REDEMPTION ARC
When I was in college around 427 years ago, I learned about the various story arcs in writing.
There’s the “inverted pyramid,” which refers to putting all the important details in the first few paragraphs of a news story, then revealing other details later on. Meanwhile, in medias res (Latin for “in the middle of things”) is when you start your story right in the middle of the action, then revealing the exposition and conclusion as you go along.
But a rather recent coinage is the redemption arc, whereby the protagonist (often flawed) undergoes a positive transformation after making bad choices. This innovation has even crossed over into mainstream parlance – TikTok videos abound show people entering their “redemption arc era” after overcoming some personal struggle.
In the local automotive scene, one automaker that seems to fit this is Geely Philippines – after making serious headway with its value-packed Coolray and Okavango crossovers, aftersales blunders that went viral online (together with some catastrophic interference by a toxic former brand influencer) sent the Chinese carmaker spiralling into obscurity.
Now under new management, Geely Philippines is back with a vengeance, bringing with it the latest version of its subcompact Coolray. We find out if this once-wunderkind can still make waves in the market that it once swam in.
Awesome purple
The 2025 Coolray is a redesigned version of the original model launched worldwide in 2018.
The familiar Geely grill with its red border remains, but it is now flanked by large and powerful LED headlights that extend into the fenders. Meanwhile, the lower bumper gets a more aggressive appearance, courtesy of dramatic black trim and faux air ducts on the sides.
The Coolray’s overall profile remains largely identical, with the gloss-black roof, prominent beltline and upward kink in the C-pillar being carried over. These are complemented by the red brake calipers that nestle behind the two-tone, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in snazzy Continental tires.
At the rear, the LED taillights now span the entire length of the tailgate, which retains its huge spoiler. The faux diffuser and quad exhaust pipes add to the car’s youthful aesthetic, while the eye-catching pearlescent Purple Prism paint scheme changes color depending on how the light hits it.
Plush cabin
Inside, the latest Coolray feels more upmarket than the previous model, thanks to the singular housing for the 10.25-inch digital gauge display and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The latter offers better responsiveness than before, but the lack of Android Auto smartphone connectivity is quite bizarre for a car that is appealing to a younger crowd. And although there are some spelling errors in the menus, the standard 540-degree camera system with provision for a recording device is very clear.
The dual-zone climate control system is also very powerful, working in conjunction with the supportive, air-conditioned front seats in this top-spec Sport Plus model to keep everyone cool. However, more separate controls would be welcome as the touchscreen menus are quite confusing to navigate.
In addition, while the leather-lined cabin offers good space for five passengers, softer materials on the dashboard and door cards would add to the premium feel. Features like the panoramic moonroof, customizable ambient lighting and wireless charging pad are welcome, but the automatic parking assist system remains as unnecessary as ever.
The Coolray also has good cargo space for a subcompact crossover. However, the rear seats still lack the cleverness of the Honda HR-V for maximum versatility.
Fast and economical
On-road performance is where the Coolray has always excelled, with this latest model getting new muscle under the hood.
Replacing the thirsty, turbocharged inline-3 is a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 172 horsepower and 290 Newton-meters of torque. The boost is now distributed evenly throughout the rev range for strong and linear acceleration, instead of coming in a huge wallop like in the old motor.
However, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission needs some work – it struggles in low-speed driving, feeling like it has a sliding clutch when moving from a standstill, particularly on inclines. And although it performs admirably at higher speeds, the lack of paddle shifters is unusual, given that these gearboxes are renowned for their lightning-quick manual shifts.
Nonetheless, the familiar Coolray driving characteristics remain. These include the light and responsive steering that could use more feel, the powerful brakes controlled by a rather spongy pedal and the composed suspension that handles bumps and corners better than even some Japanese rivals.
But where the 2025 Coolray has really stepped up is fuel economy – it now does a highly respectable 9 to 12 kilometers in the city (versus a wallet-draining 5.5 to 8.5 in the older model) and an excellent 18 to 21 kilometers per liter on the expressway (versus a subpar 13 to 16 before).
And while you get cruise control, traction control and six airbags as standard, a full adaptive driver assistance system (ADAS) would greatly increase the safety and convenience of this peppy little crossover.
Critical phase
The 2025 Geely Coolray Sport Plus is a big step up from its famous predecessor.
With prices starting at P1,299,000 for this top-end model, it still offers good value for money compared to similarly priced sedans and hatchbacks. The little Geely also competes well against Chinese rivals like the P1,289,000 GAC GS3 Emzoom R-style and the P1,298,888 MG ONE STD.
But the market has moved on since the first Coolray – the P1,308,000 Toyota Yaris Cross V is perhaps its most formidable opponent as of press time, offering leather trim and ADAS at the expense of turbocharged performance and a moonroof.
Overall, the latest Coolray has the goods to take back the crown that it once had. And with new management and a huge range of models in the pipeline (including electrified ones), Geely Philippines now has a mightier pen with which it can write its redemption arc.
