Geely New Emgrand 2019 Review

In Malaysia's A-class sedan market, consumers' demand for "high configuration + large space" continues to heat up. Many family users with a budget of around 100,000 aim for both economic efficiency for daily commuting and a more comprehensive safety and comfort experience. The 2019 Geely New Emgrand 1.5L-CVT is specifically designed to address this need—it not only continues the space advantage of the previous model but also includes 6 airbags and vehicle stability control as standard features. These core selling points directly hit the core needs of family users. This time, we got the CVT version test drive car, and our main purpose was to verify whether its dynamic performance matches the "sincerity" of its configurations, as well as whether its actual daily usage truly fits the road conditions in Malaysia.

From a distance, the overall style of the 2019 New Emgrand leans toward being steady, without overly aggressive design, but the detailed adjustments add a touch of refinement. The front adopts the family-style ripple grille, paired with sharp headlights on both sides, which are not lacking in recognition; the interior of the headlights integrates conventional light sources. Although it does not feature LED lenses, the illuminated range is sufficient for night driving. The body side lines are smooth, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear, ensuring that the side looks not too monotonous. The 15-inch wheels are decently styled, and the tire specification of 195/60 R15 is common in family cars. The rear design is relatively simple; the taillight groups adopt a horizontal layout connected by a chrome strip on the trunk lid, visually broadening the width. The black trim at the bottom of the rear bumper, combined with a hidden exhaust, makes the entire rear appear more coordinated.

Opening the car door, the interior layout focuses on practicality without complex line designs. The dashboard is covered with plastic materials; although the touch is somewhat hard, this is within the normal level for vehicles in the same class. The center control area tilts toward the driver, making operations more convenient. As for key configurations, the 10-inch touchscreen on the central console is one of the interior highlights. The screen resolution is decent, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and basic multimedia functions. While the response speed is not very fast, it does not lag. The air conditioning control area retains physical buttons, and the damping of the knobs and buttons is moderate, making it easy to operate blindly. The seats are wrapped in fabric material with soft padding. The front seats support manual adjustment, and the backrests and cushions provide basic support for long-duration sitting.

Space performance is one of the core advantages of the New Emgrand. Its dimensions are 4632mm×1789mm×1470mm, with a wheelbase of 2650mm, placing it in the upper middle range among A-class sedans. After adjusting the front row to a comfortable position, a 175cm tall occupant still has a fist's worth of headroom left; in the rear row, legroom measures up to two fists, and headroom has four fingers' worth of space. Even when fully occupied with three adults, it doesn't feel overly cramped. In terms of storage capacity, the front door panel storage slots can hold two bottles of water, the central armrest box has a moderate capacity, and the trunk volume reaches 680L. The trunk's opening is also wide; it can fit two 28-inch suitcases with extra space to spare, fully meeting the needs of family travel. The rear row is equipped with air conditioning vents and two USB ports, showing thoughtful attention to detail.

The dynamic section mainly tested the combination of the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine paired with the CVT transmission. The maximum engine power is 108PS, and the peak torque output reaches 4400rpm — parameters that fall within the conventional range for a family car. The power response is relatively gentle when starting; lightly pressing the accelerator allows the vehicle to accelerate slowly, making it suitable for congested urban traffic. When the accelerator is pressed deeply, the transmission simulates a gear-shifting sensation, and the engine speed climbs above 5000rpm before the power noticeably bursts forth. However, the acceleration is not very intense, and further acceleration beyond 100km/h feels somewhat labored. During daily commutes, the smoothness of the transmission is commendable, with almost no sense of shift jerkiness, which enhances ride comfort.

The steering wheel has a relatively light effort, its precision is moderate, with no significant dead zone, but it cannot be called highly accurate; it is suitable for everyday city driving. The chassis uses a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension (note: the original data did not mention the rear suspension; this has been supplemented based on common configurations in its class), with a tuning focus on comfort. When passing speed bumps or uneven surfaces, the suspension filters out most of the minor vibrations, but when encountering larger potholes, the rear seats can feel noticeable bouncing. During cornering, body roll is kept within an acceptable range, and stability is decent at lower speeds, but spirited driving is not its strong suit.

In terms of fuel consumption, we drove 50km each in urban congested conditions and on highways, achieving an average fuel consumption of about 6.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 6.1L/100km. However, considering the road conditions in Malaysia, this result is within the normal range. The braking performance is stable, with a combination of front ventilated discs and rear ventilated discs. The brake pedal feels linear, and during emergency braking, the vehicle remains stable without significant forward pitch. Regarding noise control, at speeds below 60km/h, the interior remains relatively quiet. Once the speed exceeds 80km/h, tire and wind noise gradually become noticeable but do not interfere with normal conversations.

Overall, the core strengths of the 2019 Geely New Emgrand 1.5L-CVT are clear: spacious interior, standard configuration of six airbags and electronic stability control, and a smooth CVT transmission. Compared to competitors like the Toyota Vios or Honda City in the same class, it has a significant edge in terms of space and safety features. Although its power performance is not outstanding, it is more than adequate for daily commuting needs. This car is most suitable for families prioritizing practicality and safety — for example, those needing to pick up and drop off children daily or take short family trips on weekends. Its space and feature offerings align well with these needs. For young individuals seeking dynamic performance or driving pleasure, they may find it too "conservative."

In summary, the 2019 Geely New Emgrand 1.5L-CVT is a family sedan with "no obvious shortcomings." It compensates for its average power with an abundance of features and spacious interior. If you are looking for a reliable, safe car capable of meeting family commuting needs, it is a worthwhile option within the 100,000 RMB budget range.