Test drive Geely Xingyue L: Strong power, stable chassis, sufficient toughness, and no loss of joint venture in playability.
In 2023, the China market continues to present a situation of "the strong will always be strong". If there are any significant changes in the China market in recent years, except for the continuous outbreak of new energy vehicles, it is the competition between independent brands and joint venture brands. Even though some middle and lower reaches brands are eliminated, representative mainstream independent brands such as Geely Automobile have made great strides all the way, and their overall performance in the China market has been continuously improved. According to the data released by the Association, Geely Automobile 2023.
In addition, compared with the low-end market in the past, China car companies are constantly attacking the high-end market. In addition to launching brand-new high-end brands, they have also launched high-end serial products for the main brand to boost the brand image. Since the birth of Geely China Star series products, it has quickly opened up the market for Geely Automobile. The Xingyue L we test-drive today is one of the "pillar" products of China Star series.
High face value/large space, more comfortable vision/touch.
From the past to the present, the evolution of design style is also an important part of the continuous progress of China’s automobile industry. As a mainstream independent brand, Geely’s product design has always carried a sense of freehand brushwork in China’s traditional aesthetics from the previous "ripple of water pattern" to the "symphony of time and space" of Star Yue L.
The front face of the Star Yue L adopts a straight waterfall-shaped polygonal air intake grille, and the chrome trim around the middle net is matched with Geely’s flat black LOGO, which inspires a younger atmosphere. A pair of angular matrix LED headlights are simple and unique, which makes the overall momentum of the Star Yue L more sufficient, while the front enclosure is decorated with chrome, which outlines the fangs-shaped shape and adds a bit of recognition to the whole vehicle.
Viewed from the side, the car body outlined by a large number of curved surfaces is very trendy. A high waistline extends from the "eye tail" of the headlights to the tail, which is matched with five-blade wheels to create a good sporty atmosphere. The side skirts, B-pillars, roof lines and other places are decorated with bright silver trim strips. Based on the glossy car paint, the Star Yue L car has a natural high-end feeling.
In addition, the body dimensions of Xingyue L are 4770mm, 1895mm and 1689mm, respectively, and the wheelbase is 2845 mm. The single parameter is ahead of its peers. In actual riding, an adult male with a height of about 180cm adjusts his sitting posture after sitting in the front row, and his head is about 1-2 punches away from the roof.
Thanks to its flat roof line, it is seated in the back row, and the space between the head and the roof is not much different from that in the front row. There is still more than one punch, and the knee is about 2-3 punches away from the front row. At the same time, the rear seat cushion is slightly inclined, which can share more gravity for the body and make the riding experience more relaxed and comfortable. In addition, the flat rear platform will not cause too much impact on the riding sensation of the rear passengers even if it is full.
The cockpit is full of materials and has good quietness.
When building high-end products, China brand has always given sufficient materials and configuration. When sitting in the L cockpit of Xingyue, the simple and refreshing design makes people feel comfortable. The front of the central control panel, the left and right door handles and other key areas are all covered with soft touch, and the yacht-style gear handle is in the right position, making it easier to control when sitting in the driver’s seat.
The "Science and Technology Atmosphere Group" composed of 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel, 12.3-inch central control panel and 12.3-inch auxiliary driver’s screen is visually pleasing to the eye. With the help of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, it is also smooth and smooth to operate. Xingyue L is equipped with Geely Yinhe 0S system, and its simple UI logic is clear. With a few physical buttons, it is convenient to adjust the air conditioning temperature and music volume.
The voice interactive system that can be awakened by "Hello, Geely" is very sensitive and can accurately identify our voice commands and respond quickly. In addition, our test drive model this time is Xingyue L 2023 two-wheel drive flagship, which is equipped with a 10-speaker Yanfei Lishi audio system.
On the way to the test drive, you can feel that the overall NVH performance of Xingyue L is good. When the window is closed, the wind noise and tire noise are blocked out, and a few popular music are randomly requested through voice control, which is also a kind of enjoyment in the quiet cockpit. You can also watch the current movies and TV series through the entertainment screen of the co-pilot. Long-distance travel will never be boring.
In addition, Xingyue L is also equipped with driving AIDS such as full-speed adaptive cruise, 360 panoramic image+chassis perspective, lane departure warning, lane keeping, road traffic sign recognition, front collision warning, active braking, etc. Therefore, the overall test drive experience is easy enough whether it is on congested urban roads, expressways, highways or even parking.
Strong power, stable chassis and high playability in driving and control.
As a new model launched by the L family of Xingyue at the beginning of this year, the 2023 two-wheel drive flagship model we test-drive is equipped with a 2.0T high-power turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 175kW and a peak torque of 350N·m, and the transmission is matched with the 8AT automatic manual transmission. After actual measurement, the acceleration of this version of the model is as fast as 7.5s, which is ahead of most medium-sized SUVs including joint ventures.
The previous 2.0T medium-power version has a maximum power of 160kW and a peak torque of 325N·m, and the transmission is matched with the 7DCT wet dual-clutch gearbox. According to the official data, the acceleration of this version is only 7.9s. In addition, there is a hybrid version equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine and a motor, in which the 1.5T engine has a maximum power of 110kW and a peak torque of 225N·m, and is matched with a special DHT for 3-speed hybrid.
At the initial acceleration stage, Xingyue L’s power performance is brisk, and the abundant power comes immediately after stepping on the accelerator pedal. The powerful power allows us to cope easily when facing the slopes of steep mountain roads. If you pursue speed and passion, the strong feeling of pushing your back with one foot throttle makes people’s adrenaline soar instantly, and they feel physically stimulated and psychologically comfortable.
In addition, Xingyue L is equipped with multiple modes, such as sports, economy, comfort and snow, which can adapt well to different terrain and road conditions. Among them, the overall dynamic response of Xingyue L in sports mode is very enthusiastic. Apart from the strong explosive force shown in the initial stage, it can accelerate overtaking at high speed in one go. This 8AT gearbox can also follow the driver’s operation and actively shift gears. Even if it is used for the first time, it makes people feel that Xingyue L has been with you for many years.
In this test drive, we passed the wall of Shenlong Bay, one of the "Eight Valley Pass" in Shanxi. During this test drive, the mountain road was steep, and some sections were not even equipped with guardrails. Driving on the narrow road dug by the tight cliff made us feel a little nervous. Fortunately, the overall mechanical quality of Xingyue L is very good, and its steering is accurate enough. The good feel brought by the linear change of steering wheel damping makes people more confident to control.
It is reported that in order to better meet the driving habits of users in China, Xingyue L specially adjusted the proportion of the whole vehicle to 50:50, so that the car body can have both sports and comfort, and it is appropriate, and the travel range of the front and rear suspensions is widened to form a better buffer space and give the chassis better toughness. Driving on the mountain road hanging on the wall of Shenlong Bay, even though it is not bumpy to dig most of the roads manually, there are still continuous bends, and the stars are stable all the way, giving people a full sense of security. In addition, there are occasional uneven gravel roads on the road. At this time, Xingyue L fully demonstrated its good vibration filtering ability.
The low center of gravity chassis design based on CMA super matrix structure, and the damping of front and rear shock absorbers are adjusted at the same time, which improves the anti-pitching ability of Xingyue L. In addition, ITT racing brake pads and the latest version of ESP9.3 inhibit the car body from nodding when starting, accelerating and braking. The further stability performance is very friendly to the packages that are prone to carsickness, and the strong braking force can also bring people a more "comfortable" driving experience.
Write at the end: In the past, we always said that building fuel vehicles has many shortcomings compared with self-owned brands of joint venture brands. After the test drive, we can feel that as a "big factory" among China automobile brands, Geely Automobile has gained a lot of experience in optimizing the core power technology and handling of automobiles. It can even be said that the Star Yue L is more playable than some products famous for its handling. This is definitely a product worth trying.