I Lived With The Zeekr 7GT Core – Here’s What They Need To Fix

Product reviewed

Zeekr / Seeker 7 GT Core (EV, 75 kWh LFP battery). The reviewer compares it with other Zeekr models (7X, 7GT AWD/Privilege) and with Tesla Model 3/Y and Xpeng G6.

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Key features mentioned

Range & efficiency

• Claimed 519 km WLTP range
  • Reviewer says it’s “not the best in class,” but “acceptable/achievable.”
• Efficiency focus (especially in Norway)
  • Reviewer expects real-world range to vary with conditions.
  • Still notes the car “doesn’t spend much energy moving.”

Charging (very fast, travel-focused)

• Manufacturer claim: 10–80% in 30 minutes
• Reviewer’s measured results:
  • 10–80% in ~13 minutes
  • Sometimes as low as ~11 minutes
• Peak charging observed:
  • ~330–340 kW max during testing
  • Reviewer could not reach the expected ~450 kW, despite company input/expectation that it should under the right conditions.
• Chargers tested (examples):
  • Tesla Supercharger v4 (1000V)
  • ABB Terra/E400
  • Alpitronic Hyper 400
  • Delta 500 kW
  • Kempower, etc.

Battery type (LFP)

• Battery: 75 kWh LFP
• Reviewer likes LFP for:
  • Reliability
  • A smooth charging curve
• Charging example:
  • About ~220 kW at 80%, described as “insane”/excellent for long trips
• Battery calibration behavior:
  • Car sometimes forces charging to 100%
  • Noted around ~90% on an IONITY charger

Driving experience (GT / Gran Turismo)

• Reviewer emphasizes:
  • Comfort and insulation
  • Still-fun handling
• Feels:
  • “Heavy but fun”
  • Confident cornering
• Power context:
  • Mentions 421 hp (in the AWD variant context)
  • Says power is more than enough for most people

Cabin / comfort & practicality

• Seating position:
  • Can sit lower
  • Feels less “on top of” the car than Model Y / Xpeng G6
• Seats:
  • Comfortable overall
  • Missing lumbar support (minus)
  • No ventilation
  • Textile shows early wear
• Rear seat space:
  • “Phenomenal,” optimized for rear passengers
  • Electronic rear seat adjustments
• Cargo / small practical details:
  • Larger front trunk on RWD (manual opening)
  • Windshield washer fill is easy

Software & convenience

• Phone-as-a-key via Apple Wallet (reliable)
• App features:
  • Remote climate
  • Remote driving
  • Remote parking (reviewer says it’s sensitive but reliable)
• Pet modes:
  • “pet/dog mode” maintains temperature and includes protections
• UI customization:
  • Limited (icons can’t be rearranged much)
  • Reviewer wants more flexibility
• Feature set mentioned:
  • “Wash mode,” lighting, camping, wellness cabin, digital livery

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Pros (what the reviewer liked)

• Top-tier efficiency and standout real-world efficiency for a Chinese EV in Norway
• Excellent charging performance:
  • 10–80% extremely fast (often ~11–13 minutes)
• Strong “travel/GT” package:
  • Fast charging + comfort + quiet cabin (“best GT” feel, reviewer’s words)
• Comfort and noise insulation:
  • Very quiet inside; good for long distances
• Rear legroom:
  • Standout for the segment
• LFP battery benefits:
  • Reliability and strong charging behavior at higher SOC
• Phone key and app features:
  • Convenient and generally reliable; remote parking works

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Cons / issues (what could put buyers off)

1) Driver assistance system (major disappointment)

• Lane retention + adaptive cruise exist, but:
  • Lane keeping/highway behavior slows down (reviewer says it doesn’t brake aggressively, but it discourages use)
  • Can slow down on curves even with certain settings
• Suspected software bug:
  • Reviewer believes a configuration (route-ahead) fails due to a bug
  • Might be fixable via OTA, but they’re reviewing as-is
• Attention monitoring instability:
  • Sometimes doesn’t react (e.g., sunglasses / hand-in-front tests)
  • Other times complains and can trigger warnings/quick braking/wake-up behavior that feels too aggressive for highways
• Architecture difference:
  • Reviewer suspects Zeekr uses a separate driver-assistance module (not the Chinese system), differing from the Zeekr 7X

2) Charging peak speed not achieved (despite expectations)

• Observed peak: ~330–340 kW, not 450 kW
• Reviewer tried many setups and thinks it’s not purely network-related
• Requested diagnostic/charging graphs from Zeekr, but wanted comparisons with other cars (only one press car in Norway)
• Even so, reviewer acknowledges 10–80% time remains excellent and that peak 450 kW might not be the only metric that matters

3) Climate system not as powerful (heating/cooling)

• Heating and A/C not strong compared with Tesla/American cars
• Even “max heat,” interior warms slowly:
  • Example: only +3–4°C after 15–20 minutes
• Better once warmed up, but initial warm-up feels sluggish
• Climate system appears to strain/pulse while trying to reach set temperature

4) Seat and material downsides

• No lumbar support (minus)
• Textile seats:
  • Get warm in summer
  • Show wear on the side (durability concern)

5) Software quirks while parking/gear shifting

• One-pedal behavior:
  • In reverse, releasing accelerator can move the car backward quickly
  • Reviewer wants “one-pedal in reverse”
• Reverse selection issue:
  • Sometimes audible alerts/camera activates, but it doesn’t shift into reverse unless brake is pressed—annoying in slow maneuvers

6) Route planner inaccuracies / confusing display behavior

• Inconsistent route-planner charge predictions
• Reviewer likes negative charge percentage as a closeness indicator, but wants it displayed more directly
• Examples described where:
  • Arrival charge is shown above/below thresholds unexpectedly
  • Stops aren’t added as expected

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Comparisons made (explicitly mentioned)

Tesla Model Y / Model 3

• Zeekr is much quieter inside
• Charging comparison:
  • Zeekr fast charging emphasized as comparable to Tesla’s 1000V Supercharger-style performance claims (10–80% times)
• Climate comparison:
  • Tesla warms/cools faster

Xpeng G6

• Mentioned for seating feel (“on the car” feeling)

Zeekr 7X

• Reviewer references driver assistance differences
• Notes 7X needed OTA improvements

Zeekr 7GT AWD/Privilege

• Reviewer compared interior/door style and climate performance
• Notes RWD version has practical advantages (e.g., front trunk)

“Other Chinese EVs”

• Xiaomi SU7 mentioned as extremely efficient in China
• Reviewer says Zeekr is the most efficient Chinese EV they’ve tested in Norway

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Ratings / numbers (as stated)

Range

• 519 km WLTP

Efficiency consumption (Norway)

• ~14–15 kWh/100 km in mountains and fast driving (summer, ~80 km/h roads/limits with overtaking)

• ~18–19 kWh/100 km on highway at ~110–120 km/h

Charging

• Claimed: 10–80% in 30 min
• Measured: 10–80% in ~13 min, sometimes ~11 min
• Peak observed: ~330–340 kW
• Expected/company: up to 450 kW
• Example charging: ~220 kW at 80%
• Trip example:
  • Oslo → Bergen described as “15 minutes of charging” for a ~7-hour drive

Note: Negative arrival percentages and route-planner examples were mentioned, but no consistent numeric “score” was provided.

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User experience overall (how it feels to live with)

• Best part: long-distance comfort + quietness + strong efficiency + fast charging = true GT/travel car feel
• Most frustrating part: driver-assistance and attention monitoring behavior (plus software quirks), and slower-to-heat/cool climate

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Unique points mentioned (consolidated)

• 519 km WLTP range; class not best but acceptable
• Standout efficiency:
  • 14–15 kWh/100 km (mountains)
  • 18–19 kWh/100 km (110–120 km/h)
• Charging:
  • 10–80% ~11–13 minutes
  • Peak only ~330–340 kW vs expected 450 kW
• Tested many charger brands/suppliers; reviewer suspects limitation or charging logic/calibration
• LFP praised for reliability and smooth charging curve
  • Example: ~220 kW at 80%
• Battery calibration:
  • sometimes forces charging to 100% around ~90%
• Seats/materials:
  • Comfortable; low seating
  • Missing lumbar support; no ventilation; textile wear
• Driving:
  • Heavy but fun; confident winding-road behavior; excellent insulation
• Audio: “pretty good”
• Driver assistance:
  • unreliable/unsafe-feeling due to slowing/braking behavior and unstable attention monitoring
• Phone key + app:
  • responsive; remote drive + remote parking work
• Climate:
  • underpowered fast warm-up/cool-down; slow rise from cold; pulsing while catching up
• Rear seat:
  • huge space with electronic adjustments
• Front trunk:
  • larger on RWD; manual opening (competitors may offer app opening)
• App/route quirks:
  • negative % arrival; route planner inconsistencies (negative % liked but should be more direct)
• Software customization:
  • limited icon rearrangement; some customizable shortcuts (e.g., climate preset)
• One-pedal reverse and reverse selection:
  • need software fixes
• Reviewer stance on updates:
  • don’t buy based on promised future updates; test drive recommended

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Verdict / recommendation

Strong recommendation for travelers who prioritize comfort + efficiency + very fast 10–80% charging, because the Zeekr 7GT Core delivers a standout GT/travel experience.

However, it comes with significant software concerns—especially driver assistance and attention monitoring—which the reviewer considers the main reason not to buy right now. If those issues are deal-breakers, wait for OTA improvements; otherwise, it may still be one of the best value “road-trip EV” options in the region due to the charging/comfort combination.

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Speakers / contributors

Only one main speaker is present in the provided subtitles (the reviewer). No other distinct voices/speakers were clearly identified.