Geely’s first MPV,
the Jiaji, has finally been launched in China. Teased since September last
year, the people carrier arrives in the Middle Kingdom in standard petrol, mild
hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, priced from 99,800 yuan to
182,800 yuan.
The Jiaji is certainly a big car, measuring 4,706 mm
long, 1,909 mm wide and 1,690 mm (1,713 mm for the PHEV) tall, with a wheelbase
of 2,805 mm. That said, it’s quite a bit shorter than both the Toyota Alphard
(4,945 mm) and Kia Grand Carnival (5,115 mm) – both of which have wheelbases
around three metres – which should make for a more manageable size on the road.
Geely says that the Jiaji combines “sleekness of
sedan, the power of an SUV, and the space of an MPV.” Design-wise, it fits
neatly within the company’s latest range, with flowing lines, a concentric
“expanding cosmos” grille, a pronounced front fender bulge, a window line kink
and a blacked-out D-pillar for that “floating roof” look. It rides tall on its
18-inch two-tone alloy wheels with a ground clearance of 165 mm.
Inside, the car adopts a modern design, with a broad
dashboard and a floating centre console enhancing the sense of space. In the
middle sits a freestanding 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that incorporates
the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI), now with a “children” mode that automatically
sets the air-conditioning and volume, closes the windows and plays children’s
songs for the comfort of the little ones.
The car is offered as either a six- or a
seven-seater with 2+2+2, 2+2+3 and 2+3+2 configurations; the second-row
captain’s chairs on the first two layouts are capable of reclining up to 165
degrees and come with special “sleep” headrests. Other features include a large
panoramic sunroof, active noise cancellation and an AQS air purification system
as found in the Boyue SUV (sold here as the Proton X70).
Under the bonnet lies a choice of two engines,
starting with the Boyue’s 1.8 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine –
it makes 181 hp and 300 Nm of torque and is paired to a six-speed torque
converter automatic transmission. There’s also a 1.5 litre turbo mill that is
jointly developed with Volvo, pushing 174 hp and 255 Nm through either a
six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.
Models fitted with the DCT are also available with a
48-volt mild hybrid system that bumps outputs to 188 hp and 300 Nm and delivers
a fuel consumption figure of 5.9 litres per 100 km combined. Last but not least
is the PHEV version that pairs the 1.5 litre unit with an electric motor to
provide a total system output of 255 hp and 385 Nm. This one consumes just 1.6
litres of fuel per 100 km, has a 56 km all-electric range and can be charged in
90 minutes through a fast charging station.
In terms of safety, the Jiaji is offered with Level
2 semi-autonomous driving features such as Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and
Lane Keep Assistant (LKA). Also available is Automated Park Assist (APA),
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, Lane Change
Assistant (LCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Speed Limit Identification (SLIF),
Rear Collision Warning (RCW) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
