Image Credit: DriveTribe/YouTubeFormerly a Top Gear and Grand Tour host, Richard Hammond now spends most of his time either at his workshop, The Smallest Cog, or presenting videos for the DriveTribe YouTube channel. But a busy man deserves a vacation sometimes, so he recently headed to Sydney, Australia, for a break...or so he thought.Having had a luxury ride through Sydney aboard the Zeekr 009, which looked very comfortable, DriveTribe threw a classic Top Gear curveball at Hammond and had him taken to a nearby racetrack to test out another car, all while he was on 'vacation.'The tongue-in-cheek video sees Hammond get taken to a racetrack, where he is given theZeekr 7X SUV to throw around and give a road test. Plus, there are a few amusing gifts left for him by the DriveTribe team that he can enjoy while he is out on holiday.AdvertisementAdvertisementOf course, the Zeekr 7X isn't just an average SUV. Designed in Sweden but from a Chinese brand, it packs in plenty of power and range, and is seen as a direct rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y. Who better to test it out than Richard Hammond himself?This Is What Hammond Thought About the Zeekr 7XThe Zeekr 7X is a fully electric SUV, and Hammond was given the performance model to test out, so it had extra oomph for him. Add in a racetrack, and Hammond was more than happy to test out the car. "I like a car, and I like a track, so why wouldn't we?" he said in the video. This particular model has 475kW of power and roughly 337 miles of range.That power figure roughly converts to 646hp, something that Hammond said you would once have needed a supercar or hypercar to experience. How times have changed over the years in the automotive world. Quickly, Hammond was left quite impressed by the SUV. The power output itself was impressive, as were the modcons such as the heated massaging seats, the electric opening door, and the price, which is around £45,000 or $59,600 at the current exchange rate.Hammond was also impressed by the sales figures for the Zeekr 7X. In April 2026, 973 units were sold, making it Australia's best-selling medium SUV over $65,000. That is Australian dollars, of course. It beat the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, Lexus NX, and even the Audi Q5. "It's unbelievable how quickly things are changing and have changed," remarked the TV legend. Air suspension is another great feature of the 7X, ensuring the ride is as smooth as possible for Hammond.Hammond Threw the Zeekr Around the Racetrack Like a Sports CarImage Credit: DriveTribe/YouTubeWhile throwing the SUV around the track like a sports car, the former Top Gear host couldn't help but be impressed by the Zeekr. The brakes were a huge plus, working hard to stop the car in a scenario where it wouldn't normally find itself. Remember, it is a family SUV and not a sports car. The 0- 62 mph time was also ridiculously fast, leaving Hammond with a big smile on his face.AdvertisementAdvertisementPracticality was also tested with the Zeekr. Towing two jet skis was no trouble at all for the 7X. The car might have been heavy, but that meant it had no chance of being overpowered by the trailer it was towing. "This thing ticks a lot of boxes," said Hammond. The price, interior, clean and sharp design, and how the 7X drove really won him over.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
