Zeekr’s Largest and Most Ambitious SUV Yet
The Zeekr 8X has officially debuted in China, giving the brand a new flagship plug-in hybrid SUV focused on size, presence, and electric capability. Measuring more than 16 feet long, 6 feet wide, and about 6 feet tall, the 8X firmly lands in the full-size luxury SUV category. It is only a few inches shorter than a BMW X7 and nearly identical in width, placing it squarely among established large luxury rivals.
A 10-foot wheelbase allows Zeekr to offer both five- and six-seat configurations, underscoring the 8X’s role as a true flagship rather than a niche electrified model. The size alone signals Zeekr’s ambitions, as the 8X is designed to compete directly with premium SUVs from legacy luxury brands rather than smaller electrified crossovers.
Zeekr
New Plug-In Hybrid System Targets EV-Level Range
The Zeekr 8X’s most significant headline is its electric driving capability. Zeekr claims the SUV can travel up to 204 miles on electric power alone, a figure that dramatically exceeds what plug-in hybrid competitors currently offer.
For context, many luxury PHEVs deliver fewer than 60 miles of electric range, such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC PHEV, which tops out at 54 mi. Of note, the 8X’s pure electric range approaches the territory of full battery-electric vehicles, such as the new Nissan Leaf.
Powered by a tri-motor plug-in hybrid system, buyers will be offered a 70 kWh battery, described as the largest ever fitted to a production hybrid, or a smaller 55.1 kWh pack still capable of delivering up to 159 miles of electric range. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 205 kW (275 horsepower) supports the system. In the closely related Zeekr 9X, this architecture produces up to 1,381 horsepower, suggesting the 8X will deliver serious performance once final specifications are announced.
Zeekr
Will We See This Stateside?
Design plays a major role in the 8X’s flagship positioning. Matrix LED headlights flank a large chrome waterfall grille, while electronic side steps, a one-piece hood, and a full-width rear light bar reinforce its luxury credentials.
Visually, the Zeekr 8X leans hard into ultra-luxury territory, looking like a Rolls-Royce Cullinan that’s been having a quiet extramarital affair with a Bentley Bentayga, filtered through Zeekr’s modern, EV-first design language.
The larger question is where the Zeekr 8X could eventually be sold. Zeekr is owned by Geely, the automotive group behind Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Geely has publicly confirmed plans to enter the U.S. market, signaling broader global ambitions for its brands. While Zeekr has not confirmed U.S. availability for the 8X, its size, electric range, and luxury positioning make it a logical candidate should the brand expand stateside. If that happens, the Zeekr 8X would arrive as a serious challenger rather than a novelty.
Zeekr
