Geely PH partners with NLEX Corp. to help tourism industry bounce back

Updated Nov 15, 2021 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

A timely partnership amid the relaxed travel restrictions.

Now that the quarantine restriction in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been lowered to Alert Level 2, out-of-town trips are more favorable as it is now relatively safer. Geely Philippines took the time to explore some of the finest spots up north through its partnership with the NLEX Corporation.

Geely Okavango on the road

Geely Okavango

Dubbed as the NLEX Lakbay Norte, the partnership aims to revive the tourism industry after hitting rock bottom when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country last March 2020. The media familiarization tour showcases destinations and culture highlights in North and Central Luzon. This November, Pampanga was chosen to be the travel destination.

“Ever since, Geely has been putting a high premium on safety for its vehicles. We’ve always been vocal about equating value with safety by putting our minds [to] the drivers and passengers in every vehicle we introduce to the market. We want to give them peace of mind in every Geely drive,” said SGAP President and CEO Yosuke Nishi.

Geely Okavango on the road

Geely supports the local economy

One of the vehicles Geely Philippines showcases is its largest offering, the Okavango. Considering that children are now allowed to go out, the Okavango is capable of hauling Filipino families with its 7-seating configuration. It also offers a panoramic sunroof so passengers can enjoy the outdoor ambiance.

For a safer drive on long trips, the Geely Okavango is installed with safety features such as six airbags, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), 360-degree view camera, hill descent control, hill start assist, electronic stability control, and tire pressure monitor.

Meanwhile, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista expressed his delight over their partnership with Geely Philippines. He said, “we are happy with the partnership with Geely as we both strive to provide safe and convenient travel to the public, as well as support economic recovery through tourism.”

NLEX toll gate

NLEX Lakbay Norte's story continues

The toll road company continues to find ways to make traveling more convenient. One of which is the construction of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road that will connect Sta. Mesa and Caloocan Interchange. This aims to provide better access to areas up north without running through heavy traffic in Manila.

Discover more automotive updates on Philkotse’s News section.

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

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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.

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