The stigma surrounding Chinese cars is slowly fading. Well, at least that’s the case for vehicles like the MG ZS—its sales figures from 2019 can attest to that.
It’s arguably one of the most compelling value-for-money propositions in the market right now, and it no doubt stacks up well against its competitors on paper, especially against crossovers from the likes of Toyota, Suzuki, and Ford. When it comes to a certain Chinese brand, however, we can’t easily say the same.
We’re talking about the Geely Coolray. It’s another relatively new entry in the local automotive industry and yet another bang-for-the-buck offering from The People's Republic. It certainly looks like it can give the ZS a run for its money—or any other vehicle in the segment, for that matter.
In order to find out, we’re pitting the spec sheets of these two China-made cars against each other to see which vehicle is actually the better offering. For this comparo, we’ll be looking specifically at the ZS Alpha and the Coolray Comfort (note that the Coolray shown in the photo above is the top-spec Sport variant). Let’s get right to it.
The two are far from identical, as the ZS is taller, has a shorter wheelbase, and is 253kg heavier (gross vehicle weight) than the Coolray. Moreover, in terms of power output, the ZS pales in comparison with the Coolray. The former packs a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter in-line-four gasoline mill that generates 112hp and 150Nm of torque, while the latter is propelled by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbopetrol that’s capable of 177hp and 255Nm. The ZS comes with a four-speed automatic gearbox with manual tiptronic function, and the Coolray is fitted with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
When it comes to added niceties, however, the ZS gets a few extras that the Coolray doesn’t. MG’s crossover gets features such as a panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay connectivity, and leather seats. Then again, we have to take note that this is a top-spec ZS being put side-by-side with a base Coolray variant.
As for pricing, the ZS Alpha carries a P998,888 price tag, which is only slightly more expensive than the Coolray Comfort that’s priced at P978,000. Now, we leave it up to you to decide which of these two is the better package. You can check out the rest of the specs of both vehicles below and tell us your pick afterwards.
2020 MG ZS 1.5 Alpha AT |
2020 Geely Coolray Comfort DCT |
|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 998,888 | 978,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine setup | 1.5-liter in-line-four gasoline | 1.5-liter in-line-three turbocharged gasoline |
| Power (hp) | 112 | 177 |
| Torque (Nm) | 150 | 255 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic with manual tiptronic | 7-speed wet DCT |
| Fuel tank capacity (L) | 48 | 45 |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/disc | Disc/disc |
| Wheels | 17-inch alloy | 17-inch alloy |
| Tires | 215/50 R17 | 215/60 R17 |
| Front suspension | Independent MacPherson strut | Independent MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam | Torsion beam |
| Seat material | Leather | Fabric |
| Infotainment system | 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay | 10.25-inch touchscreen with QD link |
| Smart keyless entry | No | No |
| Push-start ignition | Yes | Yes |
| Remote start | No | Yes |
| Parking brake | Mechanical | Electronic, with autohold function |
| Automatic climate control | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic headlamps | No, with adjustable beam height | No |
| Rain-sensing wipers | No | No |
| Panoramic sunroof | Yes | No |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | Yes | Yes |
| ABS w/ electronic brakeforce distribution | Yes | Yes |
| Traction Control | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| Hill-start assist | Yes | No |
| Cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| Blind Spot Monitor | No | Yes |
| Parking assist | Reversing camera with rear parking sensors | 360-degree view monitor |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 4,314 x 1,809 x 1,648 | 4,330 x 1,795 x 1,609 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,585 | 2,600 |
| Ground Clearance (mm) | -- | 196 |
