Geely Emgrand EC8

Geely Emgrand EC8 at a glance

Emgrand was Geely's upmarket sub-brand of the early 2010s, and the EC8 was its flagship. Geely benchmarked the Toyota Camry (XV40) closely during development, and reviewers saw the Camry, the Cadillac CTS and, at the front, the Audi A8 in its styling. In China it competed with the Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Magotan, Honda Accord, Nissan Teana and Chery's Riich G5. Geely's story is told in the history of Geely, and its range is in the Geely catalogue.

EC8 styling

The EC8's front end, with a large chrome-framed grille with horizontal bars, big headlights angled upwards at the outer corners, LED daytime running lights and fog lamps set in sculpted housings, gives it a formal, executive look. The side is plain, with a flat roof and a crease at door-handle height; the rear has compact LED tail lights and a chrome strip on the boot lid. Most cars ride on 16-inch wheels, with 17-inch alloys as an option. A facelifted EC8 was shown at the Guangzhou motor show at the end of 2012.

EC8 2.0 and 2.4 engines

The EC8 used two petrol four-cylinders with variable valve timing, both meeting the Euro 4 emissions standard. The 2.0 and 2.4 were based on Mitsubishi designs (4G63 and 4G69), with Geely's own GeTec versions listed for later cars.

No diesel was offered, which limited its appeal in Europe. Reviews of the EC8 found both engines adequate rather than strong for such a large car, and the automatic gearbox slow to kick down when overtaking.

Chassis and safety

Suspension is fully independent, with MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle. All four wheels have disc brakes supplied by Bosch, ventilated at the front, and steering is hydraulically assisted. The ride is comfortable on smooth roads, but sharp potholes reach the cabin, and road noise is noticeable.

In the C-NCAP test published in January 2012, the EC8 scored 49.6 of 51 points and five stars, a record for a Chinese car at the time and slightly ahead of the Peugeot 508's 49 points in the same round. C-NCAP then used a 56 km/h frontal impact, against 64 km/h at Euro NCAP. The body uses a high share of high-strength steel, side-impact beams in all doors and reinforced bumpers.

The EC8's best-known safety feature is its tyre blow-out monitoring and braking system: if a tyre suddenly loses pressure, the car warns the driver and brakes automatically to help keep it straight. Standard safety equipment included ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, front airbags with two-stage deployment and child seat mounts, and up to four airbags on better versions.

EC8 size and luggage space

EC8 cabin and trim levels

The long wheelbase gives the EC8 generous room: five adults fit, and even passengers taller than 185 cm have enough head and knee room in the rear. The dashboard uses a black and light two-tone scheme with blue instrument lighting, and the centre console groups its small buttons logically. The front seats have good side support, and the steering column adjusts for height and reach.

Depending on the trim (Basic or Comfort after the update), equipment included:

• Electric windows and mirrors with heating, automatic headlights and a rain sensor.
• Panoramic electric sunroof, standard on the facelifted car.
• Climate control, dual-zone on top versions, and partial or full leather upholstery.
• An 8-inch screen with satellite navigation, a WCDMA mobile internet module and an upgraded audio system.
• Cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring.
• Gas struts for the bonnet and boot lid.

EC8 pros and cons

Strengths: size and space for the money, a large boot, generous equipment and a high safety level for its time. Weaknesses: modest performance and fuel economy, limited ground clearance, and average suspension refinement and sound insulation. Parts availability outside China is now limited, so check supply before buying a used EC8.

Rivals: how the Emgrand EC8 compares

Within Geely's range, the EC8 sat above the Geely Emgrand EC7 and alongside the Geely Emgrand X7 SUV. Among Chinese rivals it faced the FAW Besturn B70 and the Roewe 950, and it undercut saloons of similar size from Japan and Germany on price while trailing them in refinement and power.