The Zeekr X is the latest EV to make its way into COE Category A, but does the reduction in power also mean a lesser product?
The unique vagaries of Singapore’s COE system mean that for many car manufacturers, having a Cat A-eligible model is seen as crucial for success here.
After all, Cat A is seen as the ‘mainstream’ category, and its (generally) lower premiums mean that cars that qualify for Cat A can be priced more competitively, opening them up to a wider market.
In the electric vehicle (EV) era, producing a Cat A model is arguably much more straightforward as compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) car. After all, for an EV, the sole consideration for Cat A eligibility is power output, and that can really be tweaked through simple software tuning.
As such, there has simply been an explosion of Cat A EVs emerging onto the scene over the past couple of years. Any EV brand worth its salt would have introduced a Cat A-eligible model, and Zeekr is now the latest to join the fray.
X to A
The Zeekr X Urban is the brand’s first Cat A model for Singapore, and it joins an extremely competitive crowd in this arena.
It’s a path well trodden. The X’s own platform cousin, the Volvo EX30, saw its sales fortunes go on an upturn ever since it introduced its own Cat A version last year, so perhaps Zeekr was inspired by that success when they made the decision to launch the Urban.
Like many of these Cat A variants, the Urban doesn’t look substantially different from its more powerful siblings. In fact, there’s virtually nothing to distinguish this as a Cat A model on the outside, not even a badge. Perfect for those who don’t want to reveal exactly which variant they’ve bought.
That also means it retains its distinctive styling, with its sharp lines marked by numerous creases and unique design details, such as the hidden door handles, rising belt line and slim lighting front and rear. Certainly, you wouldn’t mistake the X from the masses of lookalike crossover EVs out there.
Less Frills
Being the entry-level model of the range, it’s only to be expected that the Urban is not as well-equipped as the other, more expensive variants.
And so it is, with the Urban doing without quite a number of frills that you’ll find on the Standard and Flagship models. The most obvious one is the high-end 13-speaker Yamaha sound system, which is a bit of a shame because it is arguably one of the best systems currently available out there. You can’t even have it as a cost option if you want to.
Other noticeable missing features include interior ambient lighting and the heater/freezer compartment hidden under the centre armrest, although apparently the latter can be had as an option as the requisite hardware is already installed in the car.
Very strangely though, the Urban comes with electric adjustable and ventilated front seats as standard, which are optional extras on the mid-range Standard model. Maybe that could be Zeekr’s way of overcompensating for the other missing features, but it’s an odd strategy nonetheless.
The truth is, though, the absent features were what made the Zeekr X stand out from the rest. The heater/freezer compartment was a very useful party trick, while the Yamaha sound system simply elevated the in-car experience to another level.
Without those, the X feels like just another Chinese EV inside, and the ergonomic flaws become amplified and more obvious. The 14.6-inch touchscreen, through which you operate almost every function, is not the most intuitive to use, while the driver assistance systems can feel a tad intrusive and annoying with their overzealousness.
Even the cheeky Tesla-like bits like the external speaker that can emit various sounds like music, announcements or even cat or horse noises (fitting for this year) feel a bit old hat by now. They’re fine for a bit of occasional fun, but they’re not exactly something that adds value to your life.
Competent and Comfortable
By way of the power restriction, few Cat A EVs will offer a driving experience that will excite the loins. Relatively speaking though, the Zeekr X Urban fares better than most, at least in the sense that it’s not completely mediocre.
While the output of 148bhp means that the X Urban will not quite take your breath away, the car does at least build up speed fairly briskly, thanks to its 343Nm of torque. 0-100km/h comes in 8.7 seconds, which is adequate enough for most overtaking manoeuvres, and the car does feel fairly capable of holding its own at highway speeds.
It allies that with a rather comfortable ride, which is a noted strongpoint of the X in general. The suspension copes well with most bumps, and refinement is generally excellent overall, with little road noise finding its way into the cabin.
On the handling front, the car can best be described as competent, though not quite exciting. It steers decently, and body control is well managed, but it doesn’t stand out in any particular way. In a sense, it’s really much the same as most electric crossovers out there, although notably the X’s other platform sibling, the Smart #1, does offer a somewhat more engaging experience.
The Urban effectively runs the same powertrain as the Standard RWD model, which means the same 66kWh battery, and a near identical range of 441km. In the real world you’ll probably come closer to somewhere around 400km, although that in itself should be more than enough for traversing around Singapore.
Narrowing The Gap
The other thing about our COE system is that it can also be unpredictable and volatile, with prices fluctuating, sometimes wildly, between exercises from month to month. As such, basing your product lineup on COE criteria can be a risky venture, especially if things turn sharply.
When the difference in pricing delta between Cat A and B was significant, as it has been for much of the past year, a more affordable Cat A car would have made great sense. However, as recent exercises have shown, the gap can quickly close up in one fell swoop, instantly diminishing much of the price advantage of a Cat A model.
The price tag of the Zeekr X Urban reflects this reality. At the time of writing, the Urban retails for $188,999 with COE, which seems fairly reasonable on the surface. However, with the gap between Cat A and B now standing at a mere $4k, you can get the better-equipped and more powerful Standard variant for just $10k more.
Of course, should the gap widen again in future, the Urban would then become a much more competitive proposition. It does sound needlessly complicated, but the reality is that whether a car is worth buying here now stretches beyond its mere objective qualities. It is also a matter of timing, and right now at least, the Urban doesn’t quite stack up as compared to its Cat B siblings.
The story might be different in a couple of months though, but for now, it might be worth stretching your dollar a bit for the other Zeekr X variants.
Technical Specifications
Zeekr X Urban
Powertrain: Single Electric Motors, Rear Wheel Drive
Power: 110 kW (148bhp)
Torque: 343 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 8.7 Seconds
Top Speed: 190 km/h
Battery Capacity: 66 kWh
Drive Range: 441 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 5.7km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$188,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Article by: Ben Chia (@benchiacars)
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