Geely Binyue Reviewed – What Does The Chinese Media Say?

It comes as no surprise that the Geely Binyue will be Proton’s next SUV, as a financial report by Geely Automobile Holdings confirmed that the Binyue will be licensed to Proton. In addition to that, the Geely Binyue has also been sighted on Malaysian roads.

But prior to the model’s introduction here in Malaysia, what does the Chinese media say about Geely’s latest Honda HR-V-rivalling crossover?

According to PCauto, the reviewer sampled the range-topping Binyue 1.5 Sport and mentioned that they recommend the Binyue as the model was developed for young consumers in mind, offering a stylish exterior and interior design, plus packed to the brim with features. In addition to that, the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder and 7-speed DCT also received much praise from PCauto. PCauto concluded their review by saying that the Binyue offers superior price-to-performance ratio in its segment.

BitAuto also shared similar sentiments as PCauto. In BitAuto’s review of the Binyue, they said that the Binyue was engineered for the young consumers in mind. With prices in China ranging from CNY 78,800 to CNY 118,880, the Binyue is priced within the budget of many first-time car buyers. They also said that in its segment, the Binyue offers a lot of features, bundled into a sporty package. BitAuto went as far as to say that the Binyue is worth the purchase.

Photo credit: autohome

As for Autohome, they compiled a word cloud of what owners say about their cars, and majority of the owners like the design of the car, the spaciousness of the cabin, the performance, low fuel consumption, and handling.

Cabin wise, the lack of rear air vents was a sore point for some owners. Interior practicality was also criticized by some owners, saying that the boot space is tight, while others said that storage spaces within the cabin are rather small.

In terms of driving performance, owners enjoy the performance offered by the turbocharged powertrain, but some owners reported that the initial acceleration is sluggish, while vibrations from the three-cylinder engine were noticeable to other owners.

Despite these niggles, the Geely Binyue went on to be the sixth best-selling SUV in China in April, with 12,800 units sold. That number is just behind its bigger brother, the Boyue, which sold 17,500 units in the same month. The larger Boyue was the third best-selling SUV in China last month.

Possibly called the Proton X50 when it goes on sale some time next year, it will challenge the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Renault Captur. With a ballpark price very close to that of a Perodua Aruz (starting price of RM 72,000), the new Proton SUV could attract buyers who appreciate safety and refinement over the practicality of a third-row seat.