Overview of new items from Geely - seven-seater Okavango.

 

Overview of new items from Geely - seven-seater Okavango. What is interesting about a $34,400 crossover without a soft loan?

Announcements of fresh models from the Belarusian-Chinese plant "BelGee" are always accompanied by noise and excitement. Say what you like, but Geely is firmly entrenched in our market. Today we are getting acquainted with a seven-seat crossover that has just gone on sale to brand dealers - a full-size Okavango, or VX11. The first look at the novelty, as well as an opinion about the car - in our material.

In the "top", but without a preferential loan

The degree of anticipation for the Geely Okavango (VX11) is no less than the anticipation of the market launch of the Monjaro (KX11). If we have already managed to get acquainted with the latter, then the seven-seater SUV has so far remained a mysterious and unknown “beast”. And at the end of February, the first crossovers were noticed in Minsk, and a day later, dealers announced the price tag of the car. Now the cross is available only in the flagship top version for 97,200 BYN (or $34,400 at the current exchange rate). Concessional lending does not apply to the model.

Under the hood of the “SUV” is a one and a half liter turbo engine already familiar to the Belarusian consumer - JLH-3G15TD. The engine that equips the popular Geely Coolray carries the same marking. True, as in the case of the Atlas Pro, the power plant is complemented by a 48-volt starter-generator, and the total output of the units is 190 hp. With. power and 300 Nm of torque.

The engine is aggregated with a 7-band robotic "box" DCT. The manufacturer claims a maximum speed of 190 km / h, and acceleration to “hundreds” occurs in 11 seconds. Not very quickly, but what to expect from a one and a half liter engine in a car with a curb weight of 2,295 kg?

Although the dimensions are impressive, it is difficult to call them impressive. The length of the crossover is 4,835 mm, the width is 1,900 mm, and the height is 1,780 mm. The wheelbase is 2815 mm.

With 18-inch wheels fitted as standard by the dealer, the minimum ground clearance is 190mm.

What is rich in the configuration of a crossover with a price tag of 97,200 BYN? On paper, the list of options is impressive. First of all, the car received full LED optics, cruise control, a three-zone “climate”, rear parking sensors, power accessories for all doors with a pinch prevention function, an electronic handbrake, keyless and remote engine start, and a traffic sign reading system.

The interior of the crossover with a seating arrangement of 2 + 3 + 2 is upholstered in eco-leather. The driver's seat has electric adjustment in six positions, "navigator" - in four.

In the center of the interior are two large screens: a digital "tidy" and a multimedia system with a touchscreen. Diagonal - 12.3 and 12.25 inches, respectively.

The Geely Okavango safety package includes front, curtain and side airbags, ESP and ABS, an automatic braking system, hill climb and descent assistance, and second and third row seat pretensioners.

What is and what is missing Geely Okavango?

From a dry enumeration of technical characteristics, let's move on to a direct acquaintance with the novelty. And there is something to talk about - both in a good way and not in a very positive way. We sit down at the "steering wheel" and look around.

Quite faded and unremarkable from the outside, the Okavango pleases with a spacious (if not huge) interior. The interior decoration is pleasant and harmonious - however, hard plastic adds a Spartan touch to the crossover.

Massive and practical door handles, large deflectors bordered with chrome rectangles, wide armrests… Aggressive lines and chopped shapes are somewhat reminiscent of the interior design of American SUVs: analogies with the Jeep Gladiator or even the Chevrolet Tahoe immediately come to mind.

The driver's and "navigator's" seats have electric adjustments, which are generally enough. The steering wheel is adjustable for reach and height, but personally I would like to move it a little closer (oh, those long legs!).

We continue to inspect the interior, simultaneously including climate control. To heat such a “shed” is not a quick matter, so the hand involuntarily reaches for the control panel in search of a “warm” option for the fifth point. And she is not! As well as the heating coil in the windshield or side mirrors is not visible.

The gear selector "robot" is modern and convenient. Under it is a washer for changing driving modes (Sport, Eco, Comfort). Next - a place for coffee and an additional refrigerated glove box in the armrest. It is of modest size. In my opinion, it was more logical to combine the two compartments, and make the cup holders removable.

Something, and a panoramic roof in a family car is a joy for the kids. The glass captures the entire second row of seats, thanks to which an excellent view of the starry sky will open from the “gallery”.

The second row itself is made in the form of three separate chairs, and not a combined sofa. The seats are mechanically adjustable and move back and forth, but the backrest angle is not adjustable. The width of the cabin is enough for at least two adults and a booster for a child. It will be difficult to place a child seat and two passengers.

The third row of seats, as in most cars with this interior layout, is not rich in space. Despite this, an adult of average build up to 175 cm tall will feel comfortable there. It is noteworthy that the pillows are raised relative to the floor of the crossover - far from every “three-row” among SUVs correctly takes into account such a feature.

Before the start of the movement, there were fears that the Geely Okavango would turn out to be a clumsy cow. Everything is not so bad, although the beam installed in the rear suspension is puzzling. On the furious road, passengers from the “gallery” will recall the designers of the Chinese brand with a good obscenity.

Large rear-view mirrors are enough for safe and confident parking - you didn’t even have to turn to the all-round camera. No blind spots were found in the short test drive, although insurance in the form of blind spot sensors would not hurt.

The dashboard in the Okavango is electronic, but has a number of annoying features. The virtual tachometer located on the left has an information insert in the center: it displays data on average and instantaneous fuel consumption, tire pressure sensor readings, information about the operation of the starter-generator, and others.

However, there is no way to quickly switch between them. To do this, you need to activate or remove the birdie for displaying specific information in the “tidy” settings.

When you get into the car for the first time, it seems that the engine idling gives off to the steering wheel, seat and, of course, to the body. Probably a deceptive feeling, because after half an hour the illusion disappeared.

**

Traditionally, we asked Dmitry Makarevich, editor-in-chief of the av.by portal, about the new Geely Okavango and the prospects for the largest Geely on the market. 

- With the advent of the Okavango, an interesting thing came out at the BelGee plant. The very first batch of 200 Chinese cars, which is now being sold here, was originally sent to Russia, but due to difficulties in obtaining the Title, they decided to send the crossovers to us - in Belarus they sorted out the necessary documents faster. I mean, at first they didn’t plan to sell this model in our country at all, but since it happened ... Let's study it in more detail!

— Frankly speaking, Okavango is not impressive — a huge closet with bland design. Here are the doors, here are the headlights with wheels - you can go! Those who are looking for fresh notes in this Geely with a hint of aerodynamics and lightweight construction will be bitterly disappointed. This is not here, - says Makarevich. - But inside the largest Geely crossover turned out to be neat and pretty, not without fresh ideas. 

- For example, unusually shaped door handles. We just drove off, and the left hand itself fluttered onto the wide “shelf” and settled down there with pleasure. Beauty! At the same time, the right hand can also be placed on the central armrest, it's a pity that it does not move. The steering column settings also cannot be called outstanding - in the longitudinal direction it was still all right, but the angle of inclination is not enough.

— I was also seriously embarrassed by the pedal assembly. Subjectively, with a foot of size 43, it is perceived as rather cramped. Especially in the gas and brake zone. I'm afraid that in winter shoes of larger parameters, it will not be difficult to confuse the pedals - they are very close. In this case, the brake, when pressed, “is pressed through” gently, without pronounced resistance. And somehow phlegmatically returns to its original position.

— So, what do we have under the hood... Familiar three cylinders in conjunction with a 7-band "robot" plus a 48-volt starter-generator and a "favorite" hood stop poker. Let me remind you that the Chinese JLH-3G15TD nominally develops 177 hp. with., but the mild hybrid "throws" another 13 "horses" and 50 Nm of torque. As a result, we get quite tolerable acceleration for a 7-seater crossover and adequate fuel consumption. For a couple of hours of a test drive in the city with frequent stops for beautiful shots, the on-board computer showed 9.1 liters.

- Another thing is that the BC settings, according to the not entirely clear logic of the Chinese designer, are hidden in the bowels of the “tidy” and are not activated with one simple press of a button on the steering wheel. We go to the desired menu, select the required parameter, mark it, and only then can we see it on the dashboard. Of course, Russian localization is not declared. Thanks at least for the fact that the menu is not in Chinese!

- I think that after running the engine, the consumption of 8-8.5 liters in mixed mode for the front-wheel drive Okavango is quite realistic. But still, you will have to refuel the car often: the volume of the fuel tank is only 52 liters.

- There are questions about the location of the license plate light with the trunk button. To press it, you almost have to sit down, since the fifth door opens both from the key fob and from the car. Another nuance is that all this low-lying area will certainly be clogged with dirt from the road, and there is no washer at the rear-view camera.

"But what am I mumbling about?" Okavango is strong in another way. There are more than enough seats on the second row, you can safely sit down, cross your legs, adjust the climate control for yourself, lay your head back and enjoy the clear spring sky - the roof is panoramic!

- The third row, by the way, is also not nominal: there is enough space in the feet for undersized passengers, besides, the second row seats can be moved forward to ensure a comfortable passage on a flat surface. For some, these characteristics seem to be the most important and correct ...

— Is there an alternative on the market? In the foreseeable future, replenishment in this segment of new cars should not be expected at least. And right now you can buy, for example, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, and in the configuration with the same package of “warm” options, which Okavango so desperately lacks. But the issue price is 108,400 BYN. Perhaps someone would prefer to spend 11 thousand rubles of the difference (for Okavango they ask 97,200 BYN) for a beaver hat, a fur coat made of Mexican jerboa (or Shanghai leopard) fur and gloves made of the most delicate leather of the finest dressing. And with such a simple set, you can calmly survive the Belarusian winter with our usual “kalya zero”.

- On the local "secondary" one will find a Skoda Kodiaq with a third row of seats (although it can only be called a 7-seater formally), Mazda CX-9 or Toyota Highlander . Such 3-5-year-old cars will cost plus or minus 35 thousand dollars. But in the higher segment (Volvo XC90, BMW X7) there are no problems with the choice in Europe either, but, at current prices, such family cars are piece goods. Customs clearance is high, and with the availability of spare parts, not everything is so smooth.