Geely Coolray SE

Similar to the Coolray’s sleek exterior, the subcompact’s cabin also boasts modern and sophisticated styling elements thanks to Geely’s Wingspan Technology design. The five-seater subcompact crossover comes with black leather seats that include red stitching running along the sides as well as ample boosters. The driver’s seat also comes with electronic adjustment features. Just like the exterior, the interior’s horizontal dashboard layout is reminiscent of European car designs. Sitting in the middle is a floating infotainment touch screen system that is brushed with an aluminum finish, and bookended by AC vents that can be likened to jet thrusters. The dashboard also includes a fully digital instrument cluster.

The dashboard is also decked in black along with red accents, sporting a two-tone color combination that matches the rest of the cabin’s appearance. The gauge cluster can be viewed through a 7-inch LCD instrument panel that can be customized depending on the driving mode selected. However, this feature is only available on the top-of-the-line Sport variant. For shifting, the Coolray is equipped with a unique jet-throttle-inspired design that enables drivers to easily and comfortably grip the apparatus when shifting. Geely also made it possible for gears to be manually shifted via paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel.

The 10.25-inch infotainment system can be hooked up with a GKUI smart ecosystem which is Geely’s innovative digital cockpit system. It is capable of integrating infotainment, connectivity, and vehicle management under one smart in-car system. In addition to these, a new Geely flat-bottomed leather tiller now also makes ingress and egress much easier. Other notable features include an electric sunroof, split-fold rear seats that tumble down to provide access to the rear cargo compartment, a tachometer, an electronic multi-trip meter, a digital clock, as well as a digital odometer.

Comfort & Entertainment

The vehicle’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system offers connectivity for both iPhone and Android smartphones. However, Android users that want to use the screen mirroring feature will still need to download the QD Link app from Google Play while Apple users only need to plug in their device via the USB port. Music can be easily streamed through Bluetooth connectivity. The Coolray is also equipped with steering-mounted audio controls for easier access and control of calls and multimedia content. The main tech feature onboard is the Coolray’s 360-degree surround camera system. Cameras mounted under the side mirrors show a video feed on the touchscreen monitor with an animated 3D render of the vehicle superimposed. Activating the turn signals automatically engages the system, alerting the driver if there is incoming traffic on either side of the car.

The Coolray has a distinct appearance that takes inspiration from European car models while also remaining distinctly innovative and contemporary. Geely managed to acquire Volvo from the Ford Motor Company back in 2010 and the automaker’s influence in terms of design is apparent in its latest model releases. It is especially noticeable in the Coolray with the car body sporting sharp Euro-inspired lines and contours. At the front of the vehicle, full LED projector-type headlamps dominate the fascia which is positioned to flank either side of the crossover’s Expanding Cosmos grille. However, the Comfort and Premium variants only have halogen bulbs while it is the top-of-the-line Sport trim that carries full LED headlights.

Meanwhile, the design of the front bumper gives the vehicle a more aggressive touch. This is further enhanced by a rising beltline that runs from the A-pillar to the rear. The vehicle also attempted to include some more athletic and sporty elements such as the quad tailpipes on the rear and the faux carbon-fiber accents. To top it off, Geely also added a prominent rear spoiler. These design choices are the auto brand’s attempts to appeal to a much younger market, allowing it to gain a more competitive edge against more popular models in the local crossover segment.

The Coolray’s overall build quality is its strong point and it is particularly noticeable when seen up close. A two-tone color combination design is also available for the mid-to high-level Premium and Sport variants. The entry-level Comfort trim rides on 215/60/R17 or 17-inch wheels and tires, while the Coolray Premium Turbo and Coolray Sport Turbo variants ride on 225/55/R18 or 18-inch wheels. All wheels are decked in dual-color turbine styling. Meanwhile, the recently released Sport Limited variant gets new 18-inch alloy wheels.

Passenger & Boot space

The Coolray can seat up to five adult occupants including the driver. For the front passenger area, passengers may find narrow footwells as well as limited legroom space. This is primarily due to the cabin’s large center console which may be uncomfortable for some drivers and passengers. The second row, on the other hand, offers significantly more space for legroom. It offers an incredibly comfortable ride experience reminiscent of Skoda cars. Despite the vehicle’s sloping rood design, the Coolray manages to offer sufficient headroom. The split-fold rear seats are also capable of being folded down to provide access to the spacious rear cargo compartment.

According to Geely’s claims, the Coolray has a fuel economy mileage of 15.5 km/liter. During tests, extensive use of the cruise control registers around 14.6 km/liter to 16.4 km/liter. Cruise control is great for regulating the Coolray’s speed, especially when on the highway. If you maintain the vehicle at  80 kmph with the engine just ticking over idle in seventh gear, it’s possible to achieve 20 km/liter figures. When just driving within the town, it can pull approximately 8km/liter. Overall, the Coolray offers an incredibly efficient drivetrain while providing an effortlessly smooth and refined driving experience.

Should the downshifting have performed stellarly, the Coolray would have delivered a magnetic and commendable driving experience. The delay is especially noticeable when traversing through winding roads where engine braking is preferable. However, aside from this, the Coolray does manage to handle like a sedan with controlled rolls when dealing with zigzags. The vehicle’s light steering also still manages to perform well with tight city maneuvers. For better performance, Geely added a 360-degree camera and monitor that comes standard across all variants.

Despite the vehicle’s three-cylinder engine, the Coolray’s turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline mill actually manages to produce the highest power output in its class. When set to default Comfort mode, the vehicle performs energetically, providing necessary boosts as early as 1,000 rpm. When set to Sport mode, the revs come quicker and hold longer, which makes for a very responsive acceleration during spirited drives. However, if there’s one downside to the Coolray, it’s the manual downshifting by its wet dual-clutch transmission. It tends to perform rather lazily and drivers can expect to encounter a bit of a delay every now and then. It typically registers a one-second delay using either the paddle shifters or through the gear lever itself.

The Coolray is packed with a number of advanced safety features such as six airbags for the driver and passenger as well as side airbags located on the side of the front seats plus curtain airbags. It is also equipped with traction control, sensors for autonomous parking, a rear camera with parking guides that assist the driver when backing up into a parking spot, and a front camera that warns the driver when they get too close to the vehicle in front. The sensors around the Coolray also alert the driver when other vehicles are too close to the front quarter. Other standard features include ISOFIX anchors for child seats. The Coolray secured a 5-star rating on the ASEAN NCAP with a total score of 84.26 for both adult occupant protection and child occupant protection.

Is Geely Coolray a good car?

The Coolray is an impressive vehicle and presents strong competition in its segment. The subcompact crossover SUV has come a long way in terms of design, engineering, technology, and performance. Drivers will definitely enjoy the amount of power the engine delivers with every accelerator input. While it still could use some improvements with its gear shifting, the Coolray also offers an excellent array of advanced features as well as a more contemporary design that is sure to appeal to the younger market. Geely also offers a 150,000 km/5-year warranty which manages to trump other offerings from more established brands.

How much does Coolray cost?

• Coolray 1.5 Comfort - ₱978,000
• Coolray 1.5 Premium - ₱1,088,000
• Coolray 1.5 Sport - ₱1,198,000

Servicing for the Coolray is done every six months or every 10,000 kilometers--whichever comes first. By the second service interval, which comes in at the 10,000-kilometer mark, expect to pay around P5,543 for the service. For the very first paid preventive maintenance service, only three parts should be replaced. These include the oil which costs P4,602, the oil filter which costs P369, and the drain plug gasket, which will cost you P45. These are just estimated costs and may differ when it comes to your unit.

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