Actually, compared to their quite stylish exteriors, what really made me feel that “BYD has completely lost” when it comes to the Zeekr 001 and 007GT is the interior design of these two cars. The interior designs of the Zeekr 001 and 007GT are seamlessly integrated. The oval instrument cluster strongly resembles that of a race car, and the overall styling flows naturally. The moment you step inside, you immediately sense that this is a high-value vehicle with a sophisticated, exotic aesthetic. The interior also feels incredibly comfortable to the touch; most surfaces are soft and premium, a far cry from cheap, hard plastic.
In comparison, BYD’s interiors always give off a—well, “suburban” vibe. It’s as if the designers genuinely wanted to create a cutting-edge, avant-garde design, but lacked the skill to break free from the shadow of outdated styles, so they ended up messing everything up in the end, haha.
That’s right—BYD’s boxy dashboard display, its creaky plastic parts, and—who knows if the owner of a piano-lacquer factory once saved Wang Chuanfu’s life or not—BYD inexplicably insists on fitting your interior with a huge slab of piano lacquer, then cutting out square air vents in it. My God, what a mess, hahaha!
What’s more, while experiencing the interior of the Zeekr 007 GT, I noticed that it wasn’t just the design and materials that exuded a sense of luxury—when I slid the doors open and closed them or pressed the buttons, the car emitted a very faint, spaceship-like hum. My goodness, that feeling was absolutely top-notch.
Later, I test-drove the Zeekr 001. This car accelerates very, very quickly—and yes, these days there isn’t a single mid-to-high-end electric car that doesn’t accelerate quickly; horsepower has become so affordable. What really drew me in while driving the Zeekr 001 was the feel of its chassis. The combination of the chassis and acceleration gives you a sensation similar to plucking a taut guitar string—it’s incredibly crisp and responsive, and the road feedback is very clear. you can feel even the slightest bumps and undulations in the road, and you’ll feel very confident when changing lanes (it’s strange, but a firmer suspension does indeed make you feel more confident when cornering and changing lanes). When driving the Zeekr 001 to pass or change lanes, you’ll feel like a wandering swordsman riding the wind in a martial arts novel. However, when it comes to ride comfort, opinions may vary—this isn’t a car with a soft suspension, even when you’re in Comfort mode. But I can guarantee it’s far more comfortable than a Tesla. Overall, this is a driver’s car with a truly premium feel.
Let me talk about the Han L EV’s chassis. The Han L EV clearly prioritizes comfort for family use, which I know is quite at odds with its 680-pishi electric motor. The driving and riding experience is markedly different from the crisp and responsive Zeekr 001. The Han L EV’s chassis feels like piloting a speedboat racing through a thick pot of honey; even when taking wide turns or making U-turns, the ride remains soft and springy. The Yun Nian C suspension system effectively filters out much of the harsh road noise and bumps, making it ideal for families with children or elderly members who prioritize a comfortable ride.
Audio Experience: I’m not particularly sensitive to sound quality, so I can’t really judge its level, but the saleswoman said the audio system was developed in-house by Geely. As for smart driving features, it’s hard for me to assess their quality based on just a few test drives. However, judging by feedback in the Chinese market, Geely’s smart driving technology is generally considered to lag behind BYD’s. The saleswoman claimed that Zeekr’s smart hardware configuration is superior to BYD’s—I don’t deny that—but the intelligence of the infotainment system and autonomous driving capabilities depend not only on hardware but also on software technology.
As for vehicle safety—don’t worry. At this price point, Chinese cars are packed to the brim with both active and passive safety features; they’re all top-rated “road tanks.” My Han L EV’s passenger compartment safety cage is made of 100% hot-formed steel, and over 80% of the vehicle consists of high-strength steel, aluminum, and alloy materials. With the “Eye of the Gods B” system, its intelligent safety sensing capabilities are also top-notch. The Zeekr 001 is no exception—rest assured, it’s an extremely safe car.
I’ve really gone on and on, so I’ll wrap things up with one last little anecdote:
During the test drive, the saleswoman mentioned that BYD’s Dynasty series is currently positioned in the mid-to-low-end segment of the Chinese market, while Zeekr is a well-established premium brand. She asked me why I had chosen the BYD Han series at the time instead of a Zeekr model in a similar price range. I replied that I valued BYD’s battery, electronic control, and electric motor technologies. Since I was selecting a vehicle for my family, I preferred the comfortable suspension tuning of the BYD Han’s chassis. Additionally, the BYD Han L offers sufficiently powerful acceleration, and I believe BYD’s intelligent driving technology is superior. The saleswoman said, “Our Zeekr models also charge very quickly. The latest Zeekr 001 features a 900V high-voltage platform and super-fast charging capabilities that far exceed those of our competitors.” I replied, “The Han L EV has a 1,000V high-voltage platform across the entire vehicle, plus a rear-wheel-drive single motor producing 680 horsepower.” At that point, the saleswoman seemed a bit confused—she probably didn’t quite understand how a single motor could produce 680 horsepower, haha. The saleswoman actually knew a lot about cars, and we finished the test drive in a cheerful, chatty atmosphere. The entire driving experience and the service we received were both excellent.
At the end of the Zeekr test drive, there was a raffle, and I won a free magnetic power bank. A big thank you to Zeekr for this gift!
To sum up my first test drive, in my opinion, Zeekr is a luxury car brand that feels more upscale than Denza. When it comes to high-end new energy vehicles, many users are primarily seeking a high-quality, sophisticated driving experience—a form of luxury that speaks for itself. You could say that the BYD Denza boasts the world’s safest battery and the most stable E³ electronic control system, allowing the car to glide through traffic like a ghost in the night, weaving its way through the sea of vehicles in a zigzag pattern. However, the vehicle’s distinctive exterior design, the quality of the interior, and the overall style and sophistication of the driving experience are equally important in high-end cars—and Zeekr excels in all these areas. The fact that the Denza N9 has been thoroughly outclassed in the market by the more expensive Zeekr 9X is proof of this.
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（These are photos of the Zeekr 007 GT）
I'll write up my experience report on my second test drive of the Zeekr 8X in a few days.
