Quick look
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The ZEEKR 7X, driven like a rallycar over a rough trail, shows that modern EVs are tough and safe – without engine noise and exhaust emissions.
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Even on the road, the 7X has good driving dynamics with the powerful acceleration of an EV.
5 years ago, if you told us that an EV could be driven over a rough trail at high speed like a rallycar, we would have not believed it to be possible. Of course, there are already EVs being driven in tough all-electric rally events like Extreme E and Extreme H, but those are specially built machines for such events.
With your standard showroom EV, the battery pack might be hit or fall off, or the rough driving would damage the electronic systems. The electric motor, though powerful, might not take such punishing conditions. Of course, NCAP testing shows that they are just as safe and as tough as ICE cars.
James Russell, a local rally driver (his father is Paul Russell, also a rally driver) showed us just how that perception is wrong and how EVs can be as tough as ICE cars. Well, maybe the ZEEKR 7X which he used as we can’t say the same for any other EV because we haven’t experienced the same sort of drive.
James took us on a short drive at the Bay 13 course near the Sepang Circuit during a session with the EV. Although there’s an off-road mode to moderate the 710 Nm of torque which is available from starting off, it was switched off because this mode is only available below 40 km/h – which normal drivers should be travelling at. But he could manually raise the chassis height to the maximum of 230 mm to have the ground clearance necessary on the rough and uneven track.
The weird part – no engine noise
Taking off with wheels spinning. James got the 7X up to an insane speed, bouncing over the ground and tracking well. The car didn’t aviate as there were no large humps but there were ruts and potholes. The Comfort setting was selected to make things a less rough but still, it was a crazy taxi ride. The weird thing throughout the short drive – absence of engine noise which is usually loud in rallycars and, of course, zero exhaust emissions.
Just as fun on-road
What is even more amazing is that the same car can also perform just as impressively on the road, with sharp handling like a sportscar as we found when doing a slalom. Its active safety systems also help the driver to control the car in extreme situations, like having to brake while in a curve.
Dual-purpose vehicle
Before the term ‘SUV’ (which stands for Sport Utility Vehicle) came into use, such vehicles that could be driven off the highway (like the Mitsubishi Pajero and Isuzu Trooper) were referred to as dual-purpose vehicles. They were tough enough for off-road terrain as well comfortable enough for daily commuting, which was what the reference was about. The 7X brings to mind the old term as the EV is great if you want to go off-road and also nice for highway driving – a true dual-purpose vehicle (and zero emissions too).
Award-winner
Along with the ZEEKR 009 MPV which won the overall award for the 2025 Malaysia Car of the Year recently, the 7X also won an award for Best SUV in the RM200,000 to RM500,000 category. The AWD version which was the award-winner is priced from RM226,800 (without duties) but you can get the RWD version from RM179.800.
ZEEKR Malaysia says they still have some duty-free stocks of the 009, X and 7X, but these are fast running out. They have not indicated if they will raise the prices with new stocks which will be subjected to import duties. A few brands have said that they will maintain their duty-free prices for an indefinite period. All Volvo EV models and models such as the Chery OMODA E5, Proton e.MAS 5 and 7, BMW i5 and Perodua QV-E will still enjoy duty-exemption till the end of 2027 as they are assembled locally.
2,000th ZEEKR EV in Malaysia goes to Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza
