All-new Geely Boyue L launched in China; price up by 25 percent, too expensive to be next Proton X70?

• 3 engine options; 1.5T, 2.0T, Hi.F 1.5T hybrid
• Price up by around 25 percent from previous generation
• AEB works up to 80 km/h

The all-new 2023 Geely Boyue L is now officially on sale in China. Prices for the new SUV range from CNY 129,800 (~RM 84,000) to CNY 175,800 (~RM 114,000).

The Geely Boyue L is the successor of the outgoing Geely Boyue which is more popularly known to us as the Proton X70. The Boyue L will most likely become the base of the all-new X70 when Proton is ready to introduce a new generation to the popular SUV.

As expected, prices for the Boyue L have been bumped up compared to the previous generation Boyue. Prices for the old Boyue range between CNY 102,800 (~RM 66,700) to CNY 142,800 (~ RM 93,000), that’s around 25 percent increase from the previous generation.

The first thing that comes to mind at first glance is how futuristic the Boyue L looks. Which is no surprise considering the design inspiration for the SUV was drawn from the Vision Starburst concept car. The front end is dominated by a massive grille while the headlights is made up of 182 LED bulbs and stretch from one end of the sharply designed holder to the other end.

Even the Geely logo in the middle lights up to make up part of the headlight formation. Look at the car from the side and you’ll find just angular and sharp lines with not a soft edge in sight. The Boyue L also comes with a choice of a dual-tone black roof.

At the rear, the angry-looking taillights that stretch the entire tailgate are the first thing that catches the eye. Like the side, Geely has made sure that the rear end also features sharp edges with a futuristic diffuser to complete the spacecraft look.

Inside, the spacecraft theme continues with the oblong and angular steering wheel along with a vertical 13.2-inch infotainment screen that has a resolution of 1,440 x 1,920 pixels. The door panels feature the same angry lines as the exterior front-end design while the dual-tone finish gives the cabin a premium look.

The driver gets a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster as well as a 25.6-inch AR-HUD that can cover up to three lanes, the furthest the HUD can reach is 38 m.

To make sure that you don’t forget that the Boyue L is now built on Geely’s famed CMA platform, the letters CMA are embroidered on the seat backs.

Measuring 4,670 x 1,900 x 1,705 mm in length, width, and height with a wheelbase of 2,777 mm, the Boyue L is much larger than the Boyue and Proton X70.

On the safety front, the Boyue L gets all the modern safety features that can be found on a new car. Geely is especially proud of the SUV’s AEB as the system works up to 80 km/h.

The Boyue L comes with three engine options; a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and a Hi.F 1.5-litre turbocharged hybrid engine. The 1.5T engine has an output of 180 PS and 290 Nm while the 2.0T engine dispenses 218 PS and 325 Nm.

Both engines are mated to a 7-speed DCT while the top speed is rated at 195 km/h for the 1.5T and 215 km/h for the 2.0T engine.

As for the Hi.F 1.5T Super hybrid engine, the 1.5T engine alone is rated at 150 PS and 225 Nm while its combined output is rated at 245 PS and 545 Nm.

Like most of Geely’s Hi.F hybrid engines, the Boyue L’s engine is also mated to a 3-speed hybrid-specific transmission. The Hi.F engine has a fuel consumption rating of 4.2 L/100 km based on the NEDC while the battery range can go up to 1,300 km.

Will Proton update the Proton X70 to this CMA-based Boyue L?

Don’t get too excited that the next Proton X70 will be this Boyue L, with the significant increase in price for the all-new SUV, it is doubtful that the SUV will serve as basis for the Proton X70 replacement model.