Once upon a time there were two Chinese: we compare Haval Jolion and Geely Coolray

China continues to actively occupy the rather “thinner” Russian automotive market, even if it is in no hurry to offer pleasant prices in addition to a decent assortment. The Haval and Geely brands are doing particularly well. Both are sold every year in large volumes and set records. All models are interesting in one way or another, but today I would like to compare two compact crossovers in the face of Jolion and Coolray with Haval and Geely nameplates, respectively. Why are they so good?

Exterior

About 10-20 years ago, it was still possible to operate with the concept of "Asian design", applying it to a car with a frankly cheap and tasteless body design. Today, it’s simply impossible to say the same thing, as the Chinese automotive industry does not stand still. Both crossovers look modern and fresh enough, and most importantly - each of them has its own recognizable image.


Geely Coolray is about a moderately strict and aggressive design with a cunning squint of the headlights and a sharp radiator grille. Numerous broken body lines, sharp ribs on the engine compartment lid, biting accents on the front bumper, sharp stampings are a small part of what draws the eye to the crossover. This is complemented by a contrasting two-tone body color.


The Haval Jolion has a more "calm" exterior compared to its competitor, but it definitely can't be called boring. The car sits on 18-inch rims against 17-inch Geely Coolrays, has deep-cut air intakes on the front bumper, a straight grille, and an elegant roof slope. The crossover looks confident, solid and in a sense grown up. In other matters, this does not prevent him from being popular, including among the younger population.

Dimensions

Haval differs from Coolray in general in larger dimensions and capacity. Its dimensions are 3372x1841x1574 mm versus 4330x1800x1609 mm for a competitor. Wheelbase of 2700mm compared to Geely's 2600mm wheelbase. At the same time, a large crossover is slightly inferior in terms of ground clearance: 190 versus 196 mm, respectively, and this despite the fact that it stands on larger wheels. The equipped weight of Haval is 1445 kg, Geely has 1415 kg. As for the volume of the luggage compartment, the discrepancy is not very serious - 280 against 264 liters.


It is worth noting that the trunks of both models are quite modest in size, even for the class of compact crossovers. To transport bulky goods, the driver will need to fold the back of the rear row. After that, in both cases, more than 1000 liters of free space are released.

Dynamics

Haval Jolion is equipped with one of two petrol engines to choose from. Both have a volume of 1,5 liters and a capacity of 143 or 150 hp. With. A more powerful motor is installed only on the all-wheel drive version of the crossover. In the basic configuration, only front-wheel drive is available. There are two boxes to choose from: standard mechanical or preselective robotic. Both are available even in the database.

Geely Coolray is equipped with only one engine option - a 1,5-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 150 hp. With. The drive is exclusively front, against which Haval once again looks more profitable. Geely is only available with a preselective gearbox. The advantage of a crossover over a competitor lies in low fuel consumption.

Interior

For a long time, the interior was considered the “Achilles heel” of Chinese-made cars, and we can explain this by the fact that Asians in general are not very tall. Nevertheless, both heroes of today's review do not constrain either the driver or the passenger. Of course, the Geely Coolray offers slightly less interior space than the Haval Jolion due to its sportier profile and shorter wheelbase, which is offset by its more contrasting two-tone design.


Jolion definitely captivates with the ability to freely sit on any of the available rows of seats. The seats seem to be specially molded for people with growth above average, so you won’t have to endure any discomfort in your legs or shoulders. A number of options are available to the driver and passengers, including electronic adjustment and seat heating, climate control, sockets for gadgets and plenty of storage space already in the “base”. The "top" has dual-zone climate control and a leather multifunction steering wheel.


Coolray received front seats with electric adjustment, solid plastic and eco-leather trim. An excellent panorama opens from the salon through the roof, in which the hatch is also made. Heating is available for all seats, there is a leather multifunction steering wheel, atmospheric lighting. Front and rear windows have built-in heating. Rear passengers have access to a flat floor, separate lighting, cup holders both in the central armrest and in the cards of both doors behind.


The Geely crossover is somewhat inferior to the Haval Jolion in terms of comfort for the rear passengers, if they are quite high - this is a retribution for a sporty profile with an underestimated rear of the roof. Even in the top configuration, climate control remains single-zone, and in general, the functionality of the Coolray model is a little more restrained, albeit sufficient for comfortable operation.

Equipment

Haval Jolion surpasses the competitor not only in size, but also in available features. For example, gears can be switched with a selector washer or paddle shifters. The multimedia system has a larger touch screen than Coolray - 12,3 inches versus 10,25 inches. There is a circular camera, a projection display, but all settings are made from the central display.

Some restraint Geely Coolray in terms of technical equipment is more than offset by the ergonomics of the controls. For example, the digital instrument panel lights up in different colors depending on which driving mode is currently selected - "Eco", "Sport" or "Comfort". Many settings can be changed from the steering wheel without even taking your eyes off the road.

About car prices

The recommended retail price of the Haval Jolion crossover in Russia starts at 2,179 million rubles. For this money, you can count on the Comfort package with a 1,5-liter gasoline engine with 143 hp. With. on the "handle" with front-wheel drive. For the top version of Premium with a "robot" and all-wheel drive suspension, you will have to pay at least 2,669 million rubles.


The initial cost of the Geely Coolray crossover in the Comfort package is 1,879 million rubles. Next comes the Luxury version for 2,469 million rubles, and after it the Flagship and its improved version in the face of the Flagship Sport. Their prices start from 2,659 and 2,709 million rubles, respectively. The most “charged” equipment with the name Nero is available at a price of 2,749 million rubles.

Conclusion

Both options definitely deserve the attention of Russian buyers, especially given the difficult situation on the car market in Russia. Haval Jolion is more suitable for people who prioritize options and roominess, therefore, it is a good choice for families as well. Geely Coolray is an option for those who love dynamics and a sporty look, and are ready to sacrifice a little functionality, cabin size and trunk volume for this.