It ticks three primary considerations of Filipino consumers these days—it’s a crossover/ SUV, it has seven seats, and it has an affordable price tag.
Chery, MG, and now Changan — these three car companies all have one thing in common. During their brand launches in the Philippines, they all came with a full arsenal of cars that have all the bases covered in terms of segments and price points.
• The 2021 Geely Okavango comes in two variants: P1,208,000 for the base Comfort and P1,328,000 for the top-spec Urban.
• Standard in the Okavango range is the mild hybrid 48V Electric Motor Synergy (EMS) system.
But Geely Philippines begged to differ in its comeback debut more than a year ago. It preferred a gradual approach in introducing its cars to Filipino car buyers. First, the highly successful Coolray, then the bigger and classier Azkarra a few months later, and now, the Okavango seven-seat midsize crossover.
Despite bearing a name that doesn’t roll off the tongue easily, Geely is quite bullish about its latest model to offer to its patrons, and rightfully so. It ticks three primary considerations of Filipino consumers these days, which is a crossover/SUV, seven seats, and an affordable price tag.
SGAP president and CEO Mikihisa Takayama said, “Coming from the successful launch of the Coolray and Azkarra, we are confident that the new Geely Okavango will be a game-changer in the industry as it combines the best qualities of a multi-purpose vehicle and an SUV, into one exciting seven-seater mid-size crossover. This crossover promises to give you a luxurious, uncompromising, and ‘Wonderfully Distinct’ ride.”
In case you’re wondering, the Okavango name comes from north-western Botswana’s vast inland delta, Okavango. UNESCO has recognized the Okavango Delta as its 1,000th World Heritage Site and was also declared as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Africa. It’s otherwise known as the Geely Haoyue in China.
Back to the car — the Okavango is recognizably Geely, with its Expanding Cosmos grille greeting you up front. Size-wise, it doesn’t go far from the popular midsize SUV currently on offer in the market such as the Mitsubishi Montero Sport and Toyota Fortuner. It has a 2,815mm wheelbase. However, since the Okavango has a unibody construction, it sits a tad lower to the ground at 194mm.
Inside, the Okavango offers a lot of space. In fact, Geely touts that it has 19-seat configurations, 42 storage nooks, and compartments including a double-layer console. Those are on top of the coveted three-row configuration and seven-seat capacity.
Tech-wise, the Okavango comes with triple-zone climate control with CN95 air filter, 360-degree cameras, parking sensors, electronic seat adjustments, and 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment with QDLink and eight speakers. Safety comes from six airbags, Hill Start and Descent Control, ABS with EBD, and tire pressure monitors.
As for the mechanicals, the Okavango comes with the same 1.5-liter three-cylinder G-Power turbocharged engine with dual VVT found in the Azkarra. Also standard in the range is the mild hybrid 48V Electric Motor Synergy (EMS) system. Combined, the total power output reaches 190hp and 300Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels via Geely’s seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. Front and rear wheels have disc brakes, while the suspension is taken care of by McPherson struts at the front and multi-link type at the rear.
The 2021 Geely Okavango is available in two variants: P1,208,000 for the base Comfort and P1,328,000 for the top-spec Urban.