Head to Head: Changan X7 Plus vs. Geely Okavango

When Geely dropped the Okavango in the Philippines, it was an instant hit. Off the success of the Coolray, Geely’s seven-seater made the rounds in the Philippines and sold extremely well during its time. 

Fast forward to the fourth quarter of this year, Changan answered with its compact seven-seater in the form of the X7 Plus. Naturally, a value-packed challenger in the market will incur a few comparisons and the new entrant needs to go up against the established. Is old still gold or is the new for you? Let’s pit these two crossovers head-to-head in a comparison. 

You have to hand it to Geely’s designers, but you must also credit Changan. Neither brand doesn’t look garish or ugly but both employ a very different motif with the Geely being edgy and boxy, while the Changan is edgy and angular. 

LEDs are all around on both cars which is great for visibility at night and you can also find diodes on the side and the rear of the cars. Following that, the Changan gets bigger wheels over the Geely coming in at 19 inches compared to the Okavango’s 18 inchers. Apart from that, the Expanding Cosmos Grille is squarely set on the face of the Okavango which highlights a very strong and masculine look. The Changan, in comparison, has a very shapely grille that covers most of the front end and has an interesting texture to it. 

It’s neck and neck for both cars as neither Changan nor Geely actually have a distinct advantage over the other. The exterior for both will be a matter of personal preference. However, if you were to run the numbers, the Changan X7 Plus is smaller than the Okavango. The Geely is bigger in all dimensions compared to the Okavango at 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, 1,780mm tall, and on a wheelbase of 2,815mm while the Chngan X7 Plus only comes in at 4,730mm long, 1,870mm wide, 1,720mm tall, and on a wheelbase of 2,786mm. Changan does edge out Geely being 6mm higher off the ground (200mm vs 194mm), but that’s a small difference compared to the massiveness of the Okavango. 

Winner: Okavango 

The interior design is where things get interesting, but not quite. Just like the exterior, Changan uses a more edgy approach to design while Geely sticks with the tough and utilitarian lines. The X7 Plus seems to impart a more elegant design language, albeit with more hardy materials and colors since black on black is a colorway that’s present in the lineup. 

When it comes to quality, however, you can say that the two cars are also both neck and neck but in the case of seats, it’s also another matter of personal preference. For instance, the Changan X7 Plus comes with a traditional 60:40 split-folding second-row bench while the Okavango has three separate seats for its second row. You may argue that the Okavango has a more form-fitted rear seat, but the X7 Plus has something that is more traditional. Either way, they both still seat seven, and given the size of these cars, the rear seats are best reserved for smaller individuals or children. 

As for the rear space, the Okavango takes the win with a max cargo volume of 2,050 liters. The Changan X7 Plus has a usable 1,407 liters if all the seats are folded, but the Okavango’s space is just bigger. When it comes to the rear cargo area, it’s still the same story with the Geely being bigger than the Changan. 

Whether or not you require that space can be determined by your lifestyle. While both will be more than enough for most people and in most situations, the Okavango has more space at the back, leading to its win. Again, it goes back to the dimensions of the car. The Okavango is bigger, so that translates to more interior space. 

Winner: Okavango 

When it comes to tech, both seem evenly matched, although, there are a few things that you need to consider before pulling the trigger.

The X7 has tech features that you can consider to be better than the Okavango. Mainly because of its updated screens. Geely is still running an all-digital display for the driver, but Changan uses a full TFT which is just better. Meanwhile, the infotainment screen of the Okavango is large at 10.25 inches, but the Changan’s spans 12.3 inches which is bigger and brighter. You also get Car Auto in the Changan X7 Plus which is one more smartphone pairing software than the Geely’s that doesn’t list phone mirroring. 

Perhaps the Okavango beats the Changan out with three-zone climate control, a feature that’s mostly found on high-end cars, but when was the last time the temperature in the rear bugged you? It’s a minor up in favor of the Geely, but the Changan still has the basics covered with rear vents and automatic climate control. Apart from that, it’s mostly what you’d expect like keyless entry, a push-start button, and more features like a 360-degree camera system and parking sensors. Safety is more or less equal with the same amount of airbag coverage, and all the braking and stability control tech you need. However, one thing that the Changan X7 Plus does have over the Geely Okavango is the adaptive cruise control function which is a smart system that allows you to cruise with even more peace of mind. The Okavango has cruise control as standard, but the X7 Plus has that and more, creating a bubble of safety around the car. 

Without a doubt, the Geely Okavango has started to show its age, and the lack of adaptive cruise control is one of the reasons why it falls short of the X7 Plus’ feature set. 

Winner: X7 Plus 

There is a mild difference between the two, and that has something to do with the engine. See, Geely fielded a 48V mild-hybrid system in the Okavango, while Changan stuck with gasoline only. Either car will net you good power and torque, but one is a bit peppier than the other.

The Changan features a traditional internal combustion engine that makes 185 hp and 300 Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed DCT. The powertrain makes a decent figure and it has decent pickup thanks to its driving modes. Though, it’s nothing new to those who are used to 1.5 turbos and DCTs.

Even if it was launched way earlier compared to the Changan, Geely takes a more future-forward approach. The Okavango features a three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine mated to a 48V mild hybrid system and a seven-speed DCT. There is an electric motor that assists the engine at lower speeds, and it helps it along with fuel economy in whatever way it can. The Okavango makes the same amount of torque at 300 Nm, but the addition of an electric motor helps the three-cylinder achieve up to 190 hp. 

The Okavango still stands strong in this regard even if it’s about the same as the Changan X7 Plus. It wins by a hair and by a motor because of its mild-hybrid setup. 

Winner: Okavango 

Price-wise, we’re looking at an affordable P1,580,000 for the Changan X7 Plus and P1,765,000 for the top-of-the-line Geely Okavango Urban Plus.

If you dig a little deeper, you will find that you can snag yourself a Geely Okavango in a lower trim for a lot less than the X7’s sole variant. The comfort comes with the basics, but that’s it. A little more and you’re in the Urban’s territory, but even then only one variant out of three is more affordable than the top-of-the-line and well-equipped Changan X7 Plus. 

One variant to rule them all? Perhaps, but it definitely ruled this part of the comparison. 

Winner: X7 Plus 

At the end of the day, you have to consider whether or not the Okavango’s drive and size is worth the extra price. It may win in several aspects due to its sheer mass, but we think that the Changan deserves a shot as well. While it is smaller and while it does have fewer ponies compared to the Okavango, it’s still a value-packed seven-seater that you can count on from the Changan brand. The fact that it is better equipped compared to the Okavango in terms of advanced driving features means that it is definitely worth considering. 

By going with the Okavango, you’ll simply be paying for a more expensive car that is bigger and that feels as premium as other vehicles in the market today. However, the same can be said for the Changan which also features premium build quality, but in a more compact space. Add on more features and even a more affordable price tag and you have a recipe that can genuinely give the Okavango a run for its money. 

Overall Winner: Geely Okavango