Family Vehicle: A story of childbirth inside a Geely Okavango

Updated Apr 07, 2021 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

Is the child the first Okavango baby?

Geely’s latest addition to the local lineup, the Okavango, is a fast-selling unit since the 7-seater crossover SUV (or MPV?) was introduced in the country last November 2020. In fact, the Okavango already surpassed its compact crossover sibling, the Azkarra, in sales last year.

Due to the Geely Okavango’s growing population, more Filipinos can see more of the model on the road. This means that there are more chances that the Okavango will run into different situations just like what happened to an Okavango owner named Michael Balido last April 2.

Geely Okavango front view

2021 Geely Okavango

Michael Balido, a 31-year-old who owns a car rental business, noticed that a married couple is on their way to a hospital but was having a hard time getting a taxi. As such, he decided to offer a free ride to the couple with his new Geely Okavango which he got just last January 25, 2021.

Since the lady couldn’t control her labor, she gave birth to a child inside Balido’s Okavango along C5 road. Balido shared this story on his social media account in which many netizens praised him for his actions.

Michael Balido in Geely Okavango

Michael Balido with the married couple

Netizens expressed their gratitude and appreciation towards the good deed Michael Balido did for the married couple. Some of the comments include “swerte yan kuys,” “wow salute sa inyo,” and “More blessings. Maswerte po yung ganyan.”

Michael Balido shared to Philkotse.com, “It just happened that we were there but I have faith everyone who was there will do the same. We were waiting for my wife when we saw them having difficulty looking for a cab or tricycle. Without thinking twice, we decided to offer them a ride to the nearest hospital,” 

Lady with baby from Geel Okavango

The lady alongside her newborn child safely arrive at the hospital

“While on our way, the lady was unable to control her labor and gave birth to an angel inside our car. We are even thankful it happened because we believe it is a blessing in disguise,” he concluded.

Michael Balido knows that his brand new car will get stained given the situation the married couple is in, but he still decided to help them which we think his heroics are praiseworthy. He is still using the Geely Okavango for his personal and business trips.

Geely Okavango front view

Give Michael Balido a call if you need a car to rent such as this Geely Okavango

We hope nothing but the best for Michael Balido’s car rental business. If you want to avail of his car rental services, you may reach him on +63 915 4877 463. His business is available in different areas of the country including provinces.

Here at Philkotse.com, we value your interest in the automotive industry. Visit our website to find out more.

Know more about Geely Okavango 2024

Geely Okavango

The Geely Okavango 2024 is the first seven-seater from Geely Philippines for the Philippine market, which also makes it the biggest model in the lineup so far. Its quirky name was taken from the Okavango Delta, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and the 1,000th World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. Despite its unibody platform, Geely’s third model for Filipino customers is actually longer and wider than mainstream contenders in the truck-based midsize SUV category, measuring 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,785mm high. Ground clearance, however, is at a rather low 194mm.   

The Geely Okavango’s price in the Philippines ranges from Php 1,363,000 for the base Comfort variant to Php 1,765,000 for the range-topping Urban Plus. Rivals in its segment include the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Nissan Terra, Isuzu D-Max, and Ford Ranger. 

>>> New and used Geely Okavango 2024 for sale in the Philippines

Geely Okavango Launch

The Geely Okavango is known as the Haoyue in the Chinese market. The Haoyue VX11 was officially launched in China last June 2020. 

Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), the official distributor of Geely vehicles in the country, officially launched the Okavango in November 2020. It is the brand’s challenger in the seven-seater SUV segment. The said vehicle expands Geely Philippines’ model lineup to three including the Coolray and the Azkarra.   

The 2024 Geely Okavango is offered in three variants, Comfort, Urban, and Urban Plus.

Geely Okavango Exterior

The exterior of the Okavango Philippines has a bold and composed stance. The front end comes with sharp-looking headlights, an aggressive bumper design, and a large grille. Turning at the side, the vehicle is integrated with sharp character lines along with prominent fender flares that further add a muscular look to the Okavango. The rear, on the other hand, is equipped with distinctive taillights that look sleek and stylish. It also has a tailgate-mounted spoiler, a shark-fin antenna, and a bulky bumper. 

Geely Okavango exterior

Geely Okavango Interior

Geely PH says that the Okavango features a vast interior space that has a total of 19-seat configurations, 42 storage nooks, and compartments including a double-layer console. Occupants can sit comfortably in all three rows. 

Geely Okavango seats

It has a three-zone air conditioning that will give passengers independent AC controls in the driver, front passenger, and rear passenger seats, a 360-degree panoramic camera with a best-in-class guidance system, and dynamic auxiliary lines. It also has 3 driving modes – Eco, Normal, and Sport.

Tech & Safety

The local-spec Geely Okavango features a 360-degree panoramic camera as well as three driving modes (Eco, Normal, and Spor). In addition, the Okavango is equipped with six SRS airbags, overspeed warning, electronic stability control, hill start assist, central locking with speed-sensing auto lock, and hill descent control. The Urban variant also comes with six airbags.

Geely Okavango interior

Platform & Chassis

The Geely Okavango comes with a MacPherson Independent suspension at the front and a Multi-link suspension setup at the rear. This seven-seater SUV is equipped with ventilated disc brakes up front and a solid disc at the back.

Geely Okavango Engine & Drivetrain

The Geely Okavango 2024 is powered by a 1.5L Turbo engine that was jointly developed by Geely and Volvo which is perfectly matched to a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission.  It also has a Dual Variable-Valve Timing (DVVT) for a perfect balance of power optimization and fuel efficiency.  And thanks to the 48V-EMS, the Okavango boasts of a maximum power of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 300 Nm.

The Geely Okavango 2024 is available in four colors: Grey, White, Silver, and Black. 

Styling on the Geely Okavango 2024 is more subdued relative to its competitors, even more so when compared to its Coolray and Azakarra stablemates. While looks are subjective, the sheer interior space brought on by the vehicle’s size leaves very little room for interpretation. Three-row seating ensures more than adequate room for up to seven occupants, with a flexible configuration for carrying cargo. The top-spec Urban Plus features a large panoramic sunroof. A 10.25-inch touchscreen head unit is offered but without native support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Standard across all variants is a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, rated at a combined output of 190 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. Power is delivered to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, with no option for a four-wheel drivetrain. Airbags, anti-lock brakes, parking sensors, and tire pressure monitoring are offered across the board, with the midrange Urban and flagship Urban Plus getting a 360-degree camera system similar to that used by the Fortuner and Terra. However, unlike most of its rivals, the Okavango does not have adaptive cruise control. 

Geely Okavango 2024 Price List

Variants  Price
Geely Okavango 1.5 AT Comfort ₱1,363,000
Geely Okavango 1.5 AT Urban ₱1,483,000
Geely Okavango 1.5 AT Urban Plus ₱1,765,000

Geely Okavango Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Large dimensions
  • Generous and flexible interior space
  • Triple-zone climate control
  • Mild-hybrid powertrain is both potent and efficient

Cons

  • Low ground clearance compared to most SUVs 
  • Unibody construction less rugged than its rivals
  • Front-wheel drivetrain only

Geely Okavango FAQs

1. How much is the 2024 Geely Okavango in the Philippines?

The price of the Geely Okavango in the Philippines ranges from P1,363,000 to P1,765,000.

2. Is Geely Okavango good for a long drive?

Yes, the Geely Okavango is generally considered a good car for long drives. It has a spacious and comfortable interior with ample legroom and headroom for passengers.

3. What is the fuel consumption of the Geely Okavango?

The 2024 Geely Okavango with the 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has a combined fuel consumption rating of approximately 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers or 29 miles per gallon.

4. Is the Geely Okavango made in China?

Yes, the Geely Okavango is made in China. Geely is a Chinese automobile manufacturer and the Okavango is one of their models that is produced in their manufacturing facilities in China.

5. Is the Geely Okavango 7 seater?

Yes, the Geely Okavango is a seven-seater SUV. It has three rows of seats, with the first two rows able to accommodate three passengers each, and the third row able to accommodate two passengers.

₱ 1,523,000 - ₱ 1,765,000

Explore
Rex Sanchez

Rex Sanchez

Author

Rex Sanchez grew up in Saudi Arabia where he saw and got into the automotive scene. He started his career for an aviation company in the said region, writing about turbines and rotors which are later distributed for educational purposes. And now, he joined Philkotse.com as a staff writer. Currently, he is the youngest on the team and is more than ready to grow in the field.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rexsanchez09

View more