2021 Geely Okavango Urban Plus Review

In such a short span of time, the Geely Okavango captured the hearts of many Filipino buyers. In fact, Geely Philippines’ total Q1 sales this 2021 came from Okavango with a total of 521 units sold. The MPV has managed to cater to the demand for 7-seaters in a ‘wonderfully distinct’ approach. 

Only two trims were launched back in November 2020, namely, Comfort and Urban, fast-forward to February 2021, and Geely Philippines brought in a new range-topping 1.5 AT Urban Plus that comes with all the bells and whistles you could possibly get in an Okavango. That said, is this new top-of-the-line trim worthy of the higher price tag, and do the additions make it even more “wonderfully distinct?” let’s find out.

On the outside, the Geely Okavango Urban Plus doesn’t differ that much from the now mid-grade Urban. Upfront, it still gets the familiar treatment, having the same sleek fascia complemented by the Expanding Cosmos grille along with its all-LED lighting, which by the way has been upgraded with Adaptive Drive Beam (ADB) Matrix LED Headlamps. This means that the headlights turn with you, which is a feature that is seemingly exclusive to only higher-end automobiles. 

Its striking profile continues to the side. There’s a fair share of chrome accents along with some black cladding. It also has the same set of 18-inch alloys wrapped in 225/55 Continental tires. Many would’ve mistaken this as a midsize crossover simply because it doesn’t look much like an MPV especially on its side, not to mention, it sits 194 mm off the ground, which is actually a good thing especially for drivers looking for SUV-like ground clearance to avoid imperfections on the road. 

Like the front, the rear gets an all-LED lighting system as well that looks pretty darn good at night. In between the taillights, it's got a silver garnish accent with embossed ‘Geely’ lettering—a design cue that’s also found on both of its smaller stablemates. Moreover, the application of the black cladding continues over to the rear that greatly emphasizes its crossover DNA. Overall, the Geely Okavango has an imposing exterior that should not only appeal to titos but also to those young professionals as well. 

Compared with the Coolray and Azkarra, the Geely Okavango feels the most utilitarian among the bunch, we affirm this because the interior doesn’t feel as plush. Despite that, the plastics still have a good feel to it and it’s not cheap, rather it feels durable and should stand the test of time—plus it should be easier to clean. Like the mid-tier variant, the Urban Plus also has leather-upholstered seats with white contrast stitching, giving it a dash of premium.

You get a lot of space inside, and it’s seriously colossal for its segment. Both front and middle-row occupant get ample space. The individual-seating layout on the second row does allow it to accommodate three passengers comfortably, moreover, the third row did surprise us given its usable space for medium-sized adults. Even someone 5 foot 11 in height won’t mind spending a bit of time on the Okavango’s rear-most seats. Also, opting for the Urban Plus trim adds a large panoramic sunroof that does let a lot of light into the cabin.

As expected, the cargo area also has generous space for your precious items. With all the seats in place, you have 257-liters of space, fold the third-row it’ll expand to 1,200-liters. Drop the second-row and its cargo figures will be maximized to over 2,000-liters of space.

Thanks to the fully independent front and rear suspension, ride and comfort are sublime. Even at 60 km/h, going through bumps isn't much of a chore for the Okavango. Another thing to praise is the NVH, as road and wind noise was kept minimum. Granted that this is a mild-hybrid, engine noise was well-insulated. Even turning off the radio while driving revealed that the Okavango does have a really quiet and refined ride.

Like the rest of Geely’s lineup, the Geely Okavango is also rich in features. Standard equipment on the range-topping trim include a push-start button along with smart-keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, climate control for rear occupants, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, steering-wheel-mounted controls, cruise control, a 360-degree camera with parking sensors, power-adjustable seats for front occupants, and it even comes with remote start.

The Okavango Urban Plus also includes a different digital gauge cluster that’s more customizable than the one found on the model’s other trims. Likewise, the setup and color of the digital display change once you shift through the different driving modes.

As for in-car entertainment, it also comes with the same 10.25-inch infotainment system paired with an 8-speaker sound system. It comes with various multimedia functions, however, it doesn’t come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but don’t worry, Geely still loaded the Okavango’s infotainment system with a screen mirroring app called QDLink. While it may not be as seamless and as user-friendly as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it certainly does its job. 

Standard safety and security features on the Geely Okavango Urban Plus include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), stability control, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, immobilizer, tire pressure monitor, 6 airbags which includes side and curtain units, ISOFIX child seat anchors, a 360-degree camera, and parking sensors.

Its slew of safety equipment also includes the more advanced ADB Matrix LED Headlamps. This upgraded lighting system has 4 modes, self-adjusting high and low beams, adaptive front lighting with steering linkage, and an automatic leveler. 

Despite its extensive dimensions, the Geely Okavango is easily manageable, it actually didn’t take long for us to adjust with its size. The 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine combined with a 48-Volt electric motor happens to be some combo found on the Azkarra 4WD, producing a healthy 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque, its mill is mated to a 7-speed wet Dual-clutch Transmission (DCT).

Given the larger and heavier body, the Okavango is not as spirited as the Coolray and Azkarra. Still, the numbers are more than enough for it to perform well both in the city and highway. It’s not as speedy but it handles well and does feel very planted, plus, its chassis is more on the rigid side, thereby proving that the Okavango is one well-built machine. 

Switching through the different modes does affect both its performance and fuel economy. Engaging the sport mode gives the Okavango a bit of zest, however, that added punch could lower your fuel-economy figures. Eco, on the other hand, does save up your fuel, however, it tones down the performance and affects the air conditioning system. Lastly, the normal mode is by far the most balanced setting among the three, giving the Okavango just the right amount of power without greatly affecting its fuel economy.

In the city, the Geely Okavango did 8 km/L during stop-and-go traffic. Once the road cleared up a bit, city figures went up to 12 km/L. While speeding at about 80 km/h on the highway registered 17 km/L.

It’s truly understandable why many Filipinos choose the Okavango. The MPV exhibits a fine mixture of practical amenities along with technological features that’ll surely make the driving or passenger experience even more pleasurable. Plus, the small yet potent powertrain rewards drivers with sufficient power along with impressive fuel-economy figures.

Notably, this Urban Plus variant does live up to its tagline of being “wonderfully distinct even more”. At only P1,478,000, the range-topping variant gives you all the bells and whistles you could possibly get on this MPV including the large panoramic sunroof, the more advanced digital gauges, and the ADB Matrix headlamps that does elevate the overall safety of the vehicle.