Subcompact Sedan: Geely Emgrand
Geely is currently a leading player in the subcompact SUV segment and has attractive options in larger SUV classes. The Emgrand sedan is their challenger.
The Geely brand has made enormous inroads in the Philippine market in only a few short years. With SUVs that delivered a comparable performance at a highly tempting price, the brand immediately grabbed the hearts of Filipino shoppers. Geely is aiming for yet another highly competitive area in the Philippine market: subcompact sedans. Geely is currently a leading player in the subcompact SUV segment and has attractive options in larger SUV classes. The Emgrand sedan is their challenger.
Making a good first impression
The Geely Emgrand is a striking vehicle. It features exquisite design characteristics that make it appear bigger and more costly than it is. Many will see parallels with the Volvo S90 sedan, which is no surprise given that it is Geely’s sibling brand. It has a large waterfall grille, projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, an unique character down the side, and a long, low profile. LED tail lighting wrap over the trunk from behind. There’s also a rear bumper with a diffuser.
When it comes to the inside, the Emgrand continues to bend. The blue and white leather chairs are immediately noticed. The dashboard has a blue and white tone, as well as a reasonably clean and simple control arrangement with a large central LCD screen.
The driver will get an LCD instrument cluster with a more current display for important travel information. Naturally, the screen may be customized to show a variety of information, including fuel economy and tire pressure. The big touchscreen for infotainment is located in the middle. The air conditioning vents are slimy and blend in with the dash. The controls below them are the same way. This frees up a significant amount of space right forward of the stickshift, allowing you to keep your phone or extra coins.
Smooth Operator
The aircon controls activate the Emgrand’s engine using a push-start button. It is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 102 horsepower and 142 Nm of torque. It’s then mated to a CVT for extremely smooth power delivery to the front wheels.
The Emgrand is a breeze to drive once it’s up and running. Although it seems to be a huge sedan, it is the polar opposite behind the wheel, being extremely light and steady. It isn’t very exciting, but it checks all the boxes when it comes to comfort and convenience.
The transmission, which is silky smooth but still responsive, is the same way. It doesn’t even have the typical’slipping clutch’ sensation that most CVTs provide. It also enables it to return at speeds ranging from 10 to 12 km/L.
The Emgrand, like the Geely Coolray 2022, isn’t short on features. It comes with a long list of standard amenities, including cruise control, rear parking sensors, backup camera, electronic stability control, hill start assist, twin SRS airbags, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, all of which are standard even in the medium grade model. A power-adjustable driver’s seat, a power sunroof, and six airbags are included in this Premium model.
Overall, the Geely Emgrand remains a very appealing package. It has all the features you’d expect from a P1 million subcompact vehicle. This one, on the other hand, is only P908,000. Geely’s Emgrand, like their Coolray, delivers a very competitive bundle at a cheaper price than many of the competitors. This car is without a doubt one of the greatest illustrations of how far Chinese manufacturers have progressed. And their boldness in entering such a crowded category as subcompact cars is well-founded. They have what it takes to succeed.
