Cushy 7-seater skirmish: GAC M6 Pro vs. Geely Okavango

The multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment is arguably one of the most significant in the Philippine market. 

While they aren’t as adventure-oriented as sports utility vehicles (SUV), MPVs can still provide a cushy three-row interior space. Most MPVs also tend to be more affordable than SUVs and, at the same time, provide better on-road ride quality by virtue of their more pliant suspension systems. 

Most car brands are well acquainted with the strengths of MPVs, as such, veterans such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai have each maintained an entry into the said segment. Brands that are newer to the market, such as GAC Motor and Geely, have managed to keep up by bringing in their own respective nameplates. 

For GAC Motor Philippines, it launched the M6 Pro back in 2024. Geely, meanwhile, introduced the Okavango a fair bit earlier back in 2020. 

So, the question now is: how does the GAC M6 Pro fare against the Geely Okavango in terms of specifications? Let’s find out here by comparing the M6 Pro GL against the Okavango Urban Plus - the top-spec trims of their respective lineups. 

Tale of the tape

Before we dive deep into the features and mechanical details of the GAC M6 Pro GL and Geely Okavango Urban Plus, let’s compare their dimensions. 

For the sake of convenience, here is a table pitting their measurements side-by-side: 

Model	GAC M6 Pro GL	Geely Okavango Urban Plus
Length (in millimeters)	4,793	4,835
Width (in mm)	1,837	1,900
Height (in mm)	1,730	1,785
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,810	2,815
Ground clearance (in mm)	205	194

 

Per the figures listed in the table above, the Geely nameplate is slightly larger overall compared to the GAC. The difference in wheelbase length and ground clearance, however, is somewhat marginal. 

 

To note, taking stock of a vehicle’s size is crucial for buyers. For one thing, looking at dimensions can provide you with an idea of how roomy the vehicle is. It can also help you determine is the car you’re looking to buy can even fit inside your garage or not. 

Exterior

When it comes to exteriors, both the GAC M6 Pro GL and the Geely Okavango Urban Plus have elegant-looking exteriors that represent each brand’s current directions in automotive design. The Geely, of course, has the “expanding cosmos grille,” while the GAC has a humungous slatted grille with plenty of chrome. 

Features-wise, both get LED headlamp clusters, LED daytime running lamps, automatic headlamp functionality, and LED rear combination lamps. Also common between the two are power-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and a panoramic sunroof. 

The two large MPVs also ride on a set of 18-inch wheels. Exclusive to the Geely nameplate, however, are equipment such as front foglamps, roof rails, and a power tailgate. On the one hand, the GAC offers its users privacy glass for the second row and rear windows. 

Interior

Inside the two MPV nameplates are three-row seating configurations with ample space for up to seven occupants. Both also have neatly arranged cockpits with logically placed control surfaces, as well as plenty of soft-touch surfaces. 

To keep their occupants cool even in the sunniest weather, the GAC and the Geely MPV both get automatic air-conditioning systems. The one on the M6 Pro, however, is a dual-zone unit, while the Okavango has a triple-zone climate control system. Both also have rear vents, but only the GAC model features a Particulate Matter 1.0 filter and an air quality sensor. 

For their seats, both get leather upholstery. The two rides were also equipped with power-adjustable driver’s seats, though only the Geely was provided with a power-adjustable seat for the front passenger. On the one hand, the GAC’s front seats have a heating functionality, which is absent from the Geely. 

Moving on to infotainment systems, the top-spec GAC M6 Pro has a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. The said screen is linked to an eight-piece speaker system, and it also has USB and Bluetooth connectivity. 

The top-spec Geely Okavango, meanwhile, has a 10.25-inch touchscreen connected to an eight-piece speaker system. Instead of the familiar smartphone connectivity software, it uses the screen-mirroring QDLink application. 

As a side note, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are crucial for the modern-day driver. It makes linking a phone to an automotive infotainment system easier since the two are already baked into current smartphones. In this point of comparison, only the M6 Pro has Apple CarPlay, but it does lack Android Auto. Both displays on the two MPVs, however, are the same size and have the same amount of speakers. 

On the flip side, the GAC MPV features a smaller seven-inch digital gauge cluster compared to the 12.3-inch instrument cluster on the Geely model. 

Other equipment common between the two MPVs includes an ambient lighting system, a push-to-start button, an electronic parking brake, an auto brake hold feature, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel - among others. 

Safety

When it comes to their basic safety kits, both the GAC and the Geely family-friendly rides come with a comprehensive collection of features. 

Present in the two models are the following safety-oriented bits: 

• Anti-lock braking
• Rear parking sensors
• Hill-start assist
• Hill-descent control
• Tire pressure monitoring
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Stability control
• Engine immobilizer
• 360-degree view camera

The GAC M6 Pro GL, however, does come with a collection of advanced driver assist systems, which are not present on the Geely. Specifically, it was kitted out with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, high beam assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, and forward collision warning. 

Engine

For its engine, the GAC M6 Pro GL utilizes a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline mill paired with a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission, sending power to its front wheels. At maximum, the aforementioned powertrain can generate up to 174 horsepower (hp) and 270 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. 

In comparison, the Geely Okavango Urban Plus comes standard with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine coupled with a 48-volt electric motor. The mild hybrid system can produce 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The Geely is also a front-wheel-drive vehicle with a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission. 

Based on the figures above, the Geely Okavango puts out significantly more horsepower and torque than the GAC M6 Pro. Additionally, it may also return better fuel mileage due to its mild hybrid system. 

Other than the aforementioned, both MPVs utilize a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam-type rear end. The two also get front and rear discs for stopping power. 

Here is a table comparing the mechanical specifications of the GAC M6 Pro and the Geely Okavango: 

Model	GAC M6 Pro GL	Geely Okavango Urban Plus
Engine	1.5-liter inline-4 turbocharged gasoline	1.5-liter inline-3 turbocharged gasoline
Transmission	Seven-speed wet-type dual clutch
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	174	190
Torque	270 Nm	300 Nm
Hybrid system	-	48-volt electric motor
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Torsion beam
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Price

The Philippine-spec GAC M6 Pro has two variants. The entry-level GS trim retails for P1.278 million, while the top-of-the-line GL is priced at P1.598 million.

The Geely Okavango, on the other hand, has three variants: the entry-level Comfort, the mid-spec Urban, and the top-spec Urban Plus. Currently, the said trims have a price ranging from P1.523 million-P1.765 million. 

Final thoughts

Like we always say when comparing cars, both the GAC M6 Pro and the Geely Okavango have their own unique strengths. In the case of the two MPVs, the GAC has a better safety kit, while the Okavango has heaps more power. 

Reading off specifications from the internet, however, is just the beginning for serious would-be car buyers. So, if you’re really in the market for an MPV, it would be a good idea to give the two models mentioned above a test drive. 

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