At the end of each year, the ice and snow test drive is a must for every car brand, as well as a summary of the year’s work and a showcase of strength. With the popularization of new energy vehicle models and technological updates, many new energy vehicle models have also joined the year-end event “ice and snow test drive”. This time, I was also invited by Geely Auto to come to Harbin, known as the “Ice City” in northeastern China, to test drive Geely’s flagship model – Geely Galaxy L7. This test drive was not like the usual ice and snow test drives, where we have a designated area to enjoy the fun of driving on ice and feeling out of control. Instead, it was more like a trip to the northern country, driving the Geely Galaxy L7 through the streets and alleys of Harbin, to experience the city’s lively atmosphere and to test the excellent product capabilities of the Geely Galaxy L7 in different scenes. After a whole day of experiencing it, there were still many different feelings.
There is a saying, “electric cars don’t cross the Shanhaiguan Pass.” This means that the conditions in winter after crossing the Shanhaiguan Pass are relatively harsh. Currently, pure electric new energy technology makes it difficult for pure electric car models to be used without anxiety in the extreme cold of the Northeast in winter. Take Harbin as an example, where winter lasts for about 4 months, with temperatures dropping to around -30°C. Therefore, it is not easy to see pure electric new energy car models here. If one wants to pursue economy, plug-in hybrid models are indeed a good choice.
In this long and cold winter, even fuel-powered vehicles can encounter problems when starting and driving in the morning, such as battery depletion from long-term parking, fogging due to improper use of the air conditioning, and slow engine temperature rise. The Geely Galaxy L7, as a plug-in hybrid new energy vehicle, has made a series of responses to this situation in the north. Although the Geely Galaxy L7 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the front grille is designed to be closed, which can better protect the temperature of the electric drive, engine, and liquid cooling circuit in the engine compartment. After starting on a cold winter morning, the vehicle can raise the temperature of the electric drive from -10° to around 30° in about 26 minutes, allowing the entire vehicle system to work at an appropriate temperature, and the environment inside the vehicle can also quickly reach a comfortable temperature after turning on the air conditioning. Alternatively, the vehicle can be remotely started using the mobile app.
Many novice friends, when using air conditioning in winter, mishandling can cause fog inside the car, affecting driving safety. The Geely Galaxy L7 provides intelligent anti-frost/anti-cold wind function. Just set the temperature to a comfortable 24 degrees, and the automatic mode will be activated. During cold start, the vehicle will automatically activate the cold wind function, reducing the air volume and adjusting the blowing angle to avoid the user. As the warm air temperature gradually increases, the air volume will also increase gradually, adjusting the mode to blowing feet to defrost and improve comfort. If the external temperature gradually becomes colder, the air conditioning will also gradually increase the proportion of internal circulation. For example, when the external temperature is -10 degrees Celsius, the Galaxy L7’s internal circulation ratio increases to 25%, ensuring the defrosting effect on the windshield and reducing the power of the air conditioning by 800w. After driving for 1 hour, it is equivalent to saving 1 degree of electricity. In addition, the high-end models also provide heated exterior mirrors.
During the winter, the 12V battery feeding is a common issue. The Geely Galaxy L7 battery has intelligent anti-deficiency power management. When the vehicle is parked outdoors for a long time, the BMS detects that the 12V battery voltage is too low, and the power battery will automatically charge and replenish the 12V battery. When the vehicle is started, the power battery relay is signaled by the 12V battery, and then the power battery drives the P1 motor to start. As long as the power battery has power, you never have to worry about the Geely Galaxy L7 not being able to start or the engine not starting. Plug-in hybrid models are useful in the cold winters of the northeast because they have the dual advantages of fast start-up for pure electric models, low cost for pure electric driving, and no range anxiety for fuel models. The Geely Galaxy L7 is equipped with the new generation of Thunder God hybrid system, which consists of a 1.5T four-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine + 3-speed variable frequency electric drive DHTpro. The system has a maximum power of 287kW and a maximum torque of 535N.m. The model tested this time is the top-of-the-line model, with a pure electric range of 115 kilometers.
Although the official zero to one hundred kilometer per hour acceleration of this car is 6.9 seconds, driving power is obviously not so important in Harbin just after the snow. In order to improve fuel economy, the driving mode can be adjusted to pure electric priority, so the vehicle will prioritize the use of electric drive.
When driving on icy roads, remember not to start at full speed and brake hard. The acceleration pedal of the Geely Galaxy L7 is calibrated to be relatively gentle, with a mild initial response, making it easier to control the start and acceleration. I recommend adjusting the kinetic energy recovery to strong, using it to control the speed of the car with as little braking as possible. We replaced the tires with snow tires for this car, and with gentle acceleration and braking, it is very comfortable to drive.
In some icy and snowy areas, you can speed up appropriately to feel the smoothness of the vehicle’s acceleration and whether there is any noticeable intervention when the engine starts. In intelligent driving mode, the engine starts when power is needed, and the vibration control and noise control are good, without any noticeable intervention. Thanks to the 3DHT variable frequency electric drive, the vehicle’s stability in various speed ranges is still very good.
On some sections of the road we tested today, the snow, after being crushed by large vehicles, refreezes to form a washboard-like surface, with large and small potholes. The Geely Star L7’s rear suspension is a multi-link independent suspension, which effectively suppresses body vibration amplitude when passing through these sections, ensuring maximum grip with the ground. As for the fast and intense vibrations, the Geely Star L7’s performance in passenger comfort is also acceptable, feeling that the chassis is very solid, and the bumps are rhythmic. At least the buddies sitting in the back seat can still tolerate the ride.
When driving on icy and snowy roads, avoid making sudden steering movements. Even when changing lanes, be sure to increase the distance and change lanes gently. The steering feel of the Geely Star L7 is personally considered to be on the heavy side, but this also happens to bring a more stable and linear steering feel, so as not to turn the wheel too hard at once. The top-of-the-line model is equipped with L2-level intelligent driving assistance functions and provides multiple active safety warnings. It is recommended to turn on all of these features in rainy and snowy weather. The 360° panoramic rear view camera + transparent chassis is also very practical in scenarios where the vehicle’s surroundings are not well visible, especially in freshly fallen snow.
Due to the installation of snow tires, tire noise will increase significantly, which is a normal phenomenon. When driving at speeds exceeding 80 kilometers per hour, there will be a slight wind noise on the left side of the driver’s seat A-pillar, which will not affect conversations and music listening inside the car. For a compact SUV priced below 200,000 yuan (28110$), this is completely acceptable. Overall, the dynamic experience is pretty much like this. In a city like Harbin with a lot of ice and snow, the Geely Galaxy L7 is still quite comfortable to use. Today, I drove about 100 kilometers, and the fuel consumption is approximately 4.8L/100km, which is quite good performance.
In terms of appearance, as the pioneering model of the Galaxy brand, it naturally undertakes the task of setting the brand tone. The exquisite appearance and unique design make the Geely Galaxy L7 look so fashionable and electrified. The body lines are soft and tough, and the proportion control of the front and rear of the body is also very good.
The Geely Galaxy L7 is a compact SUV, with dimensions of 4700*1950*1685mm and a wheelbase of 2785mm. Its side profile shows a forward-leaning stance, giving it a dynamic look. It’s worth noting that the car doesn’t use the currently popular hidden electric door handles, opting for traditional exterior door handles instead, which saves a lot of trouble in places like the northeast.
Geely Star L7 unveils new car colors for the new year, aiming to bring a sense of “unworrying green” to the driving experience. The exterior colors currently available are Dawn White, Dawn Gray, Midnight Black, Sky Blue, Colorful White, Starry Green, and Star Silver. Interior colors include Black Jade, Lamp Brown, and Horizon White.
The interior of the Geely Starburst L7 also adopts a very technological design concept, with a simple and bright interior design style that highlights the characteristics of new energy vehicles. The three physical screens in the car are 10.25 inches for the instrument panel, 13.2 inches for the central control screen, and 16.2 inches for the co-pilot screen. At the same time, it also provides a 25.6-inch AR HUD, which can choose the snow mode, and the internal font will change to blue high-light display, making it easier to see clearly.
The Geely Galaxy L7 features a four-spoke steering wheel with an irregular design, providing a good grip. The center console cup holder has a cover that folds up when not in use, and there is also a wireless charging panel for mobile phones in the front. The gear shift design is something that you have to experience to understand, once you use it, you won’t want to go back.
The car system uses the Galaxy N OS system, and the 8155 chip ensures the speed and stability of the system. The software in the car system is familiar and can easily meet daily online entertainment and information search needs. The smart voice recognition is very useful and has high recognition speed and efficiency for commands, so you can use it with confidence.
In terms of seating, the Geely Star L7 features front-row integrated sport seats with headrest speakers. The high-end models support electric adjustment, seat heating, ventilation, and massage functions for both the driver and passenger seats. The heating function is particularly beneficial for drivers in the winter in the northeast.
The co-pilot of the Galaxy L7 can be equipped with the “beloved co-pilot” function, similar to the queen’s co-pilot, zero gravity seating, leg support, and linkage with the co-pilot’s screen. According to official data, the proportion of orders for the beloved co-pilot function has reached 65%, it seems that those who choose the Geely Galaxy L7 are good men at home, very fond of their other half. Overall, this test drive mainly targeted the experience of using the Geely Galaxy L7 in cities with extreme winter climates in the Northeast. Personally, I think that the performance of the Geely Galaxy L7 is very good, both in terms of the economy of use and the driving experience, especially in the setting of the air conditioning and seat functions, adding warmth for winter use, and the perfect active safety configuration and some small design ideas also make this model more suitable for the severe cold of the north.