7 ‘wonderfully distinct’ things about the Geely Okavango

Much excitement has surrounded the Geely Okavango’s local release in the Philippines. To be fair, perhaps much of the fanfare is because of how well the brand has been received locally – what with the strong showing of its debut in the country in September of 2019 via the Coolray compact crossover, and the Azkarra that followed it.

It seems that the Chinese auto brand has taken notice of this warm reception by giving us the honor of being the first market outside of China to get the seven-seater crossover Okavango (which is badged Haoyue back home).

Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), official distributor of Geely here, is positioning the Okavango a “game changer” among SUVs and MPVs.

SGAP President and CEO Mikihisa Takayama said in a release, “Coming from the successful launch of the Coolray and Azkarra, we are confident that the new Geely Okavango will be a game changer in the industry as it combines the best qualities of a multi-purpose vehicle and an SUV, into one exciting seven-seater mid-size crossover. This crossover promises to give you a luxurious, uncompromising, and ‘wonderfully distinct’ ride.”

Now, just what is Geely talking about when it cites the Okavango as “wonderfully distinct?” Here we go:

1. Wonderfully distinct space. The Geely Okavango is a “proper” seven-seater with ample room for all its occupants – and with each getting a seat. Geely makes mention of a one-meter legroom for passengers in the second row.
2. Wonderfully distinct technology. The unmistakable high-tech feel starts with the crisp display of the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system is predicated on a large 10.25-inch infotainment panel, which also serves as a display screen for the 360-degree panoramic camera system. The Okavango gets three drive modes (Eco, Comfort, and Sport), a powered tailgate with angle memory, and remote auto-start function.
3. Wonderfully distinct power. A total system output of 190hp and 300Nm is served up by the 1.5-liter turbocharged direction engine complemented by a 48V electric motor synergy (EMS) system – essentially making the Okavango a mild hybrid with the benefits of heightened fuel economy and lower emission.
4. Wonderfully distinct safety. Occupants will be safely cocooned by six SRS airbags in case of a collision. The Okavango also gets a slew of other safety features such as overspeed warning, electronic stability control, hill start assist, central locking with speed-sensing auto lock, and hill descent control.
5. Wonderfully distinct design. The Geely Okavango stands out with its so-called Cosmic Recall front grille, dual track roof rails, and 18-inch aerodynamic rims.
6. Wonderfully distinct comfort. The seats are covered with leather, and occupants should further appreciate the through-type console, and an elegant-looking dashboard. A triple-zone intelligent air-conditioning system gives rear passengers, the driver, and front passenger their own controls.
7. Wonderfully distinct versatility. Geely proudly reports that the Okavango’s seats can be configured in no less than 19 different ways – including one that offers a 2.2-meter flat bed. With the second and third rows folded, the vehicle’s total storage space climbs to 2,050 liters.

The Okavango is priced at P1,208,000 for the Comfort variant and P1,328,000 for the Urban variant.

Photos by Ricky Ladia