2020 Geely Azkarra Premium Review

Geely has indeed formulated a winning recipe for its crossovers, and apart from the renowned Coolray, the Geely Azkarra is also gearing towards success. Admittedly, this compact crossover goes beyond looks, plus, even the entry-level Premium gives buyers the almost-equal desirability of its Hybrid counterpart. So with all that in mind, let’s have an in-depth look at this newbie and see if it surpasses our expectations.

I am probably one of the majority who’d say that this Azkarra is indeed drop-dead gorgeous. I mean just look at it, everything is well-proportioned, given the balanced representation of elegance and youthfulness. We’d definitely say that this is more of a grown-up’s Coolray, although it does appeal to me strongly, maybe it’s because I’m just a self-proclaimed tito? Kidding aside, the overall exterior design did tingle our senses, and we are quite confident that others will appreciate it as well.

In between those sleek LED headlights is the so-called ‘Expanding Cosmos’ grille, a design cue which is also found on the Coolray, although personally. There are also some functional design cues, including those real air intakes found on the bumper. Going through the side, you’ll definitely notice the abundance of chrome details and satin silver finishing which is synonymous with the front. In order to emphasize its profile, the side also has an extensive amount of black plastic cladding which also serves as added protection for your paint. The wheels, on the other hand, measure 18-inches and is wrapped with 225/60 Giti tires.

The strong yet sleek appeal of the Azkarra continues up to the rear, with its taillights having an all-LED setup. Notably, the rear turn signals are sequential which is really nice touch. We just wish the headlights get the same kind of treatment. You also get a rear spoiler and a third brake light to add to the rear. On the rear bumpers, you’ll find the integrated reverse lights and rear fog lights which also sport an LED setup. Lastly, this compact crossover also has real dual exhaust pipes, yes you’ve read it right, it’s real.

To sum it all up, this Geely Azkarra Premium may be the entry-level variant, but it is as equally gorgeous as the range-topping Luxury trim.

Apart from its impressive build quality, the Geely Azkarra does boast in terms of practicality. Space is indeed generous. We managed to fit a person who is 6 foot 4 and he fits perfectly fine at the back, in fact, there were still a few inches of legroom available. Even sitting behind a large individual. We often encounter intrusive transmission tunnels on most vehicles, but in the case of the Azkarra, the floor is almost flat, which allows people to comfortably stay in the middle seat. Practically speaking, there’s a total of 8 cup holders, plus, an additional cooling box on the center console where you can cool your drinks throughout the entire trip, it also gets an additional storage under and beside the shifter. What’s very delightful is the panoramic sunroof which extends all the way to the back seats. While you do lose the wireless charging pad up front, you still get those quirky charging ports for both the front and rear passengers. 

As mentioned, the Azkarra’s build quality is quite impressive, all thanks to the reinforcement of soft touch and durable materials that have a hint of quality. While the silver trim does look good on the cabin, the piano black material is quite frustrating as it is a certified fingerprint and dust magnet. Unlike the range-topping Luxury trim, the Premium variant has PVC upholstered seats, despite that, it still feels and smells like real leather. Worth noting though is that this 2WD variant sports an all-black theme for the interior, unlike the 4WD wherein it gets a contrasting touch of brown Nappa leather seats.

As for cargo, this compact crossover boasts 320-liters of space with the rear seats up. You can also fold the second-row seats and get more space. Though we wish there were electronically operated buttons at the back which would allow you to fold the second-row seats, this should add convenience while loading up the cargo. Then again, that’s just quite minor, and the boot is indeed spacious enough for your daily or even extraordinary agendas.

Part of the refinement package of this Geely Azkarra is its ride and comfort. Inside, the cabin is indeed well-insulated, as minimal road and wind noise can be heard while on cruise. However, you’ll start to notice a bit of tire noise once you get up to high speeds, still quite minimal though, so that should be fine.

The ride on the other hand is complemented by its fully-independent suspension setup, respectively, a strut up front and a multi-link system in the rear. Like most crossovers, the Azkarra cruises with grace, even when going through uneven roads. Its suspension setup does maintain the overall refinement of its ride when going through bumps, therefore lessening the harshness and cabin intrusions felt by the passengers. 

Even the entry-level Premium of the Azkarra is blessed with a generous amount of tech features. The heart of the interior lies at the center stack, where the 12.3-inch GKUI infotainment system is cleverly integrated. Apart from its media purposes, this screen allows you to manipulate other features of the car. While there are physical buttons for climate control, passengers can also manipulate the temperature via the touchscreen. It is also where the 360-degree camera is projected, and positively speaking, it does display crisp and clear graphics. The sound system is quite good too, all thanks to the 8-speaker setup. Sadly, there’s no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it does come with a screen mirroring feature.

Going further, the Azkarra Premium also carries the same digital gauges from the Luxury variant, which displays the necessary information of your vehicle. Plus, you get more complementary features like a 6-way power-adjustable seat for the driver, an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold feature, and an electronic shifter. Lastly, on the steering wheel, you’ll also notice the different buttons which are both used for your infotainment system and cruise control, which is indeed a breeze to use when traversing the highway.

For an entry-level variant, the Geely Azkarra Premium really does not disappoint, in fact, these features kind of heighten its overall value proposition.

As for safety, the Azkarra Premium gives you ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, stability control, and a total of 6 airbags, including the driver, passenger, side, and curtain units. It also gets front and rear parking sensors and the aforementioned 360-degree camera, which is very helpful when parking or even maneuvering in tight spaces.

Apart from these features, it would really be nice if the Azkarra would come with other driver-assist features such as a blind-spot monitoring system, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. But based on its current specs on safety, the Premium variant doesn’t lack, it’s actually quite generous when compared to some of its competitors.

The Azkarra Premium has downrated power figures in comparison with the Luxury trim, despite that, it’s still spirited and peppy. As for the powerplant, this variant of the Azkarra is run by a humble 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, that puts out a substantial 175 hp and  255 Nm of torque. The said mill is then paired with a conventional 6-speed automatic, while power is sent to the front wheels. 

With all honesty, those figures translate to good performance, especially on the highway, overtaking was done smoothly and effortlessly by the Azkarra. The shifting of the transmission was quite precise and was indeed responsive, though there are times that it felt lazy to shift. Although, this pairing did impress me given the immediate and smooth acceleration it delivers. Apart from that, steering was also nice, it’s not too heavy or light, it felt well planted and gives good feedback when turning.

Geely provided the Azkarra with three distinct driving modes, namely Eco, Comfort, and Sport. While Sport may be the most enjoyable and engaging mode of all, it’s still best to remain in Comfort mode, as it gives you the right balance of good performance and good fuel economy. Shifting to Eco mode will indeed reward you with better fuel economy, although its spiritedness will somewhat reduce and your air conditioning system will also be turned down, so it’s best to use this driving mode on the city and not on the highway.

During stop and go city traffic, the Azkarra managed to return 8 km/L, after going through constant speed, the number went up by 11 km/L. We also went to the highway with the Azkarra, and sadly we’ve experienced heavy traffic on toll gates. Despite that, it still managed to return 13 km/L, which is still efficient despite the said condition. Mixed city and highway driving also rendered satisfying results, with the Azkarra remaining good at 12 km/L.

The Geely Azkarra is sure to follow the footsteps of its Coolray sibling, given that both models do share the same winning recipe formulated by the brand. The Hybrid may seem like a more desirable option when buying an Azkarra, but frankly, this Premium variant which is priced at only P1,438,000, is more than enough, as it offers almost all of the amenities found on the Hybrid. You also get good performance along with fuel economy which is indeed a practical factor for a brand new vehicle. 

The Geely Azkarra may be overshadowed by some of the renown nameplates in the segment, but we’re indeed confident that this product will stand out of its own identity, through showcasing its superb build quality and good value proposition.