  Lifetimes of low-spin excited states in $^{98}$Zr were measured using the
recoil-distance Doppler-shift technique and the Doppler-shift attenuation
method. The nucleus of interest was populated in a
$^{96}$Zr($^{18}$O,$^{16}$O)$^{98}$Zr two-neutron transfer reaction at the
Cologne FN Tandem accelerator. Lifetimes of six low-spin excited states, of
which four are unknown, were measured. The deduced $B(E2)$ values were compared
with Monte Carlo shell model and interacting boson model with configuration
mixing calculations. Both approaches reproduce well most of the data but leave
challenging questions regarding the structure of some low lying states.
