With its new car, the Geely LC Cross, the car company from the Middle Kingdom is trying to demonstrate how, with the help of minimal changes, you can turn an ordinary compact hatchback into something like a crossover. Which we will evaluate based on photo and video materials.

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The 2012-2013 Geely LS Cross we tested, which reached Russia and Ukraine, is precisely a pseudo-crossover. The new product can be bought at Ukrainian car dealerships at a price of 73,900 hryvnia; Russian dealers sell from a price of 290,000 rubles.

The Chinese SUV is built on the basis of the regular Geely LC hatchback, but it is strikingly different from the same-platform one not only in the ground clearance increased to 160 mm, but also in a slightly different exterior design and increased external dimensions. The wheelbase remained unchanged at 2340 mm; in all other directions, the tested car noticeably increased in size. 3815 mm long, 1648 mm wide, 1530 mm high. Taking into account the increased dimensions and weight up to 1025 kg, the car rests on the ground with four wheels with 175/60 ​​R14 tires, depending on the configuration, on steel or alloy wheels of 14 radius.
Exterior changes include new headlights, a two-level false radiator grille, a different bumper with black trim on the sides and a stylish ski in the center - this is the front. The side view reveals wide door moldings, roof rails and a larger rear end. The rear part received a full-fledged fifth door, on which a spare wheel is mounted using a bracket, neatly covered with a soft cover. The side lights and bumper have also changed.
Plastic “decor”, increased ground clearance, and a new “face” noticeably transformed the funny image of the “panda bear - Geely LS” and made it possible to boldly add the Cross prefix.
The car with improved cross-country ability can be ordered in three colors: white, red and blue.

The interior almost exactly copies its counterpart and differs only in a four-spoke steering wheel, large controls for the ventilation system and other radios with a more advanced design. Otherwise, we have the same miniature internal volume with modest passenger and cargo capacity. Moving the spare wheel to the outer surface of the rear door did not affect the capabilities of the trunk; it is designed for only 205 liters of cargo.
There are two versions available: Basic and Comfort. The basic version includes air conditioning, a spoiler over the glass of the rear door with an additional “stop”, a plastic body kit, power steering, four electric windows, electric mirrors, Radio with AUX (4 sound points). In a more advanced configuration, there is a music system (CD MP3 6 speakers), front airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as ABS with EBD are responsible for safety, the car flaunts on 14-inch alloy wheels.

Technical characteristics: chassis, engine and gearbox migrated to the Geely LC Cross from the ordinary Geely LC hatchback. MacPherson struts at the front and a beam at the rear, a 1.3-liter petrol engine with an output of 86 horsepower vigorously accelerates the car to 155 mph maximum speed. The car will not bankrupt its owners with fuel costs; its appetite is quite modest and amounts to 7-7.5 liters in the combined cycle. The 5-speed manual installed on the LS Cross is not distinguished by the clarity of gear shifting, and the free movement of the lever is large.
The test drive shows that the chassis is configured in such a way that you don’t have to worry too much about the quality of the road surface.
In a word, a budget and compact car for an unassuming person for very modest money, even when compared with other inexpensive offers.

Photo gallery

On the Russian automobile market, Geely recently introduced a new small hatchback. It's called Geely LC Cross. You won’t find it in China, as their modification was called “Gili Panda”, and for our consumers it was slightly modified. And, if the rights to the Panda trademark did not belong to the Chinese department of Fiat, then it would not have been renamed in Russia. The model first appeared in 2008. But it reached our market much later.

Exterior and interior of Geely LC Cross

Chinese designers still know their work. They made the car simply excellent both in profile and from the front. The model looks predatory. There are plastic linings around the entire perimeter for protection. This is simply necessary for our roads. The fifth door has a spare wheel. To prevent it from bending under the weight, it was made of metal.

The underbody of the car was treated with anti-corrosion protection. But they did it not very well. You can see streaks under the thresholds. By the way, this is not included in the basic configuration. That is, you will have to pay for not very high-quality work.
There is not enough space in the cabin. Therefore, for large people, the three of them will be cramped in the back seat. Legroom is limited, as is doorway space. But the salon also has many advantages. You can fold down the seatbacks to increase luggage space. And also, the classic design style looks very good.

There is lateral support for the seats, but it is created purely for appearance. You won’t feel this in the city, but when traveling long distances, discomfort will appear.

The interior trim characteristics of the Geely LC Cross are not very luxurious. The car turned out to be simple and inexpensive. The plastic here is hard, but not unpleasant to the touch. It's put together just perfectly. There is no gap between the parts, and nothing creaks when driving.

The glove box is simply minimal in size. But, instead of a lid, a curtain appeared, and it looks unique and exclusive.

Programs for Geely LC Cross

Geely LS Cross received a simple and clear center console. It contains all the necessary functions. White numbers appear on a black background and are clearly visible. The blue backlight does not strain the eyes. Therefore, you will read any information without problems. The readings on the computer are a little faded. They are small and drawn on a blue background.

The panel changes its appearance depending on the configuration. In the basic version, the designers didn’t bother much, but in the most expensive kit they gave it 100%. “Comfort” is equipped with a round panel, inside of which a radio and many buttons are installed. Handles for the stove and beautiful washers were placed a little lower. The plastic here is not cheap hard, but plastic and soft.

In the basic configuration, the radio is less functional. Also, there are no inputs for charging gadgets and various ports.

Driving the Geely LC Cross

The Chinese car was tested in a closed area. Therefore, we will not tell you anything significant. But there are speed bumps and various bumps installed here. That is, we still checked some nuances.

The platform of the model makes it nimble and easy to operate. The 1.3-liter engine installed under the hood produces 86 horsepower. The maximum torque is 110 Nm. This is enough for the driver to feel comfortable both on the highway and in the city.

You can take off sharply from a stop, and the braking distance is very short. It is also worth special mentioning the sound insulation. The car is very quiet. You will hear almost nothing inside the cabin. But outside of it, there is a lot of noise. Thus, we conclude that the wheel arches were made a little obscenely.

The car's suspension is energy-intensive. Therefore, you will overcome minor bumps on the road quickly and easily. At the same time, you won’t even feel the shortcomings.
The steering wheel fits perfectly in your hands and turns quite easily. You may feel some body roll when cornering. But this should not be considered a disadvantage. After all, both the price of the model and its technical data are very good. Also, it looks great, as you can judge from the photos and videos of the car.

The transmission of Gili LS Cross is only five-speed manual. There are plans to import an automatic version to Russia. But for now these are just guesses.

The clutch is not very responsive. For short people it will be a little awkward to press. But there are no questions about the brake system. Information on fuel consumption is only passport information. At a speed of 90 kilometers per hour on the highway, the model consumes 7.2 liters. The curb weight of the car is 1025 kilograms.

And now about the significant disadvantages. The car is single-wheel drive. It was created with a ground clearance of 160 millimeters, and there is no engine protection here. Therefore, it is not worth driving over potholes. But the model is quite suitable for our roads. It overcomes bumps, making the ride comfortable.

We can safely call the Geely LC Cross a successful Chinese-made car.

Brief characteristics of Geely LC Cross:

• body: hatchback;
• number of seats: 4;
• number of doors: 5;
• curb weight: 1025 kilograms;
• ground clearance: 160 millimeters;
• engine volume: 1.3;
• motor power: 86;
• torque: 110 Nm;
• transmission: five-speed manual;
• dimensions: 3815 mm in length, 1648 mm in width and 1530 mm in height;
• wheelbase: 2340 millimeters;
• maximum speed: 155 kilometers per hour;
• acceleration to hundreds of kilometers: 11.8 seconds;
• fuel consumption: 7.2 liters in the combined cycle, 5.6 liters outside the city and 9.3 liters in the city;
• cost of the basic configuration: 409,000 rubles.

Chinese automaker Geely is expanding the range of passenger cars offered in the CIS. The autumn novelty of 2012 was a compact five-door hatchback of the European A-Class - Geely LC (GC2 in some markets).

Designers from the Middle Kingdom clearly took inspiration from the animal world when developing the appearance of the compact. The front of the car strongly resembles a tree bear - a panda. Large “eyes” - headlights in the form of large rounded triangles in a black frame, “mouth” - a trapezoid of an air intake with smooth outlines, located on a large bumper with a stylish U-shaped stamping and miniature foglight eyes.

The bio-design trend can be seen in all lines of the car. It would seem that Geely LS is being promoted by Chinese marketers with a hint of Panda, but the participant in our review does not resemble the Fiat Panda at all. Gili car designers chose the Toyota Aygo as a role model, or rather copying. The cars are very similar in profile, and the wheelbase dimensions of 2340 mm are generally absolutely the same. So, we don’t think our readers will have any questions about the originality of the appearance and design of the car’s chassis. But the Chinese car Geely LC / GC2 does not yet look as harmonious and correct as the Japanese original.

The profile of the car continues the theme of roundness and smooth lines of the front part of the body. But the size of the rear row doors and their configuration is puzzling. Such a miniature doorway and sloping roof make the process of boarding passengers in the rear seats uncomfortable. The rear part is designed in a similar style to the “face” of the car. Large round side lights, a large bumper with a contrasting black plastic insert and fog lights. The compact tailgate provides access to a miniature trunk with a high threshold.

The car is equipped with 165/60 R14 tires on steel or aluminum alloy wheels of 14 radius. The overall dimensions of the compact hatchback Geely LS are length - 3598 mm, width - 1630 mm, height - 1465 mm, ground clearance 125 mm.

The interior of the Chinese baby is designed to carry four passengers including the driver. Let's sit in the place of the potential owner, that is, behind the wheel. A plump “steering wheel” with three spokes and a slippery rim is adjustable in angle of inclination, a dashboard with dual radii of the tachometer and speedometer (poisonous blue backlight). The front flat seats without a hint of lateral support are designed for people of average and below average height. The front panel is made of clear plastic with an egg-shaped center console, on which there is a place for a radio with an AUX connector and a radio, just below the control unit for the interior ventilation and air conditioning system. The glove compartment is designed in an original way - with a sliding curtain.

It’s difficult to get into the back row; there’s only room for two. If the driver and front passenger move their seats all the way back, then you don’t even have to try to sit in the second row - there is simply nowhere to put your legs. The pillow is flat, as is the separate backrest, which can be folded and significantly increases the modest trunk (holds up to 205 liters when traveling). A full-size spare tire is located underground (depending on the equipment, on an iron or aluminum disk).

The Geely LC will be available in two trim levels: Basic and Comfort. In the basic configuration, the car, which looks like a panda bear, will have: air conditioning, electric windows for the front side windows, electric mirrors, power steering, simple music (radio and AUX), and central locking. The more advanced Comfort version will add rear windows, front airbags for the driver and passenger, ABS with EBD, CD MP3 radio, and alloy wheels.

About technical specifications. The car is built on a front-wheel drive platform, the front suspension is independent on traditional MacPherson struts, and the rear is semi-independent with a beam. The brakes are disc at the front and drum at the rear, respectively.
The engine will be offered as a 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol (86 hp), maximum torque of 110 Nm/rpm. The gearbox is a 5-speed manual, providing a car weighing 985 kg with a top speed of 155 km/h. The manufacturer claims average fuel consumption at 5.9-6 liters in mixed driving mode (highway-city), and given the experience of Gili models already in use, this information will most likely be justified. In China, the car also has a 1-liter gasoline engine (68 hp) and the possibility of equipping it with a 1.3-liter engine with 4 automatic transmissions.

The first test drive of Geely LS conducted by auto journalists shows that the hero of our review is distinguished by a soft, energy-intensive suspension. The car quickly reaches 60 km/h in the city and allows you to move confidently in city traffic. The annoying fact remains the very low ground clearance, budget interior materials (plastic creaks on completely new cars), uncomfortable front seats, poor sound insulation of the engine compartment and generally insufficient sound insulation.

The price in Russia for the compact Chinese hatchback Geely LC 2012 in the Basic configuration will be about 270 thousand rubles.

The Chinese city compact car Geely LC Cross (GX2 in some markets) will soon appear in car showrooms in Russian cities. The Cross prefix to the main name of the car is designed to generate interest in the new model among motorists who love active recreation.
Let's try to understand together how the Geely LS Cross differs from its co-platform - the regular Geely LC hatchback.

Let's say right away that the cars differ not only in different designs of the front and rear parts of the body, but also in external overall dimensions. Compared to the “civilian” version, the crossover-like compact has grown in length by 217 mm (up to 3815 mm), in width by 18 mm (1648 mm), in height by 65 mm (up to 1530 mm), and the ground clearance has increased and increased up to 160 mm. At the same time, the dimensions of the wheelbase remained at 2340 mm. The curb weight of the car is 1025 kg. The wheels have also become a little larger - 175/60 ​​R14, and the spare tire is installed, like an “adult” SUV, on the rear door.

Let's take a look around the car and see what Chinese designers have proposed to customize the Geely LS Cross model.

The front of the pseudo-crossover has become serious, getting rid of the panda bear “face” expression. The large headlights have changed their configuration and acquired dark glasses, under which the “gun barrels” of the low and high beams can be seen. The bumper has a powerful metal-look ski that protects the lower air duct, and crossover linings made of black plastic; the fog lamps have increased in size and harmoniously fit into the stylish image of the fairing. The false radiator grille in the shape of a compact trapezoid is “dressed” in a granular mesh. The Geely LC Cross / GX2 looks very similar to its compatriot Chery IndiS from the front.

When reviewing the car in profile, we highlight the roof rails installed on the roof, moldings on the side surfaces of the doors, a small and inconvenient rear door, and a sloping roof topped with a spoiler.

The rear of the Geely LS Cross, as well as the front part, is strikingly different from the ordinary Geely LC. Powerful rear pillars, a large bumper made entirely of black plastic, beautifully complemented by a trapezoidal insert made of metallized material, compact triangles of strictly shaped side lights, a larger and more correct fifth door with a spare wheel. But the trunk door opens upwards, I wonder how long the supports will be able to maintain the ability to hold the trunk door with the spare tire in the raised position?! The entire increase in body length went to increase the rear of the car.

Thanks to the changed proportions in comparison with the LC platform, the Cross version looks much more harmonious, more holistic, more attractive and, which is important for domestic operating conditions, has greater ground clearance and, although weak, bumper protection.

The salon also has several differences. A larger steering wheel with four spokes, a control unit for the air conditioning and ventilation system with comfortable handles are installed. The flat-shaped front seats are not conducive to active driving.
The seating for passengers can hardly be called comfortable, especially in the second row - space is in short supply in all directions. The increased dimensions in length and the “moving” of the spare wheel outward did not in any way affect the volume of the trunk, still the same 205 liters.

Geely LC Cross will be offered in two trim levels: Basic - air conditioning, power steering, central locking with remote control, radio with AUX and 4 speakers, power windows and mirrors, plastic body kit; the Comfort version will add aluminum wheels, ABS EBD, 2 front airbags, radio (CD MP3 6 speakers).

Specifications. Geely LS Cross is equipped with a 1.3 liter petrol engine. (86 “horses”) with a 5-speed manual transmission, the engine will allow you to accelerate to a maximum of 155 km/h. Fuel consumption in mixed driving mode will be, according to information provided by the manufacturer, 7.2-7.5 liters per “hundred”.

The drive is carried out on the front axle, the front suspension is independent (MacPherson strut), the rear is semi-independent (torsion beam). The brakes are traditional for the compact class, with discs at the front and drums at the rear.

For Russian buyers, the price of the Geely LC Cross in 2012 will be just over 300 thousand rubles (presumably).

The appearance of the car itself, which is practically not found on the city streets, was somehow unusual. The manufacturer - China-Belarus - was not intimidated. Choice: compact, small in size, high seating position in the passenger compartment, pretty good equipment at a reasonable price (this is for the year of purchase, then the price dropped and now you can’t find this car in showrooms. And they still ask how it is and where to buy it), small turning radius. In general, it’s a car for the city: trips to work, shopping, to the forest to pick mushrooms, perhaps fishing. The number of regular passengers is 2 people, less often – 4 + a child..... Thoughtful: - a small trunk (I can’t carry loads in it, two bags of potatoes will fit comfortably); - cramped conditions for rear passengers (if you don’t like it, let them run behind the car). The price is satisfactory. PURCHASED...... Four years of operation... - the quality of the interior trim is satisfactory, there are no problems (occasionally there is a squeak, but it doesn’t hurt the ears) - the seating position is comfortable (but for people with a height of 180 cm and above there will be difficulties) - the front passenger is comfortable (rear didn’t complain) - the trunk volume is not very large, but three bags of potatoes will fit in easily), I often carry two 19-liter bottles of water - the sound insulation of the cabin is normal, it doesn’t bother me. The controllability of the car on the move is pleasing, as is the dynamics of acceleration (even if it doesn’t tear like an airplane, but at the start from a traffic light many remain behind). I didn’t time it until 100, I think on a good track it was 10-14 seconds. The suspension is a bit harsh, but if you drive on 2.0 tires, it’s quite tolerable... Over 4 years of operation there were no major or minor breakdowns, warranty cases related to painting: the door handles were repainted (the paint was peeling off) and the headlights were changed due to peeling varnish on plastic glass. Service - only at the service station, all fluid changes are as expected. Except: I didn’t change the antifreeze (I don’t see the point, the color and density are normal), and the brake fluid is no problem. Due to use only in the urban cycle (7 km - work, 7 km - home), fuel consumption “hangs” within 8 liters per 100. Refueling - only AI 95.