The Geely Emgrand EC7 reminds me of a young child that shows you a picture they drew in class one day and you’re taken aback at how good it is.
It’s not artistic but it’s much neater than anything they’ve drawn before, with all the colouring done inside the lines, and you realise your child’s starting to grow up. It’s taken somewhat longer than expected for Chinese cars to mature and finally begin shedding their cheap-and-nasty image, but the Emgrand, launched in South Africa this week, is a car that’s started colouring inside the lines.
With its unadventurous styling it’s as exciting as a pair of beige shoes, but in terms of its refinement and perceived quality it’s a step forward for the Chinese.
Emgrand is the more prestige new sub-brand of Geely and, whereas regular Geely models cater to the bargain-basement segment of the market, the Emgrand EC7 is a mid-size sedan that targets a slightly more discerning clientele.
IMPRESSIVELY ROOMY
This is a family car with an impressively roomy cabin and 680-litre boot, along with a well-stocked features list that includes climate control, electric windows, remote central locking, leather seats, a radio/CD/MP3 audio system, rear parking sensors, daytime running lights, alloy rims, antilock braking and dual front airbags.
The clincher is that the starting price for the GL Luxury model is just R149 990, which is between 70 and 100 grand cheaper than rivals such as the Kia Cerato, Chevrolet Cruze or Hyundai Elantra.
The higher-specced Emgrand EC7 GT Executive for R164 990 comes with four additional airbags, traction control, an electrically-adjustable driver’s seat and an electric sunroof. The peace of mind factor is a five-year or 100 000km warranty, two-year roadside assistance, and a 40-strong dealer network in South Africa. A service plan is optional.
VALUE FOR MONEY
That’s the big drawcard here as the prices are what you’d pay for a second-hand Japanese or Korean rival, and the Emgrand has the feel of a previous-generation Corolla or Elantra in terms of its cabin finish and general refinement. There’s no design pizzazz but the dashboard’s neat with acceptably tight panel gaps, and there’s velour on the doors to give the interior a warmer feel.
The car glides along in a reasonably hushed fashion, with no intrusive noises from the wind or the 1.8-litre petrol engine. Outputs of 102kW and 172Nm serve up respectable commuting and cruising performance, with variable valve timing ensuring the engine doesn’t require ruthless revving to stay in its power band.
WHAT’S TO COMPLAIN ABOUT?
The front wheels do the pulling via a five-speed manual transmission, which shifts with decent smoothness, and the factory claims a sea level 0-100km/h sprint of 10.5 seconds and a 185km/h top speed. My only driving complaints are that the clutch has an unnatural feel that takes some getting used to, and the steering column adjusts for height only, not reach, so I couldn’t find an ideal driving position.
However, ride and handling-wise there’s little to complain about. The EC7 feels safe and settled in quick direction changes, has a well-mannered ride over less-than-perfect roads, and there’s a notable absence of rattles or squeaks when you drive. It seems the winds of change are starting to blow through the Chinese motor industry. - Star Motoring
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