Road test: Geely Geometry C is easy on the road, but not on the eye

Chinese car brands are now ubiquitous on UAE roads. However, Geely was one of the early pioneers, setting up shop here in 2015.

The brand has since carved steady inroads into the local market, thanks to its portfolio of well-built offerings.

Among the new additions is the Geometry C, an electrified compact crossover hatchback that pairs a 201hp/310Nm synchronous electric motor with a 53kWh battery pack in the GS base model, and a 70kWh pack in the GF range-topper. The former offers a claimed touring range of 350km on a full charge, while the latter can cover 480km.

The Geometry C doesn’t gel visually – to my eye, at least – but the driving experience is far better than expected. It offers a level of refinement and composure that could easily prompt the vehicle’s occupants to feel as though they’re ensconced within a German offering.

There’s a quality feel to the Geely’s cabin, with soft-touch materials used throughout

There’s genuine ease of operation as the passive entry and start means I can just open the door, plonk down on the seat and slot the Mercedes-style column shifter into “D”, or “R” if needs be, and I'm off.

It doesn’t take too many kilometres to glean that Geometry C has a real sense of structural integrity about it. Road surface imperfections are comfortably dealt with, and very little ambient noise permeates into the cabin. There’s only the slightest trace of wind noise at highway speeds.

More impressive still is how crisp the car is in all its responses. The steering has a nice weighting and accuracy to it, while the brake and throttle pedals are also well-modulated.

However, one aspect I really don't like is the lane-keeping assistance feature, which is overaggressive to the point of being unnerving. My immediate response is to deactivate it, as the system reacts so violently (unnecessarily at times) that it’s more hindrance than help.

Although not pitched as a sporty offering, the Geometry C isn’t averse to speed and the fact it weighs under 1.7 tonnes (decently sprightly for an EV with a claimed 480km range) means there isn’t an excess of mass for the chassis to overcome.

The 201hp/310Nm electric power train punches above its weight, so the Geometry C prompts an involuntary grin the first time I flatten the throttle. Geely quotes a 0-100kph split of under seven seconds, and it certainly feels every bit that quick from behind the wheel.

There’s a quality feel to the Geely’s cabin, with soft-touch materials used throughout the interior. Faux aluminium highlights and gloss-black trim on the centre console contrast nicely with the two-tone black and cream upholstery. The quilted leather seats look good and are comfortable. Six-way power adjustment ensures I can conjure up an agreeable driving position.

Nestled behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel is seemingly the world’s smallest instrument panel, but it presents all the key info – speed, battery charge level, remaining range and drive mode (Sport, Eco or Eco+).

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The high-resolution infotainment system is fairly straightforward, but it’s a tad annoying to have to scroll through a couple of screens just to change the fan or AC temperature settings. A wireless phone charging pad and USB port are handy features, and so is the head-up display in the flagship model.

There’s enough room in the rear seats for a couple of adults, while a boot capacity of 417 litres is adequate without being exemplary.

Prices in the UAE start at Dh129,900 for the GS base model, with the fully loaded 70kWh GF variant priced at Dh149,000. The range-topping Geometry C undercuts the entry-level Tesla Model 3 by about Dh30,000, although the American offering serves up a 513km range in base spec and is a bigger car in all major dimensions.

There’s much to like about the Geely Geometry C – it goes, stops and steers with an impressive level of precision and finesse, and its interior packaging is also up to the mark. The only thing that’s lacking is visual pizzazz, as other Chinese brands such as Zeekr, HiPhi and Jetour have been knocking it out of the park on the styling front with their latest models.

Perhaps Geely needs to poach a top designer from one of the premium Euro brands?

Company%20profile

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Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

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Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

THE CARD

2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m

3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m

3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m

4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m

4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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Company%20Profile

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Key findings of Jenkins report

Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5

What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.

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