Geely Coolray: Specs, Engines and Equipment

Geely Coolray at a glance

The Coolray is a monocoque crossover with a transverse engine, MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam rear axle. Its engine and gearbox are shared with Volvo, which, like Geely, belongs to the Chinese Geely group. More Geely models are listed in our Geely catalogue.

Exterior

The styling is modern and restrained, with bright accents. The front is dominated by an unusual multi-tiered grille with a body-coloured frame, a small chrome insert and Geely's shield emblem. Base versions have part-LED headlights - halogen units inside and LED elements outside - with L-shaped LED running lights that give the car a fierce, modern look; higher trims have full-LED headlights, with optional follow-me-home lighting and cornering lights. The bumper has side intakes with small LED fog lamps and an extra grille in the centre; the glossy plastic lower section, however, quickly shows stone chips.

The side has a European feel, with well-proportioned wheels and arches, few details, plastic cladding all round and a crisp line from the front wing to the tail lights. There is little chrome. The mirrors, finished in carbon-look plastic and mounted at the corner of the windscreen, are heated and power-adjustable and fold automatically, with LED indicators. The Coolray sits on 18-inch alloys, and ground clearance is a useful 190 mm. A panoramic roof with a sliding front section is standard on many versions, controlled from roof buttons or the infotainment screen.

The rear is simple and uncluttered. A high-mounted tailgate makes loading easy, and LED tail lights, split between the tailgate and the body, are linked by a chrome strip with the Geely name. A roof spoiler, a sporty rear bumper, two genuine chrome exhaust tips and a small diffuser with two extra lights complete the design.

Interior

The interior is stylish without being loud. Materials look good but are of moderate quality, which is understandable given the price. Aluminium inserts, wood-effect and aluminium-effect trim are used, and the door handles flow visually into the door pulls. Expensive versions have leather seats with body-coloured accents. The front seats are sporty with strong side bolstering.

A flat-bottomed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with aluminium inserts faces a 7-inch digital instrument panel with several display modes - and, unlike older Chinese cars, it is easy to read. Air vents have chrome surrounds. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen is one of the largest in the class; it supports smartphone integration, works well, shows camera images and includes automatic parking. A more controversial feature switches on the side-camera view whenever the indicator is used below 30 km/h, which is not always helpful in slow traffic. The slightly raised centre tunnel holds a large grab handle for the passenger, wireless charging, a stylish gear selector, safety-system buttons, large cupholders and a vertical phone slot.

Three adults can sit in the rear, though space is not generous. The boot holds 450 litres, and the rear backrest folds in two unequal parts to extend it. A spare wheel and tools sit under the floor; there is no power tailgate, even on the top-spec version.

Engines and transmissions

The 1.5-litre engine has variable valve timing; in Volvo models it is known as the T3. The version with 110 kW (150 PS) reaches 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and 196 km/h, using about 7.4 l/100 km. Its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with two wet clutches is also used by Volvo.

Chassis

The BMA platform uses a transverse engine and a monocoque body made of 70% high-strength steel. Suspension is MacPherson at the front and a semi-independent torsion beam at the rear, with anti-roll bars at both ends. Rack-and-pinion steering has electric assistance, and the brakes are discs all round (ventilated at the front) with ABS, EBD and other modern systems.

Safety and equipment

Despite its affordable positioning, the Coolray is well equipped and can compete with popular rivals. Features include speed-sensitive door locking, ABS and EBD, traction control, front and side airbags, curtain airbags, seat-occupancy sensors, front and rear parking sensors, an immobiliser, a surround-view camera system, ISOFIX anchorages, fuel cut-off in a crash, stability control, hill descent control and hill-start assist, speed-limit warning, a key-left-in-car warning, central locking, Bluetooth, 4G LTE connectivity, USB ports, a dashcam using the front camera, tyre-pressure and tyre-temperature monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, an electric parking brake, a parking assistant and keyless entry. A typical mid-range version has four airbags, 18-inch alloys, the panoramic roof, climate control, the 10.25-inch screen, heated front and rear seats, electric windows all round, LED lights and a six-speaker audio system; higher versions add curtain airbags, push-button start, automatic parking, leather-look upholstery, the digital instruments and blind-spot monitoring, and a Sport version adds sporty trim, a black roof and a large tailgate spoiler.

Key specifications

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners like the Coolray's bright, attractive looks and colours and its modern, good-looking interior; it suits younger buyers in particular. The Volvo-sourced engine and gearbox inspire confidence, the car handles small bumps well and the seats hold occupants securely in corners, helped by grab handles on the console. On the other hand, many owners miss all-wheel drive, the suspension bangs loudly over big bumps at speed, the low front lip demands care on steep slopes, the infotainment system can be glitchy, the dual-clutch gearbox sometimes hesitates and the glossy cabin panels get dirty and scratched quickly. Rivals include the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Nissan Juke, Toyota C-HR, Suzuki Vitara and Chery Tiggo 4.