Unveiled a little over a month ago, the fifth-generation Geely Emgrand has been launched in China, sold alongside the recently-revised fourth-gen model. The sedan has been made larger and more upmarket while maintaining its status as the carmaker’s most mainstream offering.
The new Emgrand, codenamed SS21 (its predecessor is the SS11), is the first Geely model to ride on the updated BMA Evo platform. This is the successor to the B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) that underpins the Proton X50, enabling the fitment of new hardware, electrical architecture and AI technologies.
This switch has been accompanied by a significant increase in dimensions – measuring 4,815 mm long, 1,885 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, the new Emgrand is 177 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 20 mm taller than the previous model, while its 2,755 mm wheelbase is 105 mm longer. This bumps it up a whole size class, from being a “B-segment plus” model to being over 100 mm longer than even the Honda Civic.
Despite this, however, the BMA underpinnings mean the Emgrand soldiers on with torsion beam rear suspension, rather than an independent setup that is the C-segment norm. Still, there upgrades elsewhere, not least of which can be found under the bonnet.
Here sits one of two engine options – the first is the BHE15PFI 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated and port-injected four-cylinder in high-output 120 PS/150 Nm BHE15-CFN tune, only recently making its debut in the previous Emgrand (and the new Proton Saga). This is mated to a CVT with a simulated eight-speed mode.
The other new engine option is the BHE15TD turbocharged and direct-injected version of the four-pot, the same one found in the facelifted Proton X50. It continues to make 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels through the same seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This engine and gearbox combination is expected to make its way to the Proton S70, based on the fourth-gen Emgrand.
On the outside, the new Emgrand’s design is considerably more upscale than before, thanks to the lankier proportions and a sleeker six-window glasshouse. Details include slim and sharp headlights that flank a large rectangular grille with vertical slats, plus a Volvo-style X-shaped air intake design and a horizontal shoulder line that connects the head- and taillights.
Those taillights feature layered graphics and are joined together by a black bar with the Geely script; there’s no full-width light bar unlike its plug-in hybrid sibling, the Galaxy Starshine 6. Also different are the two (unfortunately fake) rectangular tailpipes.
Inside, the new Emgrand continues to share plenty with the Starshine 6, including a dashboard with pill-shaped air vents and a wide centre console with the now de rigueur dual smartphone holders and a 50-watt Qi wireless charger. There’s also the same 10.2-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen running on the latest Flyme Auto operating system.
There are a few changes, however, including a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel to replace the Galaxy line’s two-spoke oblong unit (the one shared with the Proton eMas 7) and a centre console-mounted crystalline gear selector. This has also necessitated the repositioning of the dual cupholders fore and aft, as well as the ditching of the multifunction control knob for – joy of joys! – a row of physical switches underneath the touchscreen that control the single-zone air conditioning.
Safety-wise, the Emgrand comes as standard with six airbags, with all but the base model being offered for the first time with driver assists such as autonomous emergency braking and Level 2 semi-autonomous features like adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist (all of these, by the way, are already available on the S70). No highly-automated driving functionality, however, unlike other Geely models.
Prices for the new Emgrand in China range from 77,900 yuan (RM45,700) to 94,900 yuan (RM55,700), slightly higher than the fourth-gen’s 68,900 yuan (RM40,400) to 86,900 yuan (RM51,000). The car could end up being an eventual next-generation S70, but with the current model only expected to receive the new four-pot as part of a product update, we’ll probably have to wait a while yet for a full-on replacement.
