In Malaysia, the seven-seat SUV segment is very popular and the current models doing well starts with the Mazda CX-8 which sells from RM179,960.
Then there is Hyundai Santa Fe which retails from RM169,888, the recently launched Toyota Fortuner priced at RM172,244 and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace at RM165,000.
These four SUVs are new models and they are all locally assembled.
Now, if you move up the financial ladder, there is the Mercedes GLB which was launched just a few months ago and is priced from RM269,118 and let’s not forget the refreshed Volvo XC90 priced from RM373,888 and upwards.
All the above are popular in one way or another with Malaysians wanting to drive SUVs. Having a third row of seating adds to its appeal.
Geely’s new SUV
Now comes news that Geely is about to unveil its latest SUV. This new model comes with three rows of seats and a very Volvo-looking design.
To explain further, Geely owns Volvo cars, so having a shared designed studio means having similar handsome-looking vehicles all in one space.
Moreover, Geely has shared engine facilities, therefore you can expect a range of powertrains to include a plug-in hybrid, full electric and also a petrol turbocharged engine.
This is Geely’s third Volvo CMA-based vehicle and this new large and well equipped Geely SUV is headed to production by the third quarter of this year.
Naming the SUV
Codenamed, the ‘KX11’, this CMA platform based SUV, which is the same platform used with the Volvo XC40, Geely Xing Yue and the Geely Preface sedan, shares its external dimensions with the all-new Geely large Hao Yue SUV.
The Geely Hao Yue is a D-Segment SUV measuring 4,835 mm long and 1,900 mm wide.
What’s more, the Hao Yue’s design makes full use of the space where its powertrain and engineering take up minimum room while the cabin space occupies 69% of the total vehicle, around 6-8% more than the industry average.
Powering the SUV
Powering the new Geely KX11 will be a two-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine which comes from the Geely Xing Yue Sports Crossover. This is a 2.0L four-cylinder engine based on Volvo Car technology.
This 2.0L meets the world’s most stringent emissions standards, including China 6b and Euro 6d, while offering a maximum power of 235 bhp and peak torque of 350 Nm, matched with an eight-speed Aisin automatic transmission.
This powertrain combination allows the Xing Yue crossover to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in just 6.8 seconds.
In the KX11 SUV you might get a slightly less exciting 0-100km/h dash due to the added vehicle weight.
SUV’s debut
Geely’s new SUV is slated for official debut at the 2021 Auto Shanghai show on April 19. The production is expected to begin in the third quarter, and the first cars should ship globally before the year ends.
Will it arrive in Malaysia with a Proton badge? We will have to wait and see.
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