It’s yet another warning about the competition from Chinese brand vehicles. Edmunds.com was able to acquire a three row plug in hybrid SUV from Chinese carmaker Geeley, and came away impressed.
“I just hope this pushes some of the US automakers to maybe reevaluate current strategies,” says Edmunds senior vehicle test editor Reese Counts.
Edmunds took a Geely Galaxy M9 and tested it on the road and the track, looking at everything from zero-60 time, to braking, to overall quality–a 229 point test.
“Theres nothing they need to add or fundamentally change about the vehicle,” said Counts. “You could sell it as it is today.”
The Galaxy M9 can go 100 miles on its battery. After that, the gasoline engine kicks in, meaning a range of more than 800 miles.
Read the Edmunds.com review of the Geely Galaxy M9
Technology includes a refrigerator in the back that can both cool beverages and keep things warm, an external speaker to talk to pedestrians. There’s a flip down screen for rear passengers, and a thirty inch touchscreen in the front.
Counts says it wasn’t just about the amount of technology, but how well it works.
“Everything worked as quickly as it did with a smart phone. It’s easy to navigate, responsive, a lot less frustrating.”
Interior of Geely Galaxy M9
Edmunds
The vehicle sells for around $25,000 in China. Counts says it would probably sell for more than that in a western market, probably in the $40,000 to $50,000 range, which is still less than similar vehicles sold by other carmakers.
For now, Chinese brand vehicles would face large tariffs if they were sold in the US. But, President Trump has hinted that he wouldn’t mind seeing Chinese brand vehicles sold here if they were made in the U.S.
Geely is the one Chinese carmaker that could have a leg up on the competition.
“They own Volvo and Polestar,” says Counts. “Volvo owns a plant in South Carolina. So, theoretically, they’ve already got a manufacturing base here, and a dealer base through Volvo and Polestar. So, they are pretty primed to get any sort of foothold in the US market.”
Geely Galaxy M9 SUV
Edmunds
Many American carmakers have been talking about the tough competition they face from Chinese companies. They have been purchasing Chinese vehicles and examining them part-by-part. So, it’s very possible that many of the attributes that impressed the Edmunds.com staff could start appearing on other brands.
“I would hope they are really investigating this stuff,” said Counts. “It would be foolish to ignore it.”
