Amid the popularity of SUVs, MPVs, and crossovers, Geely has decided to introduce its sedan entry Emgrand to the Philippine market this 2022. Its price starts at Php798,000 to Php908,000 and is competing in the same class as the country’s best-selling car models. If you wanted to know what are its ups and downs, some points below might help you.

It is a more premium-looking car than its closest rivals.

The price range of the 2022 Geely Emgrand in the Philippines places itself among other entry-level sedans in the market. But it is undeniable that its exterior look is far better than its rivals, featuring a sophisticated-looking front fascia that resembles European-made cars. It also features very artistic rear lights which show rhythmic motion. The overall exterior appearance of the Emgrand will make you feel like and look elegant; it is indeed fit for executives and upper-class people. And unlike its rivals, it didn’t go for a loud and sporty finish; it just sticks to the classy and quiet exterior. Its stylish front and back profile speak for itself.

The interior design is also competent.

Having said the exterior of the 2022 Geely Emgrand is stunningly beautiful that has the presence of a luxury car, and its interior language is as competent, too. The first thing that you would notice is its clean-looking and sophisticated dashboard. It is quiet and not cluttered with so many physical buttons as most of the controls are done with the infotainment touchscreen at the center. Apart from that, the dashboard and the doors are also covered with soft-touch leather materials, which upscale the feel of the car. The air conditioner vents are aligned with the edge of the dashboard, unlike the usual. It also comes with a sunroof that gives the cabin good natural lighting.

The trunk opens automatically.

Whenever you have your arms and hands busy carrying your groceries, you somehow wish that someone is there to open the door for you, especially on a rainy day. Luckily, Geely must’ve been thinking the same thing for you, as they crafted the 2022 Emgrand with that feature to help and make life easier. When the Emgrand senses that the car key is close to the cargo trunk, it automatically opens up for you to put your things without being hassled opening. Not only that this feature a part of innovation, but I take it as visualizing and responding to the daily experiences of an ordinary person. Even though Geely is not the first to include such advancement, it is far above its competitors with the same price range.

It looks and feels sturdy.

When you touch the materials of the Emgrand, the surfaces and the components in and out of the car feel sturdy, as if it is a European-made vehicle crafted to display elegance and class. When you get in and shut the door, you hear the door thud sounds coming from sturdy and well-made materials. The dashboard doesn’t only look pleasing, but it also feels good to touch; the surfaces are soft because of the leather material Geely has put on it. The steering wheel has a good grip because of the good quality of leather covering it, it is also good to maneuver, and there are no squeaks, which is a bit common in entry-level cars.

Cons

It doesn’t come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Seldom do we see someone who doesn’t like playing music and singing along with it, not only in the bathroom but also inside the car on a long highway ride. That is why multimedia connectivity is essential in our time, along with staying updated on social media and connecting with families and friends. Sadly, the 2022 Geely Emgrand doesn’t come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Though you can still connect your smartphone via screen mirroring to avoid grabbing your phone whenever you have incoming calls or you need to take a look at the maps while driving. Apart from that, it still comes with the standard AM/FM radio if you want to hear new songs that aren’t yet on your playlist.

Its parts are limited in the Philippines.

Since Geely is just a few years present in the Philippines, it is understandable that it is still not established yet in the country at the same level other car brands are already. Some of its customers are having troubles concerning repairs and maintenance, they say that it is tough to get their Geely repaired as its parts need to be ordered overseas before their cars can get fixed. Thinking about that matter, even how beautiful Geely cars are, I would think twice if could handle that kind of situation in the future.

Its performance is a little under its rivals.

Certainly, there are different strengths and weaknesses between car models. But if the Emgrand’s weakness is its performance, there should be a rethinking of whether you can take that for the next couple of years. However, if you are taking the Emgrand just as a daily office service, I can say that its output should be enough for you. Nevertheless, our criteria when it comes to performance should depend on our lifestyle.

Several functionality buttons are controlled through the infotainment touchscreen.

One of the several factors that contribute to the overall elegance of the Emgrand’s cabin is the absence of several buttons to make the dashboard clean-looking and uncluttered. By doing so, Geely made some of the functionality controls be done using the infotainment touchscreen, including opening and closing the sunroof. Although there is a good point behind it, it doesn’t aid the driver, and it could lead to road accidents.

Also Read: Hands-Down To the 2022 Geely Emgrand’s Premium Comfort