Owners' sentiments: Is the Geely Coolray still worth it in 2023?

The Geely Coolray initially debuted in 2019 and shook the Philippine car industry thanks to its affordable pricing, powerful engine, and extensive features. It quickly became a hot topic as many rushed to buy the crossover and experience a new generation of Chinese vehicles.

While some buyers hesitated to try the crossover, glowing reviews from owners and media outlets converted some of them to try it out. 

This raises the question, with so many new entries into the subcompact crossover segment, such as the Haval Jolion, the GAC EMKOO, the Jetour Dashing, and the Ford Territory (Specs | News), is the Geely Coolray still worth it in 2023?

Also read: FULL REVIEW: Geely Coolray Sport SE -- Is it still worth the hype?

"Beautiful exterior"

If you are looking for a sporty crossover, the Geely Coolray delivers boatloads of it with its angular front fascia, sleek LED headlights, and aggressive front bumper. It also helps that it gets accent colors depending on the variant you choose.

It also rides on 18-inch wheels that fit within the wheel wells giving the vehicle an imposing stance. 

You get a WRC-inspired spoiler at the back, adding to its overall sporty theme. 

"If you think the Coolray's exterior is a beauty, wait till you get inside. Power, aesthetics, technology all at an affordable price point." says GM Jaucian a member of Geel Coolray Club of the Philippines.

"Ibang klaseng interior"

The Geely Coolray has a premium and well-executed interior. Soft-touch materials are prevalent in the crossover, especially with its minimalist dashboard, which houses a 12.3-inch infotainment system.

The red, silver, and black interior color scheme gives you a unique and sporty cabin to differentiate itself from the often monotone cabin colors of its competitiors. 

While the Coolray does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto out of the box, it has screen mirroring capabilities, giving you unique pros when using it. 

Aside from this, the Geely crossover also comes with an in-built dashcam system, automatic parking, and a 360-degree camera for better maneuverability and safety. It also helps that Geely Philippines updated the Coolray with ventilated seats for its Sport SE variant. 

"Malakas makina"

Under the hood, the Geely Coolray is powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that pushes out 177 horsepower and 255 Nm of torque. A wet 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels. 

Despite its excellent power figures, many owners from Facebook groups and reviewers have pointed out the one weakness of the Geely Coolray, its fuel economy. 

It is a heavy drinker regarding gas consumption as our testing revealed 5.5 to 8.5 km/l in the city and 13 to 16 km/l on the highway. Owners from the Geely Car Club Philippines and the Geely Coolray Club of the Philippines have also reported similar figures.

However, driving it sensibly and in eco mode can get average fuel efficiency figures. It's not class-leading, but it's good enough to give you around 300km of travel distance in the city on one full gas tank. 

"Malakas Makina at Maganda features" - Jerome Nualla Geely Coolray Club of the Philippines member

More aftermarket support

Aftermarket support has improved for the Geely Coolray over the past few years, with modifications and ECU tunes available for more power for the crossover. Tuning and a few basic bolt-ons have seen the power of the crossover reach into the 180 to 200 wheel-horsepower range.

While Geely Philippines doesn't officially back it, there are dealerships that have partnered with these tuning shops to offer you the ECU tune straight from the dealership floor with a warranty. 

Aside from this, certain shops even offer you the ability to "unlock" Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the infotainment system; of course, the warranty goes down the drain as you modify the software. These are small "hacks" that Geely car enthusiasts use to help modify their vehicles to their tastes. 

If you what a different set of wheels, the aftermarket scene is there to help, offering you multiple styles and sizes that will suit what you want to do with your Coolray. It just so happens that the Coolray has a bolt pattern of 5x114.3 which is a common pattern for compact Japanse sedans.

"Value for money"

Geely Philippines has kept Coolray competitive with its enticing pricing lineup. The crossover can be had for as low as ₱1,083,000 and as high as  ₱1,299,000 for its top-of-the-line model.

Parts availability can still be an issue depending on the dealerships you go to. Some will have all the parts on hand for basic maintenance needs and other specific procedures, while others will have a long wait. 

This information comes from customer feedback and from various car club pages on Facebook and other social media sites. 

"Its not perfect but with the GCR's price point and engine performance its value for money" - Nash Roque Geely Coolray Club of the Philippines member. 

Overall, the Geely Coolray is still an enticing offer, especially with its growing aftermarket support. Just remember that the crossover is a bit thirsty on gasoline and needs to be fed 95-octane fuel to give you the performance you need when you want it.

Also, choose your dealerships wisely so that you are appropriately cared for during and after car-buying. Car ownership doesn’t stop when the car leaves the dealership lot; it extends to many years after it. 

Will you still consider a Geely Coolray in 2023?

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