The Zeekr 9X takes the brand into a much more exclusive part of the luxury SUV market. Its combination of six-seat practicality, a 70 kWh battery, 900V charging architecture and up to 1,380 hp makes it considerably more performance-focused than the average plug-in hybrid SUV.

The Ultra is the more accessible choice at AED 369,900 while still offering 885 hp and all-wheel drive. The Hyper, priced at AED 409,900, adds the full 1,380 hp tri-motor powertrain, 48V active suspension and more advanced rear-seat features. The Obsidian, at AED 439,900, adds exclusive cosmetic upgrades while retaining the same flagship performance.

Zeekr also provides a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty in the UAE.

For buyers looking for a large luxury SUV with strong electric capability but without the range limitations of a pure EV, the Zeekr 9X presents an interesting alternative to established premium SUVs.