Currently, there are many options for new energy vehicles in the 150,000-level price range. Manufacturers are targeting customers in this price range who require both daily transportation and spacious interiors, with the added bonus of smart and assisted driving features. Take a look at the recently launched Geometry M6 SUV, which is defined as a pure electric compact vehicle. However, after experiencing and observing the vehicle, one can’t help but be impressed by its exceptional interior space and standard features such as the Harmony OS, L2 intelligent assisted driving, and true meaning of internal competition.
There are two versions of the vehicle: the 450km and 580km. In my opinion, the 450km version provides better value and is priced at around 150,000 yuan, meeting the needs of many customers.
The front of the vehicle is consistent with that of emerging car manufacturers, with a closed-off front and trendy through-type headlights that are separated in the center to facilitate turning signals. The light strip is connected to the car logo, and the luminous car logo is visible at night, providing excellent recognition. The green calipers paired with the rims increase the overall athletic quality of the car. The hidden door handles not only reduce the coefficient of drag, but also give the vehicle a more dynamic appearance. When the key is close to the vehicle, the unlock response time is exceptionally fast, avoiding situations where the vehicle can’t be unlocked. The vehicle body is sloping and the tail lights are smoked black, creating a very appealing overall appearance.
The interior color scheme is predominantly light, which complements the exterior color. The interior is noteworthy, especially for its smart gear selection which makes shifting more natural and saves space in the car. The armrest position adopts the concept of “wet and dry separation” commonly used in home design. The top of the armrest contains a wireless charging pad for daily phone charging, while the bottom holds items such as cups and tissue boxes, so even if the cup spills, other electronic devices won’t be affected. The armrest can also slide back and forth, significantly increasing its practicality.The infotainment system of the car is equipped with a 14.6-inch screen and runs on the HarmonyOS system. Unfortunately, I cannot enjoy the convenience of the HarmonyOS system as I am not using a Huawei device. However, I am dissatisfied with the UI as it does not match the overall simplicity of the car. The UI seems misplaced as it has a skeuomorphic design, giving me an uncanny feeling. If the UI can be updated to a flat design style or if the system provides two options for users to choose, it will undoubtedly be more acceptable to users. The car’s native software is comprehensive, and the built-in map navigation is very convenient. There is also a quick search function for charging stations in the lower-right corner, which alleviates the anxiety of running out of battery when users are on the road. Other software can be downloaded from the Huawei App Store, such as Bilibili, iQiyi, which we often use. In addition, it is also possible to wake up the system with voice commands through the “Xiaohe” assistant, for example, opening or closing the sunroof, or conducting a 90-second continuous conversation.
There is a HUD head-up display above the instrument panel, which is unexpected at this price range. I can see the current speed and navigation information on it. The HUD reduces the need to look down at the instrument panel during driving, greatly improving safety. It can still display information properly even in extremely sunny conditions.
Now let’s talk about the driving experience. The Geometry M6 is equipped with a front permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 150 kW, and the acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is 6.9 seconds. This figure is middling among pure electric cars. The overall driving experience is very similar to that of a gasoline-powered car. In ECO economy mode and NORMAL standard mode, the acceleration response is very linear, and the acceleration is very smooth. In SPORTS mode, accelerating from a standstill will produce a “pushed back” feeling by slightly stepping on the accelerator, which can satisfy users’ acceleration desires while driving in urban areas.
The three energy recovery modes are relatively soft, perhaps because overly strong energy recovery would make rear passengers uncomfortable. This detail shows that Geometry has truly considered the comfort of passengers while tuning the car.
As for the chassis, the car can filter out bumps and small vibrations on some road surfaces. The car body does not have any feeling of looseness, and the filter effect is clean. When encountering speed bumps, there is some sensation, but fortunately, the rebound speed is still relatively fast. The NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance is also excellent, and most of the noise is within the controllable range when driving at over 80 km/h.In terms of intelligent assistance, the lane-keeping and following functions of the vehicle are quite good. They can maintain the set distance well with the preceding vehicle. When using ACC cruise control on highways, the HUD display can intuitively show the current road signs according to the distance, and the “TSI Traffic Sign Intelligent Recognition” function mounted on the Geely Geometry M6 is very useful in mountainous areas.
In addition to these, the vehicle also has four driving modes: meditation, wake-up, air exchange, and custom. The wake-up mode is particularly impressive. When you get into the car and prepare to drive, switching to this mode will increase the volume by 20% and decrease the air conditioning by 20%, instantly making you energetic and refreshed.
After driving for a day, I deeply felt the intense competition in the new energy vehicle market. The 150,000-level vehicles already have so many functions and driving assistance capabilities. Looking back, it used to be features that only vehicles priced above 500,000 could have. If you happen to need a vehicle for daily commuting with a spacious interior and some intelligent systems, the Geely Geometry M6 is undoubtedly the most cost-effective option in its price range. Perhaps it will become the next hit?
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.