A meeting of Geelys: Azkarra vs. Okavango

To clinch the highest spots in the sales charts, it's likely that Geely made sure its band of products come in crossover form. Alongside the Azkarra and Okavango, the Geely trio is fronted by the Coolray subcompact crossover. 

The Coolray is no doubt the most popular of the group, as it led the brand’s sales performance with a total of 1,312 units sold in H1 2021, and remaining the best-seller in its class. The introduction of the Sport Limited trim could boost the Coolray's appeal. 

But the Azkarra and Okavango are far from being the forgotten members of the range. The Azkarra compact SUV and the Okavango, which the carmaker describes as a cross between an SUV and MPV, both possess their own specialties. 

Underneath the Azkarra's butch appearance is a real-time all-wheel drive (AWD) system, that when paired to gadgets such as hill start assist and hill hold control, deal with slippery and rough terrain. With the SUV's AWD, its five occupants are bound to travel on roads less traveled. 

In the Okavango, form follows function as its longer body brings with it a third row of seats, bringing the vehicle's total capacity to seven. When the Okavango is needed to carry cargo instead of a crowd, the third- and second-row pews fold flat to create a flat load area, a manufacturer-claimed 2,050 liters of space. 

As usual for a Geely, the Azkarra and Okavango are equipped with tech toys such as a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree exterior camera, touchscreen infotainment, and electric tailgate. 

Under the two Geely vehicles' hoods are powertrains that are equally as advanced. The entry-level Azkarra is powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, which punches above its weight with a turbo. The Okavango range is fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, which is mated to a 48-volt Electric Motor Synergy to create a mild hybrid system. 

The goal of the EMS and the hybrid system is to save fuel. To achieve that, the gasoline engine charges the EMS at cruising speeds, or when the vehicles' brakes are applied. When the EMS is fully charged, it can provide an additional power to the engine. During idle, the engine shuts off, another fuel-saving feature. 

Aside from mild hybrid tech and price point, entry-level Azkarra and top-spec Okavango are similar—and different—in many ways. The spec sheets of these models will show just that. 

 

SPECIFICATIONS	Geely Azkarra Premium	Geely Okavango Urban Plus
Vehicle type	Crossover	Crossover MPV
Length (mm)	4,544	4,835
Width (mm)	1,831	1,900
Height (mm)	1,713	1,785
Displacement (cc)	1,477	1,499
Engine type	1.5TD Turbocharged 3-cylinder DOHC	1.5-liter turbocharged DVVT Direct-Injection engine
Transmission type	6-Speed Automatic	7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission
Electric Motor Synergy System (EMS)	Without	With
Maximum power output (hp)	177	190
Maximum torque (Nm)	255	300
Fuel Type	Gasoline	Gasoline
Drive Type	2WD	2WD
Suspension	(Front) MacPherson Strut and Coil Suspension (Rear) Multi-link	(Front) MacPherson Strut (Rear) Torsion Beam
Headlamps	Full LED	ABD Matrix LED
Daytime running lights (DRLs)	LED	LED
Wipers	With (Rear Window)	Intelligent rain-sensing
Wheels	18-inch alloy wheels	18-inch alloy wheels (continental design)
Seating capacity (number of persons)	5	7
Seats	(Driver) 6-Way Power (Passenger Seat) 4-Way Manual Adjust (Rear Seats)- 60:40 Folding with Two Position Recline	(Driver) 6-Way Power (Passenger Seat) 4-Way Power (Third-row seats) With 50:50 split
Seating material	PVC	PVC Leather
Steering type	Electric Power Steering with 3 modes	Power steering
Central Console	With	With
CN95 cabin filter	Without	With
Air conditioning system	Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control	With (Three-Zone)
Heater	With	With
Drive Mode Selector	With	With
Burglar Alarm	With	With
Infotainment system	12.3-inch, 720p, Phone Interaction	10.25-inch with QD Link
Speakers	With (8)	With
Electronic Parking Brake	With	With
Smart Electric Tailgate with Angle Memory	Without	With
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	Without	With
360-degree camera	With	With
SRS Airbags	With	With (6)
Traction Control System	With	With
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)	With	With
Auto Brake Hold	With	With
Hill Hold Control	With	With
Hill Start Assist	With	With
Hill Descent Control	With	With
Available Colors	White, Blue, Silver, Red, Black	Storm Grey, Porcelain White, Luna Silver, Marble Black
PRICE	P1,438,000	P1,478,000

 

Photos from Sojitz G Auto Philippines