ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE

Posted on August 5, 2025 | Last updated September 12, 2025

Released on August 5, 2025, ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE is a refreshing watermelon-flavored energy drink perfect for summer. In this review, I’ll be taking a closer look at this new release, which also features a special collaboration design with ENHYPEN’s NI-KI.

ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE

Manufacturer	Suntroy Foods
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	190 JPY
Flavor	Watermelon、Melon
Total rating	★★★☆☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 8,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE

When I opened the cap, a sweet scent reminiscent of watermelon popsicles burst out. The liquid inside is a soft pink color, just like the can design, giving it a natural watermelon juice-like appearance. Now, let’s give it a try.
Flavor of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
The flavor that spreads in my mouth is like a sweet watermelon candy, with a refreshing hint of strawberry candy as well.

Unlike many North American watermelon flavors, there’s no vegetal sharpness or tanginess typical of melon rind. As I kept drinking, the sweetness and aroma blended together, and I even found it tasting somewhat like melon. I recommend sipping it slowly to enjoy the transition.

Thanks to the absence of artificial sweetness or overpowering aromas, and the gentle balance of flavors, I could really enjoy the natural, fruity taste.

Since it lacks that classic melon-like aroma and has a mild sweetness, I personally find it tastes more like a refreshing, fully ripe melon than watermelon. If you’re expecting a straightforward watermelon flavor, the sweetness and aftertaste might feel a bit different—just slightly off in a way that’s hard to describe.

As it warms to room temperature, the strawberry flavor becomes more pronounced, so I recommend drinking it well chilled, below refrigerator temperature.
Flavor of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
Adding ice and drinking it ice-cold brings out the gentle melon flavor even more. Personally, I prefer it with ice!

Energy Ingredients of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE

Energy Ingredients of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
It contains 75mg of caffeine and 400mg of arginine. One thing to watch out for is the sugar content—at 56g, it’s definitely something to be mindful of if you plan to drink more than one.

Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE

The main color is a soft pink inspired by watermelon flesh, while the ZONe logo is styled with a watermelon rind pattern.
Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
Only the cap is red, which stands out a bit from the overall soft and dreamy color scheme. I wonder if they reused the red cap from another flavor, or if it was intentionally designed to reflect the red of watermelon flesh.

At first glance, the front of the can looks like a typical summer watermelon-flavored ZONe, but it’s actually a collaboration product.
Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
The back of the can features a large photo of ENHYPEN’s NI-KI, who is now a brand ambassador for ZONe, making it a special collaboration design.

Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
Since the front of the can doesn’t mention the ENHYPEN NI-KI collaboration, some stores display it with the back facing forward to highlight his image.

Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
Above the nutrition facts, there’s a short poem titled “Summer DRIVE.”

Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
The barcode area features dotted lines, giving it a look reminiscent of a ticket.

Around late July, both the original and zero-sugar collaboration cans began appearing in stores.
Design of ZONe ENERGY Summer DRIVE
It seems like the brand might be aiming to reach younger women—an audience that might not typically be drawn to energy drinks.

I feel that the gentle color scheme of this Summer DRIVE gives it a light and fresh impression on the shelf, making it more likely to be favored by women compared to the darker original design.