Geely idol turns into a cowboy, but don’t expect it to be anywhere near the ranch

The new Geely Cowboy looks tough with a new body kit and off-road accessories, but it’s still front-wheel drive

Geely Auto has launched the new Denim at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show, a new variant of the Geely Icon that has been on sale since 2020, with some redesigned parts and off-road accessories for a more rugged stance.

Compared with the Icon, the biggest highlights are the new bumper and thicker side protection, as well as a lot of plastic cladding around the wheel arches. Other differences include a roof rack with integrated LEDs, and a unique set of 17-inch alloy wheels shod with all-terrain tyres.

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In the back, you might think there’s a spare tire rack, but it’s actually a storage compartment for wet or dirty items. Similar to the Land Rover Defender, there is an accessory box mounted on the C-pillar. The denim is available in four different colors – Snow White, Jungle Green, Volcanic Ash and Desert Brown.

The Chinese SUV is 4,442 mm (174.9 inches) long, 1,860 mm (73.2 inches) wide, 1,770 mm (69.7 inches) high, and has a wheelbase of 2,640 mm (103.9 inches). It’s similar to the Toyota Corolla Cross, although the Geely is taller due to the extra gear on the roof.

Inside, the dashboard has some differences compared to the Geely Icon, including an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster separated by a larger 14.6-inch infotainment display. It also adopts the bulky air-conditioning vents and a total of 42 storage compartments from the pre-facelift Icon.

Like the Icon, the Cowboy also uses Geely’s B-Class Modular Architecture (BMA). Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine producing 178 hp (133 kW / 180 PS) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque. Despite its adventurous appearance, power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Geely Denim is already available in China, with prices starting at 95,900 yen ($13,200). Interestingly, this is cheaper than the Geely Icon, which currently starts at 96,900 yen ($13,400).

Geely/Weibo