2022 Geely Coolray Sport Limited Review | Philkotse Philippines

The crossover segment in the Philippines has been gaining popularity through the years. One of the reasons why is due to the influx of Chinese car brands such as Geely, MG, Chery, among others.  

Among the three, Geely Philippines is by far the car brand that has set a solid foothold when you talk about crossover vehicles. It can even be said that Geely is one of the significant players in the local market that paved the current crossover trend. Why so? Well, look at how the Geely Coolray disrupted the market. 

2022 Geely Coolray Sunburst Gold - Shining, Shimmering, Splendid | Philkotse Reviews

Since its launch in 2019, the Coolray has been selling like hotcakes, which says a lot when you talk about putting an end to the stigma associated with Chinese cars. The strong sales performance of the Coolray also contributed to making the Geely brand a household name in the Philippines. 

In case you’re still on the ropes of getting one for yourself, read on to find out the things that this five-seater subcompact crossover brings to the table. Here’s Philkotse’s 2022 Geely Coolray Sport Limited full review.

The Coolray that we’ve test-driven comes with the new Sunburst Gold color. The said exterior paint is exclusively available on the top-spec Sport Limited variant. The said color might not appeal to everyone but I like how it makes the Coolray stand out every time I took it out for a drive.

Look at those sharp character lines

The exterior of the vehicle looks almost the same as other Coolray variants. Aside from the noticeable Sunburst Gold paint, the Sport Limited trim features subtle yet distinctive differences. The front end still has the same looks compared to the regular Coolray. It has the Expanding Cosmos grille with a red accent, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED foglamps. The Coolray Sport Limited also has the same angular bumper, and lip spoiler. 

Variant-exclusive 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels

The same story goes for the side profile but the Coolray Sport Limited is fitted with a set of 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, which complements well to the Sunburst Gold exterior paint. The simplicity of the wheel design also balances out the striking color of this specific Coolray. 

Aside from the similar design cues, the Sport Limited trim still has the same dimensions compared to the regular version. It is 4,330mm long, 1,795mm wide, and 1,609mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 2,600mm, and a ground clearance of 196mm.

The 2022 Geely Coolray Sport Limited has an athletic stance

The rear still has the same athletic design that the Coolray is known for. It has LED taillights, a rear spoiler, quad exhaust pipes, and a diffuser. You might argue that there are not enough aesthetic changes to the Coolray Sport Limited but just like what they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Geely Coolray Sport Limited has a modern-looking two-tone cabin along with a clutter-free dashboard layout that’s accented by brushed aluminum trim. 

The Coolray comes with a modern cabin

The modern interior layout has been one of the Coolray’s strong selling points. For its price point, the cabin is integrated with materials that will give you the satisfaction of getting more than what you paid for. It also appeals to the younger demographic of car buyers since the interior has a youthful vibe to it, which is synonymous with other cars in Geely PH’s model lineup. 

The advanced and feature-rich layout is a welcome sight but it could be a bit intimidating for individuals who favor a more conventional interior. But, you do have to take note that cars available in the Philippines are starting to break up their relationship with the traditional cabin layout that most of us got accustomed to. That said, expect more touchscreen interfaces, digital displays, and even electronic vehicle controls in modern cars such as the Geely Coolray.   

The Coolray comes with a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in leather, and it is integrated with several buttons such as Cruise Control. The Sport Limited trim also has paddle shifters in case you want to take over the shifting duties. 

Two-tone seats, and panoramic sunroof

One of the things that I appreciate with this Coolray is the leather seats, which have good cushioning. The seats also have a firm construction that I find good as it supports the body well when driving or when sitting as a passenger. The driver gets a six-way power-adjustable seat while the front passenger gets a manual adjustment. Another thing you’ll appreciate is the integration of the seat ventilation, a new feature that’s exclusive to the Coolray Sport Limited trim.     

Adequate legroom for the rear passengers

The rear seats can accommodate up to three individuals but the leg- and elbow-room of the person seated in the middle is a bit compromised. For maximum comfort, it’s best if two individuals are seated at the back, and the leg-room is more than enough for persons standing 5’5”. I do wish that the Coolray comes with rear aircon vents but at least passengers at the back benefit from a USB port. Of note, this vehicle has a panoramic sunroof with an updated cover that’s now a tad thicker. 

Loading an assortment of cargo is no problem

Another thing you’ll appreciate with the Coolray is its spacious cargo area. With 330 liters of cargo volume, loading an assortment of stuff is possible. The cargo area can accommodate a week’s supply of groceries without a problem with space to spare for other items.

The Geely Coolray Sport Limited’s head-turning athletic exterior and modern interior layout are complemented by a lot of tech features. This is another reason why this crossover has been taking over the local market.

The Geely Coolray is indeed loaded with features

Placed right at the center of the dashboard is a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with a floating-type design. It’s like having a tablet in the center, which is a nice touch as compared to having the touchscreen smacked into the dashboard itself. 

It also has crisp icons, and it is responsive to every touch. However, I do wish that it already has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as these two contribute a lot when you talk about the overall driving experience. The Coolray does have QD Link but it doesn’t come close to the seamlessness that the Apple CarPlay delivers. 

360-degree camera gives crisp images

The infotainment touchscreen transforms into a monitor for the Coolray Sport Limited’s 360-degree panoramic camera, a useful feature whenever you’re parking in tight spaces. You’ll also appreciate that this vehicle has a digital instrument cluster, which is a big plus considering the price point of the Coolray Sport Limited. The digital cluster changes interface per drive mode that includes: Eco, Normal, and Sport.   

Another trick that this Coolray variant has in its sleeve is the automated parking assist. This feature allows the Coolray to park automatically by itself in a parallel or perpendicular position with just a push of a button. 

In terms of safety, the 2022 Geely Coolray Sport Limited is equipped with the following: driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and an anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution. It also has stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, parking sensors, blind spot detection, and tire pressure monitoring. With that, one can consider that the Geely Coolray Sport Limited is a feature-loaded subcompact crossover.

The Geely Coolray Sport Limited is still powered by the same 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers 177 hp and 255 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a 7-speed wet dual clutch transmission. Geely did not give the Coolray Sport Limited any power upgrades but that’s fine since this crossover already has lots of it.

Powered by a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine

The Coolray has a light steering feel, which helps lessen driver fatigue especially when you plan to use this crossover as your daily drive. Although I find the steering wheel a bit too light but, it gives relatively precise input. Another thing I notice is that the transmission is smooth like butter. It has no shift shock even at low gears, giving you a pleasant driving experience.

In terms of ride comfort, the Coolray continues to impress as it has a good suspension setup. It’s not too firm nor too soft, and it absorbs road impacts well. The Coolray can make driving more bearable along the dilapidated roads of EDSA. On the open highway, it is stable and planted, giving you confidence behind the wheel. The light steering wheel also gets a bit firm as you reach highway speeds.

The Sunburst Gold exterior paint makes the Coolray standout

It’s also worth noting that the Coolray has minimal body roll, and handles well when driving through tight turns. This gives the impression that this five-seater subcompact crossover is fun to drive on winding roads. 

The Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) are kept in check. Outside noise is reduced to a minimum, which is a plus considering the Coolray’s price point. What I also like is how the engine noise is kept at bay. But, you can still hear a bit of engine grunt especially in low revs or when you’re about to accelerate from a standstill, which is fine. Geely did a good job in suppressing the engine sound resulting in a quiet cabin.        

Crossover swag

The thing that stands out the most with the Geely Coolray is its power delivery. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine has a notable throttle response when driven using the Normal mode. The engine is lively from the get-go, resulting in swift acceleration. The peppy engine along with the light steering feel, and the good suspension setup allows the Coolray to live up to its “Bring the Fun Back in Driving.”

In case you want a more performance-oriented drive, it has a Sport mode, which makes the default setup of the Coolray to be more sprightly as the engine revs at higher RPMs.  
On the other hand, the power delivery gets a bit sluggish when you select the Eco mode as it prioritizes a more fuel-efficient drive.

When it comes to fuel economy, the Geely Coolray Sport Limited registered 7 to 8 km/l while being driven at an average speed of 10 to 20 km/h. On the open highway, it posted 18 km/l while driving at an average speed of 90 km/h. The said numbers are on par with its segment rivals such as the Volkswagen T-Cross. 

The added features such as the 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, power tailgate with height memory function, ventilated front seats, and the variant-exclusive Sport Limited Sunburst Gold exterior paint comes with a sticker price of Php 1,218,000. In comparison, the Coolray Sport Limited is Php 20,000 more expensive than the regular Sport trim.

2022 Geely Coolray Sport Limited in Sunburst Gold exterior paint

So, is it worth the additional price tag? Well, it is worth it if you want to have a distinctly unique Coolray that’s made possible by the new Sunburst Gold exterior color, and the gloss black alloy wheels. It’s also worth the additional 20K if you’re particular with having a power tailgate, and front ventilated seats.

Regardless of which Coolray variant you choose, Geely’s subcompact crossover is one of the vehicles that should be on your shortlist when you’re shopping for a brand-new car. With its athletic exterior styling, modern cabin layout, lots of tech features, and a potent turbo engine, it’s really a no-brainer as to how and why the Geely Coolray has taken over the local market.