Here’s your first look at the facelifted Geely Coolray 

The Coolray has bannered Geely Philippines’ dominance of the subcompact crossover segment since its introduction in 2019, with a combination of striking looks and premium features underpinned by competitive pricing. Now, it looks like Geely wants to give customers more reasons to go for the Coolray by releasing an updated version. 

The color scheme reminds one of a certain fictional transforming robot

This facelifted version applies to its home market of China, where the Coolray is known as the Binyue. The restyled model takes on a seemingly more aggressive approach, with the exterior design nicknamed “Chinese Artillery” likely alluding to Geely’s readiness to pound its competitors. 

Chief among the changes is a restyled fascia, highlighted by an X-shaped trim. The grille drops the former Expanding Cosmos motif for a sportier honeycomb mesh pattern, while the lower intake has been increased in size to make it look more aggressive. While the LED headlamps have been retained, they reportedly flash a welcome light show pattern when the vehicle is unlocked.

It features a more aggressive-looking fascia than before

There’s a restyled spoiler at the edge of the contrast black roofline, now rendered in a carbon fiber finish. The rear sports a revamped diffuser housing the exhaust tips. Optional racing stripes give the impression of speed, while a set of new 18-inch alloy wheels complement the side skirts.         

Changes to the interior are likewise small, yet potentially make a big impact on the driving experience. There’s still five seats and space for cargo, but occupants now get to bask under a full panoramic sunroof, accompanied by a 72-color ambient lighting system for when the sun sets. A two-tone palette adds more life to the cabin, along with a brushed aluminum surface on the dashboard and doors. 

We're not sure if the two-tone steering wheel is a good idea

Instrumentation remains a digital affair, while the touchscreen head unit has been upgraded from 10.25 to 12.3 inches, running the latest Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI) software. Even the gear selector lever has been revised to resemble a T-shape, similar to those found on classic muscle cars. 

More ambient light comes in with the bigger sunroof 

No powertrain details have been provided by Geely, but it would be safe to say that the facelifted Binyue will still run on the same engine options for the Chinese market. These comprise a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 rated at 138 hp and 235 Nm of torque, a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3 packing 175 hp and 255 Nm of torque, and another version with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system providing 187 hp and 300 Nm of twist. Customers can choose between 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, and 7-speed dual-clutch transmissions. 

Pricing is also under wraps, at least until the refreshed Binyue is released to Chinese customers by August. If it arrives on our shores, would it convince you to go for a Geely?

More news on the latest models at Philkotse.com.