Geely Philippines, under the exclusive distributorship of Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), isn’t keen on launching new cars in the market. In fact, the Emgrand is only the fourth model in the automaker’s range – and yet, SGAP has already ranked within the country’s top 10 car brands in 2021 in terms of sales.
That’s why the Geely Emgrand is a big deal. It stands as a support for the wildly popular Coolray crossover, offered as the entry-level model in the Geely range. More importantly, it is Geely’s challenger to the incumbent best-selling model in the country, the Toyota Vios.
Geely is obviously aiming for the top, backed by the same charm that the Coolray and Okavango have to Filipino car buyers. Is it any good, though? I’ve had a quick seat time with the newest Geely in town and here are my thoughts.
Exterior
Most sedans and low-slung cars are going for the sporty look – well, the Japanese and the Koreans anyway. The Emgrand begs to differ, however.
Armed with minimal creases and lines, along with a slew of LEDs front and back, the Emgrand is obviously going for sophistication and style – a trait usually seen on its European counterparts. In fact, the Geely Emgrand has the vibe of the far larger (and pricier) Volvo S90, which isn’t a bad thing considering that 1) Geely owns the Swedish automaker and 2) the S90 is one beautiful sedan, even prettier than its German rivals.
That said, the Emgrand exudes luxury and elegance – without the premium price tag.
Interior
While I like the exterior, for the most part, the Emgrand’s interior is polarizing, to say the least. The top-spec Premium variant comes with white leather and blue suede upholstery and inserts, which are up for preference. Personally, I like the execution and the feeling of the suede inserts, plus it’s evident that Geely’s going for something that’s missing in the segment: wow factor.
But as with most people, this light interior can become messy after several years of ownership, so it’s important that owners are aware of certain things that shouldn’t be done inside a car, such as eating.
Beyond the polarizing white theme, the Emgrand’s going to wow you with the amount of space it offers. Of note, the Emgrand is bigger than the Altis in terms of overall size, though it’s shorter in wheelbase length. That said, the cabin is roomy, airy, and full of storage spaces that owners will surely appreciate. Even the trunk’s huge for a subcompact sedan – and that’s something that you can’t upgrade unless you go up a segment and price point.
Tech & Safety
If you know the Coolray and the Okavango, you might expect the same set of tech features in the Emgrand and we won’t blame you. However, you must also consider the sedan’s price tag, so there are some omissions.
It doesn’t have a 360-degree camera and active park assist, but it does have a rear camera displayed on an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that responds well to inputs. It doesn’t have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though, so you’ll have to settle for Bluetooth connectivity. The instrument cluster’s digital as well, while the air-conditioning has an intelligent mode that’s useful when you’ve parked the car outdoors.
Apart from that, the car has parking sensors, remote engine start, hands-free trunk opening function, rear air vents with USB charging ports, and cruise control. The latter is present in the two variants of the Emgrand, which is a huge plus.
Driving & Handling
Residing under the Emgrand’s long hood is a 1.5-liter normally aspirated gasoline engine that puts out 102 horsepower and 142 Nm of torque. No turbos or mild-hybrid intervention on the Emgrand, unlike the Coolray and Okavango.
That said, the Emgrand was more for comfortable and relaxed driving in the city rather than sporty drives. The numbers were at par with its segment rivals and the CVT limited its capabilities by providing optimum ratios for efficiency. It was, however, quick to react from a halt, though overtaking should be done with good measure.
Moreover, the Emgrand’s suspension was tuned for comfort so it did a great job in absorbing road impacts. It was a bit floaty on corners that’s quite expected from this type of ride. NVH isolation’s above average and the seats were plush, both contributing to the overall cozy feeling inside the cabin.
Initial Verdict
All of these things are offered by SGAP for only P798,000 for the Emgrand Comfort trim and P908,000 for the Emgrand Premium variant. This statement alone justifies whatever the Emgrand’s lacking in some parts as I laid down in this short review.
With this pricing, Geely already upends other subcompact crossovers in the market in terms of spec sheet alone. Segment stalwarts like the Toyota Vios, Nissan Almera, and Honda City should definitely watch their backs.
We’ll see whether this strategy will bode well for the company, considering that it targets to sell 3,000 units of the Emgrand by the end of the year. But judging from this brief experience with the car, I don’t see why it won’t.
