Geely Xingyue

Model Overview

The Geely Xingyue (including its derivative models, the Xingyue L and Xingyue S) is a series of C-segment SUVs built on the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform jointly developed by Geely and Volvo. First launched on 10 May 2019, it marks the Geely brand's very first model underpinned by the CMA global modular architecture. The naming of the Xingyue range reflects a distinct positioning: "Xingyue" represents a premium coupe SUV; "L" stands for Luxury, catering to mainstream family buyers seeking class-above cabin space; and "S" denotes Sport, targeting younger drivers pursuing sharper handling and individuality. The debut of the Xingyue was hailed as a strategic milestone in Geely’s "brand-building through technology" roadmap. Powered by CMA engineering, it demonstrated that Chinese domestic marques possessed the capability to benchmark against mainstream joint-venture and even luxury brands in core engineering—namely the engine, transmission, and chassis. The original Xingyue had a relatively brief lifecycle, with the Xingyue L subsequently taking over as the primary sales driver. The 2025 Xingyue L is officially priced between RM127,200 and RM173,700, sitting squarely in the mainstream C-SUV price bracket.

Design Language

Design-wise, the Xingyue lineup diverges into two distinct styling approaches: a sporty coupe SUV profile (Xingyue/Xingyue S) and an upscale, class-above aesthetic (Xingyue L). The original Xingyue features a fastback coupe SUV silhouette, retaining Geely's signature Expanding Cosmos front grille complemented by an all-black badge and red accent trim for an aggressive, sporty stance. The subsequent Xingyue S embraces a "Dynamic Moment" design philosophy, incorporating bold lightning claw accents on the front fascia and interstellar shuttle side mouldings, paired with a dual twin-pipe gloss black exhaust setup at the rear and six exterior colours including Fighter Grey, further elevating its visual drama. Meanwhile, the Xingyue L adopts the "Symphony of Time and Space" design philosophy and the "Oriental Yao" styling cues. Its front end is anchored by an imposing vertical-slat chrome grille, complemented by full-width LED tail lights and sleek, elongated body lines that lend it the road presence of an executive luxury SUV. Dimension-wise, the Xingyue L measures 4,770 mm long, 1,895 mm wide, and 1,689 mm tall, with a generous 2,845 mm wheelbase, thoroughly outclassing its Japanese rivals in the segment. Inside, the Xingyue series centres around a "Digital Cockpit" ethos, generously trimmed in suede and soft-touch slush-moulded plastics, paired with a full digital instrument cluster and a floating central infotainment touchscreen to balance cutting-edge tech with a premium cabin feel.

Powertrain and Performance

The entire Xingyue lineup comes standard with a 2.0TD turbocharged petrol engine derived from Volvo’s Drive-E powertrain family, offered in two states of tune. The high-output variant churns out 175 kW (238 PS) and 350 Nm of torque, paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox to deliver a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.8 seconds—setting a new acceleration benchmark for Chinese-brand petrol SUVs at the time. The lower-output version produces 160 kW (around 218 PS) and 325 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (7DCT). The Zhiqing Hybrid (i-HEV) edition features a 1.5TD Miller-cycle engine boasting an impressive 48.41% thermal efficiency, coupled with a P1+P3 dual-motor setup and a 3-speed DHT Pro dedicated hybrid transmission. It returns a WLTC combined fuel consumption of just 4.75 L/100 km on RON 92 petrol, offering an exceptional cruising range of up to 1,279 km on a single tank. For the pure petrol models, the 2WD variant delivers a WLTC combined figure of approximately 7.79 L/100 km, though real-world urban driving typically exceeds 10 L/100 km on minimum RON 95 fuel.

Chassis and Handling

Riding on the CMA platform, the Xingyue series features front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension setup as standard across the board. Its CMA drive-by-wire chassis architecture ensures precise vehicle dynamics control, integrated with a Thyssenkrupp-sourced DP-EPS (Dual-Pinion Electric Power Steering) system for direct and communicative steering feedback. Higher-spec variants benefit from a BorgWarner sixth-generation electro-hydraulic on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, capable of splitting torque 50:50 between the front and rear axles with a lightning-fast response time of just 0.03 seconds. Selected top-spec Oriental Yao models also gain Continuous Damping Control (CCD) adaptive suspension, which actively adjusts damper stiffness across Comfort, Standard, and Sport modes depending on road surfaces. In the moose test, the Xingyue L clocked an entry speed of 79 km/h—significantly higher than the ~72 km/h average of rival petrol SUVs in its class—demonstrating exceptional body control and emergency avoidance capability. The Xingyue S, specifically tuned by Lotus engineers and equipped with Bosch ESP 9.3 High Dynamic chassis control, further elevates handling limits for enthusiastic driving.

Cabin and Equipment

The Xingyue series' cabin is anchored by a multi-display setup driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset. The Xingyue L comes standard with a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch floating central touchscreen, while higher-spec trims add a 12.3-inch front passenger entertainment display to form a seamless triple-screen dashboard. The 2026 Oriental Yao edition takes this further with dual 14.6-inch floating centre screens and a 12.3-inch digital cluster, paired with a massive 25.6-inch AR-HUD (Augmented Reality Head-Up Display) for a four-screen interconnected experience. Infotainment duties are handled by Galaxy OS 2.0, with top-tier variants upgraded to the Flyme Auto operating system, boasting voice command response times under 0.8 seconds, multi-zone voice recognition, three-finger screen swiping, and full-vehicle FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) update capability. Audiophiles are treated to either a 16-speaker Infinity or FlymeSound premium audio system on high-spec variants, with certain trims offering driver's headrest speakers to keep turn-by-turn navigation prompts separate from cabin media. In terms of comfort, heated front seats are standard across the range, with higher grades adding front seat ventilation, 8-point massage functions, and stepless rear seatback reclining adjustment (30° to 40°) for elevated passenger relaxation.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The Xingyue series boasts stellar safety credentials, with the Xingyue L becoming the first model to secure a five-star crash test rating under the stringent updated C-NCAP (2021 protocol). The 2025 model comes standard with 6 airbags, Level 2 semi-autonomous driving assistance, and up to 17 ADAS active safety features, including full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centring Assist (LCA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA), and Door Opening Warning (DOW). Its body-in-white comprises 79% high-strength steel and 22% hot-formed ultra-high-strength steel with tensile strength exceeding 1,500 MPa, achieving a roof crush resistance of 6.3 times its own kerb weight in C-IASI safety testing—far outperforming industry benchmarks. The 2025 Xingyue L also gets a 540° transparent chassis panoramic camera system as standard, blending a 360° surround-view monitor with an underbody view for effortless manoeuvring in tight spots and hassle-free parking. Meanwhile, the updated Xingyue L previewed at the 2025 Chengdu Motor Show incorporates the Qianli Haohan H3 driving assistance suite, supporting high-speed Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) capable of full emergency stops at speeds up to 120 km/h.

Market Performance and Verdict

Within the lineup, the Xingyue L has been the undeniable volume seller. In 2025, it achieved an annual tally of 241,000 units to be crowned China’s best-selling C-segment petrol SUV of the year, with cumulative sales surpassing 769,000 units by 2024. However, heading into 2026 as NEV (New Energy Vehicle) adoption exceeded 60%, the market for conventional ICE SUVs shrank dramatically; the Xingyue L recorded Q1 sales of around 46,800 units, representing an 80.78% year-on-year drop and highlighting the intense pressure faced by Chinese-brand petrol SUVs amid rapid electrification. The original Xingyue coupe saw far lower demand, shifting just 17,432 units throughout 2020—barely a fourteenth of the Geely Boyue's numbers at the time—before being essentially superseded by the Xingyue S. From an owner satisfaction perspective, the Xingyue series receives widespread acclaim for its CMA chassis dynamics, robust 2.0T+8AT powertrain, high-tech triple-screen cockpit, and cavernous rear legroom. Common gripes, however, centre on higher urban fuel consumption in petrol guise, occasional infotainment stutters, and false AEB interventions in wet or poor weather conditions. All in all, as the trailblazer for Geely's CMA platform, the Geely Xingyue series established a high-value benchmark for Chinese domestic brands through its Volvo-derived powertrain, class-leading chassis composure, and sophisticated tech-laden cabin. Before the tide turned decisively towards electrification, it delivered a fittingly brilliant final chapter for Chinese petrol-powered SUVs with annual sales topping 240,000 units.