Geely is known for its tech-laden vehicles that have taken the local market by storm because of their attractive price points. Despite being a young brand with only three models available, it has the distinction of being one of the few that thrived during the pandemic lockdowns. In just 32 months, Sojitz G Auto Philippine Corporation (SGAP) sold over 10,000 vehicles in the country with the Coolray being its main driver.
Launched last February, the Emgrand is the fourth vehicle in Geely’s local lineup and its first sedan. It joins the highly-competitive sub-compact sedan category with guns blazing. With the growing number of Geely’s customers, we were curious how the Emgrand would fare against its competition.
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First impression
When you first see the Emgrand, you will notice that it looks bigger than your average subcompact sedan. And not just your eyes playing tricks on you – it really is bigger than the category leaders.
The front is dominated by its hard-to-miss “Energy Pulse” front grille that is flanked by automatic projector LED headlamps and DRLs. Its rear looks exceptionally good with its array of lights that spans the entire rear. The young or young at heart will appreciate the special light sequence that occurs every time the vehicle is unlocked using the key fob. Not exactly essential but nice to have and at the very least, cute.
Arguably, the Emgrand’s best angle is its side profile which is tastefully modern and not overly stylized. The silhouette is complemented by its 17-inch tires that fill the wheel well nicely. If it looks similar to a model from a Swedish marque, it’s because the Euro brand is a sister company that shares R&D and design elements with Geely.
Among the colors available, the hero color Proud Teal is definitely the attention-getter. However, as I was checking my photos, I noticed that the white one looks exceptionally elegant and the dark gray one registers very nicely, too.
Inside
The interior of the Emgrand is spacious and is covered with soft-to-touch material. The seats of the Premium variant are extra comfortable with its memory foam bolstering which is great for long drives. It has generous legroom and ample headroom and is peppered with cubbies and shelves to hold what have you.
From the driver’s seat, the switches are easy to reach and the dashboard layout is clean and doesn’t look cluttered. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster covers all the basic info you need behind the wheel. The centrally-located 8-inch heads-up display is nothing fancy and has functions that are buried deep in the sub-menus, but it does get plus points for being easy to connect to via BlueTooth (or cable) and for getting the job done.
The leather-covered steering wheel is soft to touch (and is said to resist heat) and features the cruise control button as well as hands-free audio controls.
One hard-to-miss feature that can be a deal-breaker for some is the Premium variant’s unique interior colorway. Blue leather cladding can be found on the entire upper dashboard, as well as on the side panel accents and seats which are a mix of blue leather and white suede. This is in combination with the dark lower half of the interior, and the light gray upper coloring. Geely executives agree that it’s not for everyone, but it’s different — and I guess something you can get used to. The Comfort variant gets a tamer dark interior albeit with less padded seats and a trimmed-down list of features.
Safety and then some
True to what Geely is known for, the Emgrand comes loaded with features usually found in more expensive vehicles. The top-tier variant has a sunroof, power driver’s seats, windows, side mirrors, push start ignition, electronic parking brake with auto brake hold, and even remote starting and trunk release from the fob.
Safety features include 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, Traction and Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, High-def wide-angle reverse camera (premium), 3 ultra-sonic Rear Parking Sensors, Cruise Control, real-time Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Immobilizer, Central Locking, and a rear Intelligent Monitoring System that gives you a reminder to check the rear seats before getting off the car.
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Under the hood
The Emgrand is powered by a 1.5L 4-cylinder D-CVVT engine paired with a well-tuned CVT. Because we kept a tight convoy during our drive and usually didn’t have enough momentum when starting a steep climb, it was second nature for this writer to shift to manual controls on inclines, and this happened quite often while we were in Tagaytay. The open road was another story, however, because, given the right conditions, it can pack a punch. Despite its size, the Emgrand didn’t feel sluggish. It was easy to steer and visibility was good behind the wheel. If anything, I found the hill start assist a tad bit too aggressive, but certainly comfortable enough for a daily driver.
Sometimes it makes one wonder if those who are quick to dismiss “China ” cars have actually driven or even sat in one currently available in the market today. Chinese brands and China-made vehicles have come a long way since the first wave that came in in the 90s, and sourcing vehicles from there makes more sense due to geography. Nothing political, really, just a matter of economics. And while these models won’t overtake the segment leaders (just yet), they certainly have the potential to get a substantial market share.
Priced at just Php 798,000 for the Comfort and Php 908,000 for the Premium variant, the Emgrand undoubtedly provides good value for money. If you’re in the market for a subcompact, you would be remiss not to check the Emgrand out because it is definitely worth your consideration.
PRO TIP:
As an added incentive, customers who purchase an Emgrand until May 31, 2022, get an automatic Php 50,000 discount and free 1-year Periodic Maintenance Service inclusive of parts, oil, and labor. Buyers during this period will also be eligible for the raffle where three lucky winners can get an additional Php 250,000 discount (or rebate) on their purchase.