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Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50)

CY Foong · Jul 14, 2021 11:30 AM

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 01

The Geely Binyue/Coolray/Proton X50 has been pretty much the talk of the town wherever it gets launched. From outselling rivals in the Philippines to creating quite a hype among Malaysians, the B-segment crossover is definitely a runaway success.

But what are the thoughts of owning one? Well, Geely’s External Communications Director, Ashley Sutcliffe shares his experience of owning one in a recent Geely Uncut video.

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Ash, as he’s known on Twitter, has been owning the red Geely Binyue ePro PHEV for around a year and has put in around 13,000 km of mileage. It is of note that the Binyue is not a company car and Ash bought one with his own money.

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 01

The plug-in variant of the Binyue is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine, similar to the Flagship variant of the Proton X50, that is paired with an electric motor. Combined, the engine produces 258 PS and 415 Nm and is mated to a 7-speed DCT.

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 02

Ash gives a little walk-around of his Binyue PHEV which doesn’t have a spare tyre. Given the nature of the SUV, space in the rear is sacrificed for a battery pack that gives a range of 58 km in pure EV mode. Charging the Binyue from flat to 100% takes around 90 minutes according to Ash.

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 03

Now comes the main topic of the video, Ash’s thoughts on owning the Binyue after a year. He loves the way the SUV drives calling it fun and shares the same sentiments with its compact design.

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 04

Ash also enjoys the Binyue’s fuel efficiency, claiming that his petrol bill has gone down by 75-80% on average. He went from spending $200 a month to a maximum of $50. Finally, Ash’s last positive thought on his Geely is that it’s powerful and effortless especially on the highway.

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 05

But Ash does have a few qualms on his Binyue PHEV, like the size. When he’s driving alone to and from work, it feels perfect but when going out for the weekend with the family in tow, it feels small.

Also read: Pros and Cons: Love the 2020 Proton X50's comfortable suspension, hate the seats

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 06

He has also fitted a roof rack which gives out a lot of wind noise. Another con for Ash is the Binyue PHEV’s weight, which is 200 kg heavier than its petrol-powered variants. Despite giving excellent fuel range and is well-balanced, the fact that it weighs a lot more is a reason for Ash to put it as a minor setback.

Also read: Review: 2020 Proton X50 - all the pros and flaws about Malaysia's most-hyped SUV!

Watch: Geely’s PR guy shares his pros and cons of owning a Geely Binyue PHEV (Proton X50) 07

Overall, Ash enjoys his year with the Binyue PHEV and is looking forward to the car’s next 10,000 or 50,000 km journey. To those who have owned a Proton X50, do you share some of the same sentiments as Ash?

CY Foong

Writer

Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.

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