Zeekr 001: A Premium All-Electric Shooting Brake Review for the UAE

The Zeekr 001 is a premium all‑electric shooting brake that launched in the UAE in early 2025, bringing Geely’s high‑end EV brand to the Emirates market. This stylish and appealing fastback sits at the intersection of performance, luxury, and Chinese manufacturing ambition. Geely says it is based on its Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, sharing the same foundation as the Polestar and Volvo electric models. The 001 combines an elegant coupe‑like design with practical cargo space and impressive electric performance. With prices starting at AED 225,900, this is Zeekr’s flagship model and their statement of intent in the premium EV segment.

Zeekr 001 Variants Comparison

The arrival of the Zeekr 001 offers a serious alternative for buyers wanting premium electric performance without the German or American badge. With its 100 kWh battery promising a real‑life range of 550–580 km (WLTP 620 km for RWD) and rapid charging that hits 80% in around 30 minutes with a 300 kW charger, this electric shooting brake handles both daily Dubai commutes and weekend Abu Dhabi trips.

Variant	Battery	Power	Range (WLTP)	0-100 km/h	Price (AED)
Long Range RWD	100 kWh	272 hp	620 km	7.2 sec	225,900
Performance AWD	100 kWh	544 hp	580 km	3.8 sec	259,900
Flagship AWD	100 kWh	544 hp	580 km	3.8 sec	269,900

Design and Exterior

The 001 is 4,955 mm in length with a 2,999 mm wheelbase, creating a stretched shooting brake profile that’s more grand tourer than SUV. This EV is not actually trying to be a crossover. The low‑slung roofline, coupe proportions, and fastback rear give it a genuinely distinctive presence on UAE roads.

The front gets intelligent matrix LED projection headlights with 64 independently controlled LEDs that dynamically adjust the high beam. At the back, full‑width integrated tail lights span 1.47 metres across the rear. These are not just styling exercises; they’re functional premium touches that work well at night.

Hold your breath for the real engineering: a 0.23 drag coefficient. That’s exceptionally low, achieved through over 1,000 aerodynamic simulations, according to Zeekr. For context, a Tesla Model S sits at 0.208, while most SUVs hover around 0.30–0.35. This rating matters for range efficiency in real‑world highway driving. It also showcases how far Chinese EV makers have come and how they are now marching ahead in global engineering.

Key exterior highlights:

• Four frameless soft-close doors
• 21-inch forged wheels and 22-inch on Performance and Flagship
• Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam
• Ground clearance of 174 mm is not the best but quite fine. 

The 22‑inch multi‑spoke forged wheels on the top variants use a lightweight design that reduces weight by 20% while doubling strength. That’s not marketing fluff; lighter wheels truly improve steering response and reduce unsprung mass.

Interior Space and Technology

The moment you step inside, the luxury, elegance, and premium feel are noticeable. First things first, the cabin has a minimalist design philosophy with a floating 15.4‑inch centre touchscreen, a slim 8.8‑inch digital instrument cluster, and a head‑up display. There’s also a 5.7‑inch touchscreen in the rear for climate control.

The infotainment runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip with a 7 nm processor, 16 GB memory, and 128 GB storage. In practical terms, this means smooth response times, no lag when switching apps, and proper multitasking capability. Most budget EVs use older chipsets that feel sluggish after six months; not in this car.

Key interior highlights:

• 15.4-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
• Head-up display
• Three-zone intelligent climate control
• Multi-color ambient lighting (customizable front and rear)
• Yamaha premium surround audio with 8 speakers for RWD and 12 speakers with subwoofer for Flagship variants 
• Wireless charging pad
• Ventilated front seats with massage function

The real benefit of the shooting brake design is visible in the boot size. You get 2,144 litres with the rear seats folded, and it is not hard to tell how massive the cargo capacity feels. This makes it practical for families or weekend trips. And remember, the boot can be divided easily, allowing flexible use of the space.

You don’t have to worry about the weather, as the three‑zone climate control system handles UAE summers effectively without heavily draining battery range. The HVAC system includes N95 air filtration with AQS air quality detection, which matters during sandstorm season.

Performance and Driving Experience

This is where the 001 separates itself from budget EVs. The Long Range RWD variant uses a single rear motor producing 272 hp and 343 Nm of torque. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.2 seconds, quick enough for everyday use but not thrilling.

The Performance and Flagship AWD variants tell a different story. With dual motors offering 544 hp and 400 kW peak power, launching the car to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h across all variants.

Variant	Battery	Power	Torque	0-100 km/h	Range (WLTP)	Top Speed
Long Range RWD	100 kWh	272 hp	343 Nm	7.2 sec	620 km	200 km/h
Performance AWD	100 kWh	544 hp	686 Nm	3.8 sec	580 km	200 km/h
Flagship AWD	100 kWh	544 hp	686 Nm	3.8 sec	580 km	200 km/h

The 100 kWh battery provides a WLTP range of 620 km for the RWD and 580 km for AWD variants. In real UAE driving, with the AC on at highway speeds of 120–140 km/h, you should expect around 480–520 km for RWD and 450–480 km for AWD. That’s still enough for Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back with charge to spare.

Charging is where specifications meet reality and ease of everyday hassle. The 001 supports fast charging, but here’s the catch: Zeekr advertises 30‑minute charging times using a 300 kW charger. These chargers are not widely available in the UAE yet. With typical 150 kW DC fast chargers at DEWA and ADNOC stations, you can expect 10–80% charging in around 40–45 minutes. A 10‑minute charge adds roughly 80–100 km of range.

For home charging with a 7 kW wall box, full charging takes about 14–15 hours. An 11 kW charger brings that down to around 9 hours.

The 001 comes with multiple driving modes, though Zeekr doesn’t market them aggressively like some brands. Regenerative braking has adjustable levels, supporting one‑pedal driving.

Safety Features

The 001 has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP specifically, but it’s built on the same SEA platform as the Polestar 2 and Volvo models, which score five stars. That platform pedigree matters more than marketing promises.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Six airbags for driver, passenger, side front, curtain
• Anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution
• Electronic stability program
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• 360-degree camera system
• Blind spot detection with lane change assistance
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Door-opening warning
• Head-up display showing key driving information

Here’s another layer that everyone would appreciate. The ZEEKR AD system uses eleven high‑resolution 8‑megapixel cameras, one millimetre‑wave radar, and twelve ultrasonic radars. This setup provides comprehensive coverage for the driver assistance systems, though full autonomous driving isn’t available yet. Interestingly, battery thermal management is designed for hot climates, which is essential in the UAE, where cabin temperatures can hit 70°C in summer.

Ownership and Warranty

The 001 comes with a 5‑year / unlimited‑kilometre vehicle warranty and an 8‑year / 160,000‑kilometre battery warranty. Both transfer to subsequent owners. Presently, AW Rostamani operates two showrooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with service centres. Compare that to Tesla’s network or traditional luxury brands with 5–10 UAE service points.

Home charging with DEWA at AED 0.29/kWh costs around AED 1,400–1,600 annually for 20,000 km. EV maintenance is lower than for combustion engines, which means no oil changes and fewer brake replacements.

The Competition

Model	Approx. UAE Price (AED)	Edge Over Zeekr 001
Zeekr 001	225,900 - 269,900	Shooting brake + massive cargo
Tesla Model 3	180K-240K	Better resale value
BMW i4	260K+	German badge prestige
Polestar 2	200K-220K	Established brand
Tesla Model S	350K+	Premium positioning
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo	400K+	Luxury benchmark

 

Conclusion

The Zeekr 001 is a properly engineered premium EV that promises excellent performance, cutting‑edge technology, high range, and superior build quality. The Geely ownership means it shares many elements with Volvo and Polestar, which is reassuring from an engineering standpoint.

For UAE buyers considering EVs as their next purchase, no matter if for everyday commutes across Dubai or weekend family trips to Abu Dhabi, the 001 certainly has what it takes to make your journey exciting with practical range, fast charging where infrastructure exists, and genuinely distinctive styling. It’s a compelling package if you accept the resale reality upfront and plan to keep the car for 5+ years.

For those buyers who usually trade cars every 2–3 years, Tesla is a better choice. If you need maximum service convenience, buy the BMW or Mercedes. If you value distinctive design and don’t mind being an early adopter, the Zeekr 001 has great premium EV performance at a price significantly below German alternatives.